Mallow Low.

Mallow Low

An annual or biennial plant of the mallow family, 15-20 cm high. The stem is straight or ascending, branched, pubescent or glabrous. The leaves are long-petiolate, with a kidney-shaped palmate or crenate blade.

Blooms in summer or autumn. The flowers are whitish, located in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is dry, breaking up into numerous parts - mericaria.

Low mallow is widespread in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Western and Eastern Siberia, the Far East and Central Asia. It grows in mountain gorges, along dry rocky riverbeds, along roads, in vegetable gardens, orchards and wastelands. It is a good honey plant.

The leaves are used as spinach and lettuce. The plant is insecticidal. Can be used instead of marshmallow.

The medicinal raw materials are leaves, roots and flowers. The leaves are collected before the plant blooms. Dry outdoors in the shade or in a warm, well-ventilated area.

The roots are dug up in the fall. Dry in an oven or dryer at a temperature of 5°. 6О°С.

Leaves and flowers are stored in closed glass containers, roots - in boxes or bags for 2 years. All parts of the plant contain mucilage. Vitamin C, carotene and tannins are found in the leaves, and vitamin C in the roots.

In the aerial part, carbohydrates, steroids, vitamin C and fatty oil are found, which contain palmitic, stearic and oleic acids, as well as wax and malvina coloring matter.

Mallow preparations have anti-inflammatory, enveloping, expectorant and antidiabetic effects. They regulate the function of the gastrointestinal tract and are indicated for pulmonary tuberculosis, hoarseness and debilitating cough with poorly discharged sputum.

In the latter case, in addition to oral administration, gargle with the infusion 5-8 times a day. The plant is effective for attacks of renal colic and inflammation of the pancreas, dyspepsia, tuberculous skin lesions, mild diabetes and in the treatment of ulcers. An infusion of milk is used to increase urine output, for heart attacks, gonorrhea, diarrhea and menstrual irregularities.

Externally, mallow is taken in the form of a poultice, using the entire above-ground part of the plant. The ointment is prescribed for skin irritation, burns, eczema and hemorrhoids. If you have a disease of the spleen, take hot baths at night from the herbs of mallow, Chernobyl, green oats and chamomile flowers.

The raw materials of the listed plants are taken in 150 g quantities and boiled in 5 liters of water for 20 minutes. Use for one bath.

To prepare an infusion of flowers and leaves, pour 3 tablespoons of crushed raw materials into 1 glass of hot water, boil in a closed enamel container in a water bath for 15 minutes, squeeze and bring the volume to the original volume with boiled water.

Take 1/4 cup 3 times a day before meals. The same infusion is used to rinse the mouth and throat.