Abutilon, Indian Mallow

Abutilon Semen, Qing Ma Zi 青麻子

Indian Mallow
Atibala (Ayurveda)
Kanghi (Unani)
Mao Zi Dun Tou (Herb, TCM)
Qing Ma Zi (Seed TCM)

Abutilon avicennae, under the section on Marshmallow
A Niewe Herball, or Historie of Plantes (Dodoens, 1578)

Abutilon avicennae
Kreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586

Abutilon avicennae
Flora von Deutschland (21), Kohler, 1885

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Botanical name:
Abutilon spp.
  1. A. indicum (syn. Sida indica)
  2. A. avicennae (syn. A. theophrastii) (TCM)
  3. A. fruticosum
  4. A. hirtum
  5. A. polyandrum (syn. A. persicum)

Parts used:
Herb, Root, Seed (Ayurveda, Unani)
Herb of A. indicum and Seed of A. theophrastii is used in TCM

Temperature & Taste:
HERB: Slightly Warm (Unani); Neutral, Sweet (TCM). Slightly Toxic
SEED: Neutral, Moist. Bitter (TCM)

Classifications:
A. Clear Exterior Wind-Heat

Uses:
HERB:
1. Clears Wind-Heat: (Ayurveda, Unani)
-Cold, Flu, Acute Fever
-Heat-type Cough, Bronchitis, Pharyngitis, acute Sore Throat
-Deafness, Tinnitus from Heat and Wind
-Toxic Sores and Abscesses

2. Clears Heat, Resists Toxin, Resolves Swelling: (Ayurveda, Unani)
-Diarrhea
-Otitis Media

3. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine: (Ayurveda, Unani)
-Burning Urine, Urinary Tract Infection, Urethritis, Cystitis
-Gonorrhea
-Herb or Seed are used for this purpose
-ash is diuretic and helps resolves Stones

4. Benefits the Spleen, Promotes Digestion:
-Chronic Indigestion, poor appetite (TCM)
-a gentle laxative in heat conditions; all parts of the plant have been used for this purpose (Ayurveda)

5. Externally:
-decoction is used as a mouth wash for sore mouth and toothache


SEED:
1. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine: (TCM, Ayurveda)
-painful or dribbling Urine; Cystitis
-Dysentery

2. Clears Heat, Resists Toxin, Resolves Swelling: (TCM, Ayurveda)
-Toxic Sores, Abscesses
-Cough (Ayurveda)

3. Clears the Eyes:
-used for superficial visual obstruction


ROOT:
Used similarly, but has more tonic qualities
-Regarded as a nerve tonic; used in Paralysis
-regarded as Aphrodisiac
-Polyuria, strangury
-Bleeding

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DOSE:
Root in Powder: 3–6 grams
Seed in Decoction: 3–9 grams
Herb: 1–3 grams (Chen & Chen)

CORRECTIVE:
1. Honey (Unani)
2. Black Pepper (Unani)

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Mallow or Marshmallow may be used as a substitute; leaf for leaf, seed for seed, root for root.
2. Sida rhombifolia is used synonymously in India
3. Conserve of Emblic Myrobalan

Main Combinations:
1. Urgent Urination in Gonorrhea or Urethritis, Abutilon indicum herb infusion is taken with Caraway seed in powder (Unani)
2. Wind-Heat Cold and Flu, Abutilon indicum herb, Lonicera Jin Yin Hua, Scutellaria Huang Qin, Isatis Ban Lan Gen (TCM)
3. Toxic Sores and Abscesses, Abutilon indicum herb, Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Rhubarb (Da Huang), Safflower (Hong Hua)
3. Deafness and Tinnitus from Liver Heat or Wind-Heat, Abutilon indicum herb, Gentiana Long Dan Cao, Vervain (Ma Bian Cao), Polygonum Hu Zhang, (TCM)

Cautions:
None noted

Main Preparations used: