Malva silvestris St. John’s poplar, horse poplar, celandineThe mallow can be recognized by its knotty, rough-haired stem. It has bluish to pinkish red flowers, 5 petals with three dark longitudinal stripes. Flowering time.
Occurs from June to August: Spread in Europe in sunny places. Mainly the flowers, but also the whole flowering herb of mallow is used for medicinal purposes. It is dried in the shade in an airy place.
Mainly the so called “small mallow” is used. The large, red mallow or hibiscus with the large flowers has other active ingredients and is not native to us.
- Plenty of plant slime
- Little essential oil
- Tanning agents
Mallow has a soothing and enveloping effect and is a component of many teas for coughs.
It relieves inflammation in the mouth and throat. Mallow tea: 2 heaped teaspoons of cut herb (with flowers) is poured over a large cup of cold water. Leave to stand for about 10 hours and strain.
The extract is heated to drinking temperature and sweetened lightly with honey as a cough tea. You can make a cough tea from equal parts mallow herb and primrose root. Pour 1⁄4 l boiling water over 2 teaspoons of it, let it steep for 10 minutes and strain.
Sweetened with honey you can enjoy a cup of this tea three times a day. Up to now, none are known to be caused by mallow.
