MALLOW

 

I- Nomenclature

Latin name: Malva sylvestris

Family : Malvaceae

Common names: Malva ambigua, Malva erecta, Malva mauritiana¹, Cheeses, High Mallow²

Etymology

From the Latin “malva”: soft (emollient property of mauve)

From the Latin “sylvestris”: forest

 

II- Legends and traditions

Pythagoras and his pupils considered it "suitable for moderating passions and keeping the stomach and mind at liberty".

 

III- Botanical description

Description: Biennial or perennial herbaceous plant of 30 to 1.20 m with straight, branchy, robust and hairy stems

The leaves are alternate, dentate, polymorphic, soft and tomentose.

The flowers are purplish pink with 5 purple-veined petals, grouped in the leaf axils.

The fruits are circular achenes called cheese.

Habitat: along the roads, in the fields, wasteland in Europe and North Africa. 

Flowering: spring and summer

Harvest: the flowers are harvested all summer. The leaves are harvested before flowering.

Pars used 

 

IV- Active ingredients

Flowers

•   Mucilages (5 to 12%) •   Tannins •   Polysaccharides •   Anthocyanosides •   Flavonoids •   Vitamins A-B-C

 

V- Therapeutic use
Properties

Flower

•   Emollient •   Laxative •   Pectoral •   Skin softening

 

Indications

Colds, bronchitis, tonsillitis, flu. It decongests and heals inflammation.

Asthma, stomach disorders, inflammation of the urinary tract.

Constipation

Dosage

Infusion: Put 10 gr of flowers for a liter of water, drink 3 cups a day.

Poultice: Boil the leaves for 2 minutes, strain and crush them in a cloth, apply in case of boils or abscesses.

Gargle: whole plant

 

VI- Precaution of use

Contraindication: none known

Interactions: avoid taking alcohol, tannins or iron salts at the same time as mallo

Warning: It is advisable to leave a period of one hour between taking a herbal tea and any other treatment.

  

¹ http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/m/malva-sylvestris=mallow.php

² https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malva_sylvestris