“He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herbs for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth.” — Psalm 104:14

Greetings folks! This month, I want to tell you a true story about a plant named plantain, that is known as a common weed and grows abundantly in the lawns of America in which billions of dollars are spent each year spraying poisons to kill it.

A couple of weeks ago, I found that I had been bitten on the back side of my leg by what I thought was a mosquito or chigger. A lot of times, I have a reaction from these bites that usually get red, swollen and feverish.

After applying some homemade salve to the area, I decided to keep an eye on it to see whether it was getting better or worse. As time went on, the swelling got worse and there was a noticeable redness underneath the skin that was in the vein. It kept spreading and swelling all around the back side of my leg.

I finally realized this had to be a spider bite. I really didn’t want to go to the emergency room and prayed that the Lord would help me to know what to do naturally. I had already made a tea of echinacea, thyme and rosemary to drink and soaked my leg with a cloth in different concoctions known to fight infection and bring down swelling. It really wasn’t getting better.

The ankle had started swelling at this point. Yes, I was a little bit afraid of what was happening and how to deal with it. Finally, I took out a book I have had for years, “Save Your Life,” by Sam Biser which focuses on Dr. Christopher’s herbal remedies for spider bites and found that by using fresh plantain blended and applied to the bite site that this would take the pain, swelling and inflammation away.

I then consulted another herbal book that is used in many herbal training programs, “Practical Herbalism,” and found that it, too, said the same thing about any type of insect, spider bite or bee sting. At this point very early in the morning, I went outside and picked some leaves that were growing abundantly and blended them in water, made a poultice and applied this with gauze to the bite. I also, as the book said, drank the liquid. The swelling started going down within the hour and after continuing to use the plantain liquid on the bite and drinking it, the pain and swelling eventually went away. All this happened within a 24-hour span.

Plantain is a plant worth finding out about. I’m telling you folks, there’s nothing better than what the Lord has created to take away our infirmities of the flesh and spirit! I hope this testimony will help my readers realize the blessings that come from above. Use them!

To God be the glory great things he hath done!!

Alice Russell, also known as “Me Me,” resides in the Randolph/ Saxe area. She can be reached at letstalkherbs@gmail.com.