Malva, Mallow

Gart der Gesundheit, Cuba, 1485

Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Malva sylvestris
Koehler’s Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887

Left: Musk Mallow   Right: Low Mallow
Flora von Deutschland (21), Kohler, 1885

 1. Malva sylvestris; 2 M. rotundifolia
3. M. rotundifolia var. pusilla; 4. M. moschata
Florigraphia Britannica, Deakin, 1857

Uses:

1. Clears Heat, Soothes the Stomach and Bowels:

-gnawing pain, Ulcers and corrosion of the Stomach and Bowels
-Loosens the Belly, benefits the Bowels, good for corrosion of them, eases Pain
-seed is used for Constipation from dryness of the Bowels

2. Clears Heat, Moistens the Lungs, Stops Cough:

-benefits the Lungs
-Cough, Bronchitis, Hoarseness, Consumption

3. Clears Heat, Promotes Urine:

-corrects sharp or burning Urine (Mallow seed is also used for this purposes)
-eases corrosion or Ulcers of the Bladder

4. Moves the Blood, Resolves Masses:

-Softens hard Tumors internally and externally
-Good for the Uterus; hardness and obstruction of the Uterus
-‘good for a pregnant woman to ensure an easy delivery’. (Su Song, Musk mallow herb)
-ashes taken stop bleeding from a wound. (Zhen Quan)

5. Resists Poison:

-Poisons
-stinging of Scorpions, Bees and Wasps (Dioscorides)
-also to heal Wounds
-“The decoction of its root helps against all Poisons”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“This herb is effective against all stinging Bites, especially from Scorpions, Wasps, Bees, Mice, and Spiders”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-good for the negative effects of taking mineral and stone drugs (Meng Xian)

6. Promotes Breast Milk:

-used to increase Milk

7. Externally:

-for Scald Head, Abscesses, Eczema, dry or rough skin conditions
-boiled with Urine to a lixivium to ripen Tumors, eases Pain
-topically to hard Tumors, red and hot swellings and inflammations
-often in enemas
-eases pain of Stones (in Enemas);
-decoction of the root is used for Dandruff
-applied to Gout and hot joint pains (poultice, oil)
-“Malva leaves are effective against hot and hard abscesses, crushed and applied”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“The flowers, boiled in honey water or wine, and then crushed, heal hard tubercles, such as ulcers and scrofulas (struma)”.
-“Fresh leaves of Malva, decocted and applied to wounds, heal them”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“The seed, tempered with wine and olive oil, drives away all blemishes of the face, when anointed”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“Malva, decocted with human urine, cures oozing head ulcers and dandruff, if the head is washed with it”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“decoction is also beneficial for erosions of the bladder, and of the intestines, of the vulva, of the rectum, used as an enema”. (Dorsetn, 1540)

Main Combinations:

Combined with the Emollient herbs Marshmallow, Beet, Mercury, Pellitory of the Wall, and Violet leaf. This combination is useful in any case that needs cooling, soothing and softening.

1. Cough:
i. “For coughs, boiled in milk and taken as a gargle, it improves in five days”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
ii. Mallow flower, Ribwort Plantain, Balm, Raspberry
iii. Mallow flower, Amaranth flower, Coltsfoot flower, Red Poppy flower (equal parts) (Pharmacopoeia Gallica, 1818)
2. Constipation, Mallow leaf or seed with Agrimony
3. Heat of the Urine, combine Mallow, Marshmallow and Parsley
4. Bladder Abscess, Mallow, Marshmallow, Purslane seed, 4 Cold Seeds (as in Powder for Bladder Abscess of Alexander Benedictus)
4. Water retention, Edema, Mallow seed with Tribulus seed (Tibetan Medicine)
6. “Mallow, boiled with Fennel and drunk, brings an abundance of milk to women”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
7. Enemas:
i. Mallow leaf, Camomile, Fennel
ii. Mallow leaf, Violet, Camomile, Fennel seed, Linseed, Fenugreek
8. Fomentation for Hemorrhoids: Mallow, Mullein (equal parts) (Memorial Pharmaceutique, 1824)
9. Fomentation for Pleurisy, boil Wild Mallow leaf in oil, then put them in linen cloth and apply warm to the part. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
10. Abscesses:
i. “The herb boiled with the root, slowly to consumption of the water, will appear a certain viscosity: which when placed on top ripens the abscess, relaxes the hardness and softens it”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
ii. “The water in which Malva has been boiled, with the addition of wax and oil, is the best ointment for anointing abscesses”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
11. Scrofula: “Mallow, crushed with Sage, and applied daily, heals scrofulas (strumas), parotid glands, and phlegmons”. (Dorsetn, 1540)

Major Formulas

Infusion of Seven Flowers
Decoction to Cool the Blood (Wirtzung)
Syrup of Marshmallow (Fernel)
Powder for Bladder Abscess of Alexander Benedictus

1. Emollient Powder:
i. Mallow leaf (12 parts), Camomile (6 parts), Linseed (3 parts). (Dispensatorium Fuldense, 1791)
2. Decoction of Mallow:
i. dried Mallow leaf (1 oz.), Camomile flowers (half oz.), Water (1 pint). Boil for 15 minutes, strain. Used in fomentations and enemas.