Plantago, commonly known as plantain, has a long history of traditional use in various cultures for its purported hemostatic (bleeding-stopping) properties. In traditional European, Chinese, and Native American medicine, Plantago leaves have been applied topically to wounds and also used internally (as teas or extracts) to help manage internal bleeding, particularly in cases such as gastrointestinal bleeding, hematuria (blood in urine), or heavy menstrual bleeding. The traditional rationale is based on the plant’s astringent properties, attributed mainly to its content of tannins and other polyphenolic compounds, which are thought to help constrict tissues and reduce bleeding.

However, while there is significant ethnobotanical documentation of these uses, robust scientific studies in humans confirming efficacy for internal bleeding are lacking. Available pharmacological studies demonstrate some astringent and anti-inflammatory effects of Plantago extracts in vitro and in animal models, but direct evidence for stopping or reducing internal bleeding in controlled clinical settings is minimal. Thus, current support for Plantago's use in internal bleeding is primarily based on traditional practice and anecdotal reports rather than high-quality scientific validation.