Plantago spp. (commonly known as plantain) have been used traditionally in various cultures for the treatment of abscesses and other skin infections. Historical herbal texts from Europe, Asia, and North America often mention the external application of Plantago leaf poultices to help "draw out" pus, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in abscesses and boils. The primary basis for this use comes from folk medicine and the writings of herbalists such as Culpeper and Dioscorides, who praised Plantago’s “drawing” and soothing qualities.

The traditional rationale is that Plantago’s mucilaginous properties soothe inflamed tissues and its mild astringency helps to contract tissues and possibly reduce local swelling. Additionally, Plantago contains compounds such as allantoin, aucubin, and flavonoids, which may possess mild antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions according to in vitro studies. However, these effects have not been specifically validated in controlled clinical trials for abscesses in humans. There is a lack of robust scientific studies directly supporting the efficacy of Plantago for treating abscesses, and most modern evidence is limited to laboratory research showing general antibacterial activity of Plantago extracts.

In summary, while Plantago’s use for abscesses is grounded in longstanding herbal tradition, scientific validation for this application is minimal and based mainly on indirect or preliminary evidence.