Althaea officinalis L
Family: Malvaceae
English common name: Mallow
Polish common name: Slaz Lekarski German common name: Echter Eibisch
1. Botanical description
This plant grows from 0.5 to 1.3 m.
The root is strong, white, fleshy and tart-sweet. The principal root often divides into secondary branches.
The stems are few in number, straight, round, woody at the bottom, but green at the top. They have a whitish, woolly appearance.
The leaves are heart-shaped, whitish-green and suspended from long stalks (1-5 em). They have 3-5
divisions, are serrated along the margin and have fine hairs.
The flowers grow from the leaf axis. They have 5 petals, are pale-pink to white, and have no scent. The calyx has a IO-fold division on the outside, but only 5 pseudo-petals on the inside.
The fruit contains 10-18 seeds which are flat, smooth and dark brown. There is no smell to any part of this plant. It has a sweetish, sticky, slightly tart taste.
2. Origin and distribution
It originated in southern Europe and spread to west and central Europe. It prefers a sunny position, sheltered from the wind and likes damp, but not wet soil. Grows well on shores of creeks, rivers, lakes and ponds, and is not averse to seashores. It grows also in gardens and orchards.
3. Cultivation
This plant is best grown from seed sown into boxes, then transplanted into prepared fields. It should be carefully planted in soils rich in humus and of a sandclay composition, but not pure clay.
Plants should be spaced 40 ml apart. It requires cultivation and should be kept free of weeds. It feeds from deeper layers of soil. Flowers appear towards the end of summer. It loves fresh manure and compost material. Artificial fertilizers such as kainite, saltpetre and tomasine may be applied.
4. Harvest
Collect the flowers immediately after they appear, the leaves before flowering time and the roots in 2 - 3 years, in winter.
The roots must be carefully washed and peeled, then chopped into small cubes and dried in the oven.
5. Active elements
Fatty oil 1.8 per cent; mucilage (basorine) 35 per cent; aspergine 8 per cent; pectin 11 per cent; starch 37 per cent; calcium phosphate 8 per cent; pectic acid; sugar; mineral salts; fibre; dye.
6. Manner of action
It soothes, reduces inflammation and is an excellent expectorant.
7. Use
(a) Internal: It is taken in the form of tea made from the young roots and is recommended to reduce inflammation of the respiratory tract, and as a remedy for diseases of the intestines, including dysentery. It is also used to treat complaints of the urinary tract and fluor albus (white vaginal discharge).
A brew from this root, prepared with camomilla, egg white, sugar and gum arabic, is one of the best expectorants. It helps discharge of phlegm, and also soothes inflammation and pain.
(b) External: A concentrated extract is used as a gargle and for enemas.
lf 2 cup of flowers boiled in 500 ml water for 5 minutes produces, after straining through a piece of gauze, an excellent eyewash for inflamed eyes. This extract should be reinforced by the addition of 5 drops spirit of camphorae. Used on cotton-wool as a compress it reduces the swelling of styes.
8. Trade names
Radix althaeae, Flores althaeae. Note: There are several commercial preparations on the market which are obtainable from: Onno Behrends, Norden, Ostfriesland, West Germany. Australian distributors are: Abel, Lemon and Co Ply Ltd, Concord West 2138, N.S.W.