The redundancy is evident in the scientific name for our plant, as althaea is a Greek word meaning with medicinal properties, while officinalis refers to any plant used in medicine.
Marshmallow with stems of the details of their roots, which accumulated a large amount of mucilage. This plant, which is acclimated across Europe, it seems that in the Middle Ages know "escaped" from the gardens of the convent where the monks grew to market their medicinal properties.
Faced with toothache or Ilagas of mouth is good chew of marshmallow root.
Plant perennial, herbaceous stem that is renewed every year, almost woody, more than a meter and a half tall, straight, the velvet touch, such as leaves. These are large, more or less rhombic, pale green, white. The flowers, white or pink, are developing along the stem, in the armpit of the leaves. They have 5 petals ACORAZONADO. The fruit is a dark-coated grain, like the rest of the plant, a very dense hairs. The result, pivoting (straight, perpendicular to the ground), is long and fleshy. When is extracted and dried, the herbalists are sold under the name of Radix althaeae (marshmallow root) Attention, therefore, to this name! He is known also as altea, grass and Cañamero bismalva.
LOCATION: From ancient times is known of their existence in the steppes of Asia. It grows in damp soils, irrigated with brackish water, as in some river basins, across the Eurasian continent.
Medicinal properties: It is a very useful plant as a soothing expectorant, antitussive and emollient to soften and inflamed areas).
COLLECTION: The leaves should be caught in early summer, as the flowers begin blooming later, in midsummer and when fully developed. But attention, because leaves and flowers should be collected on sunny days and in the morning, because circumstances are moisten and can facilitate the emergence of fungi, something very common in all plants of the family. From formal, the most interesting part is to be drawn in the fall, starting the second year, then soon are very thin have barely had time to accumulate active substances to other compounds. Once extracted, is peeling and is careful not dry.
USES AND APPLICATIONS: Mostly used the root for its high content of mucilage, but if he wants to keep the plant can be made to serve the leaves and flowers with a corresponding tallitos (the flowering tops). Against cough and bronchial secretions are taking water from marshmallow, which is prepared with 50 grams of the roots, leaving them submerged a liter of warm water, not too hot for four hours. They take three cups daily. Against sores in the mouth or toothache, you can chewed roots (bien clean) and the juice appears to cause a moderate relief. As a poultice, you can apply water marshmallow with a gauze over the area inflamed or painful.
- Flowers: mucilage (5-10%), traces of essential oil, flavonoids.
- Leaves: mucilages (10%), starch, traces of essential oil.
Drug Action
The abundance of mucilages, especially in the root, gives it as anti-inflammatory properties, demulcent, béquico, expectorant and laxative.
Indications
Flu, colds, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma. Stomatitis, gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea. By its action demulcent, is indicated its topical use in burns, abscesses, boils, gingivitis and pharyngitis.
Contraindications
Do not prescribe dosage forms with alcoholic content for oral administration in children under two years or consultants in the process of alcohol addiction.
Caution / Poisoning
Due to its abundance of mucilages, may be reduced absorption of other medicinal substances, if taken at the same time. On the contrary, it may be an interesting complement therapeutic to prevent the occurrence of gastric discomfort when prescribing herbal teas with a high tannin content.
When prescribing a diabetic, the physician should monitor blood sugar levels to adjust, if necessary, the dose of insulin or oral agents.
Take into account the alcohol content of the extract fluid from the dye and syrup.
Galenica forms / Dosage
Internal use:
- Decoction (root): 10-20 g / l, three cups a day (it is more pleasant to take than the infusion of flowers and leaves).
- Infusion (leaves, flowers): 5 grams per cup. Infuse 10 minutes, three or more cups a day.
- Fluid extract (1:1): 30-50 drops, one to three times a day.
- Tincture (1:10): 50-100 drops, one to three times a day.
- Dry extract (5:1): 0.5-1 g / day in 2-4 shots.
- Syrup (5% extract fluid), four or more tablespoons a day.
Topical use:
- Infusion of leaves and flowers: 50 g / l, in the form of incontinence, or mouthwashes gargarismos.
- Decoction (roots): 20 to 30 g / l, applied as compresses, lotions, mouthwashes and gargarismos.
Bibliography
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Real Spanish Pharmacopoeia. Madrid: Ministry of Health and Consumption, 1997, p. 406.
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