Malva sylvestris
Botanical Nomenclature | Malva sylvestris |
Common Name | Mallow |
Taxonomy- Family | Malvaceae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Malva sylvestris is a biennial, herbaceous plant growing up to 1m, with stalked, round, wavy leaves with hairs radiating from a common center and pink, blue or white flowers. The flowering lasts from June to August and the harvesting takes place from June to September |
Region Found | Epirus |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Flowers, leaves |
Active Substances | Mucous, malvidin (pigment, catabolic product of anthocyanin), vitamin A, B1, B2, C, tannins, essential oil |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The plant is administered in the form of infusion and herbal tea as emollient, expectorant, laxative, intestinal tonic and diuretic. The plant is applied externally in the form of poultice from the leaves and the flowers for the treatment of skin inflammations and insect bites. Also, it is recommended against diseases of the respiratory and digestive system, such as cough, bronchitis, constipation and gastroenteritis |
Method of Administration | The plant is administered as intestinal tonic and expectorant in the form of herbal tea (100-150g of dried herb in 1L of boiled water, three times a day) and in the form of infusion (15-30g of dried herb in 1L of boiling water, three times a day). Also, it is applied externally against skin inflammation in the form of poultice from the green leaves and flowers. Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
Toxicity- Adverse Effects | No side effects are reported. Avoid plant's consumption from patient who suffer from cholelithiasis. |
References | 1) Bιβλίο: Τα φαρμακευτικά βότανα και οι θεραπευτικές τους ιδιότητες, Λάμπρου Π. Σπύρου, Αγροτικός εκδοτικός οίκος, Αθήνα 1981, Β' τόμος, σελίδες: 345-457 2)Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδα 60-61 3)http://eol.org/pages/597687/overview 4)Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) 5)http://health-from-nature.net/Mallow.html 6)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3586856/ |