COMMON MALLOW
Latvian: meža malva
German: Wilde Malve
Swedish: rödmalva
Estonian: mets-kassinaeris
Lithuanian: miškinė dedešva
Russian: просвирник лесной
Annual or biennial plant, 20-100 cm tall, with a well-branched central taproot. Stem
erect, hairy, little branched. Leaves without leaflets, ordinary, rounded kidney-
shaped, 5-7-parted or almost whole, softly hairy, on long petioles, which are also
covered with hair, only very rough. The pages are arranged alternately.
Flowers are bisexual, large, bright pinkish-purple, 3-4 cm in diameter, actinomorphic
on long peduncles, solitary or in cymes.
The fruit is dry and splits into several parts (mericarps) when ripe. Seeds with
endosperm. Characteristic glottis cells in the flower. Blooms from June to
September. A heat-loving plant.
In folk medicine, the roots, leaves, flowers and stems are used in their entirety. The
above-ground part of the plant is harvested until the plant has started to bloom.
Leaves are cut with stems 2 cm long. The leaves can be collected from June to
September. Flowers - during the boutonization period until they bloom. Roots are
dug in autumn. To preserve the active substances, the plant is dried at low
temperatures or on sieves in a well-ventilated and shaded place. Flowers, leaves
and roots are stored for up to 2 years.
MEDICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Mallow has many medicinal properties: covering, anti-inflammatory, expectorant,
softening, soothing, analgesic, immunostimulating properties. It has been
determined in the experiment that the mallow water extract acts as an immune
system stimulant and antioxidant. The extract has antibacterial activity. Mallow
preparations also have digestive tract regulating properties.
Mallow is a plant that has long been known in natural healing. Flowers, leaves,
stems and roots are commonly used in folk medicine. In addition, folk scientists
recommend using plant extracts and decoctions both internally and externally.
Preparations from the flowers and leaves of the forest mallow are used to treat
spastic colitis, constipation, as well as as a sedative in case of long-term cough,
colds, flu, bronchitis, stomatitis and periodontitis. Mallow is an effective remedy for
the prevention of diseases of the digestive tract and urinary tract. With its help,
inflammations in the digestive tract, kidneys and urinary tract are relieved.
Decoctions and decoctions are taken orally, as well as gargles and inhalations to
relieve coughs, colds, hoarseness and catarrh of the throat.
The root and surface part are used to treat conjunctivitis and blepharitis, leaves and
flowers as compresses for tumors. In the practice of folk medicine, fresh mallow
leaves are used to fight avitaminosis.
Forest mallow is included in medicinal plant mixtures with yarrow, oats, medicinal
chamomile, baths, ointments and compresses. Poultices of flowers and leaves are
used to soften the breasts during breastfeeding.
Forest mallow is also widely used in home cosmetology and dermatology. The
decoction is used externally in applications to soften and remove itching in case of skin diseases. Compresses from forest mallow are used to heal purulent wounds,
burns, consequences caused by herpes viruses, in case of dyshidrosis, as an anti-
inflammatory agent. Mallow root is recommended for rinsing hair after shampooing.
Flowers and leaves are included in cosmetic mixtures used for facial masks - for dry
and sensitive skin, age wrinkles and to refresh the facial skin.
For men
The plant is used to treat impotence.
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE
So far, no side effects have been found that could arise from the use of forest
mallow. However, it would not be desirable to be irresponsible when using this plant.
MEANING OF FOOD
Before the advent of cultivated plants such as spinach and lettuce, this honorable
place was occupied by forest mallow. This plant is especially popular in Georgian
cuisine, where it is still grown as a vegetable. And if you search for Georgian
recipes, you will find many recipes in which one of the basic ingredients will be
mallow, mainly its leaves.
agfonds.lv
Augu katalogs ir tapis ar Eiropas Savienības finansiālu atbalstu Pārrobežu sadarbības programmas 2014.–2020. gadam projekta LVIII-062 “Versts of Feelings 2” ietvaros
