Hi Sheridan, Not a silly question at all! I didn’t know what plantain was for many years either, in spite of having a bunch of it growing in my yard. :)
You might know it by another name – you can do some google searches to help you identify it.
I like to infuse oils with dried plants only, to help eliminate the risk of mold or bacterial growth, so you’d want to dry your plantain leaves first, before infusing.
You can just let them air dry on a clean cloth or paper towel, similar to how I used dandelions in this article:
https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/dandelion-salve-recipe/
I hope you’re able to find some plantain locally!

Hi Meghan! Sometimes I sell this salve and I’ve gotten quite a few positive comments from people who’ve had it help with eczema patches. Others have better luck with lotion bars, like this one:
https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/herbal-intensive-lotion-bars/
When I was a kid, I had severe eczema too. My mom didn’t really try much natural stuff with us, but I pretty much bathed in Keri lotion to get a few minutes of relief at a time!
When I get flareups as an adult, I’ve found that a water based lotion still does best for me – I’m using this exact one to finish clearing up a pesky spot now:
https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/rosehip-ginseng-face-cream-recipe/
Tamanu oil is helpful for many skin conditions, as is rosehip seed oil.
Coconut oil is a common skin irritant for a subset of sensitive people, causing even redder and more chapped skin, so I don’t really recommend that for eczema.
Pinpointing a hidden food allergy (dairy is a common one) & supplementing with essential fatty acids might help too.
I hope you find something to help your son – I know eczema is no fun!