Recognizing wild mallow – inNaturale

The wild mallow or common mallowscientific name Malva sylvestisis a perennial herbaceous plant it grows spontaneously throughout Italy. Knows a long tradition of uses in folk medicine e in herbal medicine for its emollient, soothing and calming properties. Once upon a time here it was also called in Latin all diseasesMeaning what remedy against all ills, because it is able to cure a long series of annoyances. So, let’s get to know the plant better, its properties and let’s see how to recognize wild mallow on a walk.

How to recognize wild mallow

Spontaneous mallow is one bushy plant, evergreen and with an upright habit. The root has a taproot, the leaves are round and rough, sometimes toothed, covered with down and arranged in a fan shape.

The flowers, edible, have five violet petals, with dark streaks and grow in pairs or bunches. The plant flowers from May to September, but also until October. Leaves and flowers are eaten young, when not yet mature, as well as the shoots of the plant.

Wild mallow where it is

In the wild, the mallow is easily found. It grows in country meadows, along the edges of roads and paths and in uncultivated fields, up to 1,600 meters of altitude. It loves full sun but also grows in partial shade, preferring i well nitrogenous soils and capable of retaining moisture. The appellation sylvestris, from the Latin, it probably indicates the place of growth of the plant, therefore mostly forests and woods.

“Mallow saves from all evil”

The name of the mallow plant should derive from the Greek malakhewhat does it mean soft, emollient. However, some prefer the Latin etymology of the name, da to soften the bowelsthat is to make it soft, and in any case by virtue of its well-known emollient properties.

In the past, the mallow was used to cure one long series of problems: dai digestive problems and of the excretory system, alle oral inflammationsmucous membranes and skin.

It was a plant well known and loved by both the Greeks and the Romans. Charlemagne chose it to decorate his imperial gardens and Pliny the Elderextolling its virtues, he used to write “the mallow saves from all evil”, recommending its juice as a panacea to better face the days.

Properties of the mallow plant

Wild mallow is a plant rich in mucilagepolyunsaturated fats such as Omega3, salts and vitamins that give it:

• emollient properties
• calming properties e anti-inflammatory of the mucous membranes
• expectorant properties
• laxative properties.

In the past it was very common to use wild mallow as a natural remedy against toothachea natural remedy that, clearly, would still work today.

In this case it is necessary to blanch the mallow leaves for a few minutes and create a small ball to put in the mouth, between the tooth or the sore gum and the cheek, for about an hour. The medicine is changed by repeating the operation until the inflammation subsides.