Common Mallow

Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris)

Wild mallow has been used as food and medicine in Europe since the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Traditional herbal medicine continues to regard the plant as a useful anti-inflammatory agent for the respiratory tract, the skin, and the gastrointestinal tract. Wild mallow recommended primarily for irritations of the mouth and throat, as well as for dry, irritating coughs (infusion for cough: 30-60 g of flowers per 1 liter of boiling water). Infusion can be supplemented with buckwheat, clover, wild poppy flowers. For infusion, 50 g of the flower mixture is poured into 1 liter of boiling water and left overnight. Use as tea - 5-6 times a day. WIld mallow flower tea promotes spiritual healing and peace. 

Plant is rich in vitamins, proteins, ascorbic acid, carotene (up to 2 times more than in carrots). The leaves contain sugars, they are rich in mucus, which is goog for treatment of various diseases of the intestinal tract. The plant has a softening, astringent, soothing and anti-inflammatory effect. In folk medicine is used the whole surface part of the plant.

The infusion of leaves and flowers is used for diseases of the lungs, angina pectoris, tracheitis, dry cough, it restores voice loss and reduces hoarseness. Helps with chronic constipation. Gargling reduces inflammation of the tonsils and oral mucosa. Compresses are effective for burns, inflammation of the eyelids, various rashes.

Infusion - 1 tbsp. pour into 1 cup of hot water, leave for 2 hours. Use 3-4 times a day for 1-2 tbsp. For compresses and rinses, the concentration doubles.

The leaves can be cooked and eaten like spinach, added to thicken soups, or deep-fried like green wafers.