Marsh Mallow
(Althaea Officinalis)
Marsh mallow has been regarded as a
healing herb since ancient Egyptian times. The roots and leaves are
extermely gluey and help restore tissues.
Marsh mallow is a soothing, diuretic herb. It is also an expectorant and it heals wounds.
Many home remedies are made from marsh mallow. Infusions are one of them. People take infusions for sinusitis, nasal congestion and cystitis. For coughs, combine 500ml marsh mallow infusion with 500g honey to make a syrup. Another home remedy that uses marsh mallow is root powder. When taken as a paste or in pill form with slippery elm powder, it eases digestive tract inflamation. Poultice is a common home remedy. It is used to draw out splinters. The roots of marsh mallow and valerian are more effectively macerated to extract active substances than decocted. Put 25g of dried root in a bowl and add 500ml of cold water. Leave it over night in a cool place, then in the morning strain the mixture through a sieve. Marsh mallow root macrerate relieves coughs and stomach pains.
To cultivate marsh mallow, place the herb in a sunny place in moist soil. Sow seeds in late summer or divide the plants in autumn.
To harvest and store marsh mallow, gather flowers, stems and leaves in the summer. Collect the roots of two year old plants in the autumn. To dry marsh mallow, hang in small bunches, removing all thick stems. Dry the flowers in seperate trays. Store the parts of the herb in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.