The common plantain is a ubiquitous weed and is known for its ability to survive even when trampled on multiple times. It has also become famous among horticulturists because of its tendency to grow in disturbed soils and hold dirt together to protect it from erosion (a talent that has made the plant popular in soil rehabilitation). Of course, it has become well-known among herbalists due to its medicinal properties and its ability to help treat a wide range of health issues.
Can the plant help with gynecomastia?
As mentioned above, the common plantain ? also known as Plantago major? has a variety of health benefits to offer. It contains a wide range of substances like allantoin, ursolic acid, and flavonoids, which have been found out to help solve minor health issues. Its leaves, for example, can be applied as a poultice to wounds and insect bites to stall bleeding, reduce pain and inflammation, and facilitate healing. They can also be eaten directly to promote uric acid excretion from the kidneys and help improve gout. They can even brewed to make a type of tea, which can help in treating diarrhea and replenishing vitamins and minerals that have been lost due to loose and frequent bowel movements.
But, despite the plant’s numerous health benefits, it has not been proven to help treat gynecomastia (or the enlargement of a man’s breasts). So, if you have this condition, you can still use the common plantain to heal wounds and manage gout and diarrhea, but you cannot expect it to help in reducing your breast tissue.
What should patients with gynecomastia do instead?
Even if the common plantain cannot help you, there’s no need to worry since there are many other solutions you can explore. One of the first things you should do is to improve your lifestyle. Foods that are high in salt, oil, and sugar can contribute to weight gain and increased chest size, so cut them out from your diet. Replace them with foods that are high in zinc, which has been found out to increase the amount of testosterone in the body and help treat gynecomastia.
Make exercise a part of your daily routine. It can help you lose weight and regulate your hormones, both of which can assist in improving your condition. Of course, if you do chest and torso exercises, you can improve the muscle tone of your pecs, make your chest firmer, and have a more aesthetically pleasing physique.
Another thing you can do is to take herbal supplements that are said to help men with enlarged breasts. Passion flower, for instance, provides you with chrysin, a type of substance that prevents the breakdown of testosterone in the body. Milk thistle can help with gynecomastia that stems from chronic liver disease since it contains silymarin, a substance that helps in improving liver health.
Having man boobs can be a painful and embarrassing experience, but there are fortunately several ways to solve the problem and bring back your masculine body.