Althaea officinalis
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| Botanical Nomenclature | Althaea officinalis |
| Common Name | Marsh Mallow |
| Taxonomy- Family | Malvaceae |
| Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Althaea officinalis is a perennial, herbaceous plant growing up to 1m, with velvet, soft, heart-shaped, large, green leaves and pink flowers. The flowering and the harvesting take place from August to September |
| Region Found | Epirus |
| Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Leaves, root, flowers |
| Active Substances | pectin, carbohydrates, asparagine, mucus |
| Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The root has emollient, sedative, diuretic and healing properties. It is recommended against digestive disorders and oral inflammation (gingivitis, periodontitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer). The leaves have anti-inflammatory and expectorant actions and are used for treatment of respiratory problems (bronchitis, cough, runny nose). |
| Method of Administration | The plant is administered in the form of herbal tea (30g of dried herb in 150mL of boiled water, a spoon every two or three hours) against bronchitis, runny nose and cough. Also it is administered in the form of gargle for the treatment of stomatitis, gingivitis and inflammations of the upper respiratory tract. Finally, the poultice of the leaves is used against varicose veins, ulcers, abscesses and boils. 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. |
| References | 1) Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 83 2) Keith I. Block, Charlotte Gyllenhaal, and Mark N. Mead, Safety and Efficacy of Herbal Sedatives in Cancer Care, Integr Cancer Ther June 2004 3: 128-148, doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 3)http://ict.sagepub.com/content/3/2/128.full.pdf+html 4)http://www.herballegacy.com/Peret_Medicinal.html 5)http://jocpr.com/second-issue/J.%20Chem.%20Pharm.%20Res.,2010,%202(1)%20283-291.pdf 6)http://health-from-nature.net/Onion.html |