* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Mallow Malva sylvestris L.
Family:Malvaceae.
Other Names: Common mallow; mauve sauvage (French); Wilde Malve, Große Käsepappel (German); malva riondela (Italian); malva (Spanish).
Description: Mallow is a biennial herb or shrublet (up to 1 m) with rounded, lobed and dentate leaves. The attractive pink flowers each have five petals with characteristic dark veins at their bases. A second species, known as dwarf mallow (M. neglecta), is sometimes also used as a source of leaf material. Both M. sylvestris subsp. sylvestris and M. sylvestris subsp. mauritiana are considered suitable as sources of mallow flowers. These flowers should not be confused with Malvae arboreae flos, which is harvested from Alca rosea (the garden hollyhock).
Origin: Europe and Asia; they have become weeds in other parts of the world.
Parts Used: Dried leaves (Malvae folium) or flowers (Malvae flos).
Therapeutic Category: Demulcent; cough medicine.
Uses and Properties: The main use of the herb is to treat mucosal irritations of the mouth and throat, that result in dry, irritating cough. It is also considered useful as a mild astringent to treat gastroenteritis. Traditionally it was used internally in case of bladder complaints and externally as a poultice for wounds.
Preparation and Dosage: About 5 g of dried leaves or flowers (or the equivalent thereof, in extracted form) are used.
Active Ingredients: Like other members of the family (Althaea officinalis), mallow contains mucilage (slime). Mucilage is present in concentrations of 10% and 8% of dry weight in flowers and leaves, respectively. On hydrolysis, the mucilage yields various sugars, including arabinose, galactose, glucose and rhamnose, together with galacturonic acid. Of importance are quite high yields of anthocyanins in the flowers (about 7% of dry weight), including malvin (malvidin 3,5-diglucoside), malvidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-glucoside. Also present are small amounts of tannins (rosmarinic acid) and proanthocyanins.
Pharmacological Effects: The mucilage in mallow is emulcent and therefore forms a protective film over inflamed mucous membranes. Anthocyanins and the other phenolics have antioxidant activities; they are responsible for the mild astringent and anti-inflammatory properties.
Notes: The flowers are sometimes included in other products as a natural colourant.
Status: Traditional medicine; Pharm.; Comm. E+.
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Directions
Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 tea bag for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).
Iced tea brewing method (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water].
Additional Information
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
