Marsh Mallow
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis L.) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the mallow family, used medicinally since ancient times. Its roots, leaves, and flowers are valued for their high mucilage content and are used internally for respiratory catarrhs and externally as gargles and emollients.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
MARSH MALLOW, Althaea officinalis L., a perennial herbaceous plant from the mallow family (Malvaceae), growing wild in damp meadows of Europe and southern Asia and cultivated in many places. It has a short, thick rhizome with light yellow, long roots; one or several stems, 1-1.25 m in height. Marsh mallow blooms in July and August. The roots are harvested in autumn from two-year-old plants. Marsh mallow is one of the oldest medicinal plants, and the name Althaea comes from the Greek althomai - to heal. The root, leaves, and flowers have medical significance; preparations from them are used internally, due to their mucilage content, for catarrhs of the respiratory tract; externally - for gargles in aqueous infusions. According to the Pharmacopoeia (VII), only the root of marsh mallow is official, which has entered into the preparations Infusum A., Sirupus A. (see Syrups), Species pectorales, Species emollientes, Species Althaeae.
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Cite this page
“Marsh Mallow.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/marshmallow/