Buckhorn Plantain

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Dosing

Buckhorn plantain is a plant. People use the parts that grow above the ground for medicine.

Buckhorn plantain is used to treat colds, fever, cough, bronchitis, and soreness in the breathing passages.

Some people gargle with buckhorn plantain for sore throat or apply it to the skin to treat swelling, heal wounds, or stop bleeding.

Don't confuse buckhorn plantain with common plantain (Plantago major). Also, don't mistake digitalis leaves for buckhorn plantain leaves. They look a lot alike. This is a problem because digitalis is unsafe. Be sure to get buckhorn plantain from trusted sources. There have been some reports of buckhorn plantain adulterated with digitalis.

How does it work?

Buckhorn plantain contains tannins and mucous-like substances that might help soothe painful and swollen (inflamed) areas.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• The common cold.
• Cough.
• Fevers.
• Bleeding.
• Bronchitis.
• Sore mouth.
• Sore throat.
• Wounds, bleeding, and swelling, when applied to the affected area.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of buckhorn plantain for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Buckhorn plantain might be safe for most people in medicinal doses when taken by mouth or applied to the skin. It can trigger allergies in sensitive people.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to take buckhorn plantain or apply it to your skin if you are pregnant. There is some evidence that buckhorn plantain can affect the muscle tone of the uterus.

It's also best to avoid buckhorn plantain if you are breast-feeding. There isn't enough information to know if it's safe.

The appropriate dose of buckhorn plantain depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for buckhorn plantain. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.