American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

Plantago is of immediate benefit, Dr. Kinnett. says, in the treatment of
snake bites. It should be made and given freely and a poultice of the
leaves applied to the wounds.
Plantago relieves inflammatory infection of the skin, especially if
accompanied with burning pain or itching. Inflammation of the intestinal
tract which involves the mucous membranes and is accompanied with
colicky pains will be relieved by plantago.
Old Dr. Smith from southern Illinois applied plantago in the form of a
saturated tincture as a dressing for fresh cuts, wounds, or bruises. He
could thus secure healing without the formation of pus. He made his
tincture of the entire plant and roots, pounded up in alcohol. He applied
one part usually to four of water.
Where the teeth have developed sudden tenderness and seem to be too
long from ulceration of the roots, Dr. Turnbaugh gives plantago, ten drops
of a three x dilution every three hours. He gives the late Dr. K M. Hale
credit for the formula.
Dr. Wallace dips a teaspoon into hot water, drops into this five drops of the
specific plantago, and pours this into the ear for earache, filling the ear
afterwards with cotton. He claims immediate relief in aggravated cases.
Externally the bruised leaves have been applied in the form of a poultice,
to chronic ulcers, and skin disorders, resulting from depraved blood. The
juice may be combined in the form of an ointment. One physician told
the writer that he saw an Indian woman pound up a large quantity of
Plantain leaves, put them into a skillet, and pour on enough lard to cover.
This was boiled for some time, then strained. When cool, the product was
a smooth, greenish colored ointment. With this a chronic and previously
absolutely intractable skin disease, similar to a dry form of eczema, was
rapidly and permanently cured. This ointment in appearance and action
very closely resembles the proprietary preparation, known as cuticura.
PODOPHYLLUM. Podophyllum peltatum.
Synonym—Mandrake.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 354