It’s a plant you easily find in the garden, in the meadow or under the hedges.
In the past it was of high repute for its virtues.
Orazio and Cicerone were great mallow consumers and Carlo Magno wanted it to be grown in all imperial gardens.
At that time, it was used to heal headache, kidney disorders, urinary blockage, haemorrhages and poisoning.
Today we know it especially for its soothing functions. Actually it can heal irritated and traumatized tissues. You can use mallow to make infusions, decoctions, baths, lotions, compresses, enemas and poultice. You can drink it or use it externally as necessary.
You can use leaves, which are round and soft, flowers (lilac and violet) and roots.
You can gather it between June and August and let it dry in the shadow.
Herbalists have dried mallow.
Few people know it can be used in cooking. Actually, boiled mallow is a very good side dish with meat (it looks like spinach), and you can prepare very good and nourishing soups.
Anti-inflammatory decoction: boil a big handful of flowers, one of leaves and one of crushed roots in 1 l of water for about 15 minutes. Drink 3 or 4 cups per day to soothe digestive system inflammations that is duodenitis, colitis ecc.
The same decoction can be used as enema.
It’s excellent for gargles against pharyngitis.
It’s helpful also against burns. For example, put two pinches of flowers and leaves in a cup of water. Then use cotton balls to put it warm on your face. It can have a softening and soothing effect, useful to decongest the skin irritated by sun rays.
It’s helpful also for insect stings, hives, acne and skin rashes in general.
Make compresses on your eyes against conjunctivitis.
Infusion against bronchitis and cold: three parts of mallow leaves and roots in boiling hot water to infuse for 10 minutes.
Drink 3-4 cups per day to treat cold, cough and bronchitis.
Dried and powdered mallow root is a helpful toothpaste and a good mouth disinfectant.
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