The Natural Health Benefits of Malva

Malva (malva sylvestris) is part of a group of species of herbaceous plant in the malvaceae plant family. It is more commonly known as mallow and it is widespread throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe. It bears dark green six pointed leaves and pink five-pointed flowers which are popular in potpourri mixes.

The active ingredients in these plants are Asparagine, Althein, Ascorbic-Acid (Vitamin C), flavonol and glycosides. Malva and mallows are analgesic, demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge, slightly laxative and odontalgic. Mallow, malva, or hibiscus tea is well known in alternative medicine for its use to treat throat inflammations and laryngitis and can be used as an expectorant for coughs and bronchitis.

The most common use of malva is to infuse into tea as an alternative treatment for irritations of the mucosa and throat and dry, irritating cough. Malva tea is often infused used to relax and sooth the digestive system or be gargled to treat a sore throat. The tea can be taken to ease the symptoms of gastritis or used as an enema for intestinal inflammations. It has also been used as an alternative to traditional medicine for treating dysentery, lung, and urinary ailments. Malva tea has also been documented to have been used externally as a wash to clean wounds.

The malva leaf is high in mucilaginous components, making it a wonderful soother of the lungs and respiratory system and can be effective in the alternative treatment of bronchitis, emphysema or anytime a bronchial irritation is present.

To make tea, boil two to four teaspoons of dried malva or mallow leaves or flowers in 150 ml of water for 10 minutes. One cup of tea can be consumed three times a day. For topical uses, dip a clean cloth into the tea and applied to inflamed skin.

Making tea from a cold infusion may extract the mucilage from the plant more efficiently. A cold infusion can be made by soaking approximately six teaspoons of dried leaves and flowers in a quart of water overnight.

As a lotion or cream it can be used to sooth skin inflammations. The root of these plants can be used as a toothbrush or pealed and given for teething children to chew.

There are no known side effects associated with malva or mallows however, natural therapies and herbal medicines should be used adjunctively or complementary to traditional medical treatment. Treating serious conditions without medical training can be dangerous and possibly life-threatening. Always seek medical assistance when needed.

References

Janet C. Maccaro, Natural Health Remedies: An A-Z Family Guide, Siloam Press, 2003

Amy Rost, Natural Healing Wisdom & Know How: Useful Practices, Recipes, and Formulas for a Lifetime of Health, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishing, 2009.