Althaea plant description. Althaea officinalis

Latin name

Althaea officinalis

Folk names

Mallow, marshmallow

Pharmacy name

Marshmallow roots, marshmallow leaves, marshmallow flowers, marshmallow herb, marshmallow syrup

Part used

Roots, leaves

Collection time

Roots - (March-April, September-October), grass - within a month from the beginning of flowering, flowers - during the flowering period.

Description

Malvaceae family. A perennial herbaceous plant reaching 1.5 m in height. It has thick short rhizomes, yellowish on the inside, covered with brown bark on the outside. Stems are solitary or bundle-shaped, weakly branched. The leaves are petiolate, alternate, three- and five-lobed, the upper ones are ovate. The flowers are large, the leaves are crowded, in the axils there is a five-petalled corolla, pale pink. Blooms from June to late August.

Spreading.

It grows on moist soils in floodplains, in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of the European part of Russia, in the south of Western Siberia, in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Are used

Roots, less often leaves and flowers. Marshmallow roots consist of 35% mucous substances, the hydrolysis of which produces galactose, glucose, arabinose and rhamnose, as well as starch, sugar, pectin, fatty oils and some other substances.

Blank

In the fall, after the above-ground parts of the plant die, the roots are dug up, the woody base of the main root and thin lateral roots are cut off. The roots are washed from the ground with cold water, dried for 1-2 days in the air and the gray surface layer is scraped off with a knife; Thick pieces are cut lengthwise into 3-4 pieces. The roots must be dried very quickly so that they do not lose their white color and become moldy. Dry in attics, under a canopy with good ventilation or in dryers at a temperature of 40-50°C. Shelf life 3 goals. Grass, leaves and flowers are dried on the floor with a canopy, laying them out in a thin layer. All types of raw materials are very hygroscopic, so they should be stored in dry rooms in tightly sealed containers.

Growing

Requires loose, moisture-retaining, fertile soil and a sunny place. Propagated by seeds in the spring, sowing them for seedlings in April, or by dividing the bush in spring or autumn. In areas where the winter temperature drops below - 25C, marshmallows need shelter.

Application

Marshmallow root is used internally mainly as an expectorant, enveloping, emollient and anti-inflammatory agent for respiratory diseases. The root is also used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, colitis, especially accompanied by diarrhea. In the latter case, it acts as a fixing agent. In oriental medicine, marshmallow was also prescribed for urolithiasis and cystitis, prostate tumors and chronic prostatitis. Infusion and decoction of marshmallow (roots and leaves) has an enveloping effect on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract: swelling, inflammation and pain are reduced, in addition, the absorption of poison from the stomach and intestines into the blood slows down. Therefore, marshmallow root was used as an emergency remedy for poisoning. If you take medications that irritate the stomach with marshmallow, the patient can more easily tolerate the course of drug treatment. It is used externally as an anti-inflammatory and emollient in the form of poultices (retains heat at the site of application for a long time), for gargling, etc. Marshmallow roots are used as a nutrient as part of a mucous diet.

Recipes

Preparation of leaf infusion: pour 2 teaspoons of leaves into a glass of hot water and leave for 10 minutes. When you have a cough, it is good to sweeten the infusion with honey; if you have inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, it is not recommended to sweeten the infusion.

preparing a decoction of roots: 2 tbsp. l. roots and herbs, pour 2 cups of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes, leave for 2 hours and strain. Used for rinsing, compresses and enemas during inflammatory processes.

Infuse 1 tablespoon of crushed leaves for 1 hour in 1 glass of boiling water, strain. Take 1/4 cup warm, slowly, in sips 3-4 times a day for bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, inflammation of the bladder and stones in it, difficulty urinating.

skin inflammation: pour 2 tablespoons of crushed marshmallow root into 0.5 liters of water, let it brew and strain. Soak gauze pads in the infusion and apply to the face twice a day (morning and evening).

Boil 2 tablespoons of roots, flowers or leaves in 2 1/2 cups of water (4-5 minutes), leave for 2 hours, strain. Use for rinsing, compresses, poultices, enemas for inflammatory processes in the intestines.

powder: dry finely ground root, dilute with warm boiled water, stir to form a solution similar to sour cream. Take this mixture warm without straining, 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day for coughs, bronchitis, and flu.

syrup: add 16 parts sugar to 9 parts water, boil, then add 1 part marshmallow root extract. Take 1/2 cup 3 times a day for inflammation and ulcers of the stomach and intestines.

cough: take 1 teaspoon of marshmallow flowers and brew with 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain. Drink 1 teaspoon 3 times a day warm.

Althaea officinalis was known for its medicinal properties back in Ancient Egypt in the 9th century. BC e. It was also widely used in Ancient Rome, as mentioned by Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Pliny, who in the 1st century. BC e. wrote that “those who drink half a glass of this plant every day will not suffer from any illness.” The Latin generic name Althea is its Latinized Greek name, which in turn comes from the Greek. “although” - to heal.

The medieval French physician Odo of Mena suggested grinding marshmallow seeds in vinegar and olive oil in order to get rid of “shameful spots,” that is, marks from hickeys.

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Other names: Gulhetma, Wild poppy, Mallow, Mallow, Marshmallow, Wild rose.

Diseases and effects: chronic bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, bronchopneumonia, bronchial asthma, gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Active substances: polysaccharides, pentosans, hexosans, galactose, dextrose, pentose, asparagine, betaine.

Time to collect and prepare the plant: April - May, September - October.

Botanical description of marshmallow

Althaea officinalis is a perennial grayish-green herbaceous plant of the mallow family (Malvaceae), 60-150 cm high.

Rhizome thick, short, multi-headed, with a powerful taproot, woody in the upper part, reaching a length of 50 cm. The roots are fleshy, whitish, up to 2-3 cm thick.

Stems weakly branched, cylindrical, woody in the lower part, and green and succulent in the upper part.

Leaves alternate, 5-15 cm long, petiolate, grayish-green, velvety-felt with dense short pubescence. Marshmallow leaves have a silky appearance due to the star-shaped hairs. The lower leaves are round, ovate, the upper leaves are oblong-ovate, velvety, densely pubescent.

Flowers crowded in the axils of the upper and middle leaves and at the top of the stem in the form of racemose inflorescences. The corolla is pink, five-petalled, the petals are obovate. The purple stamens are numerous and also fused into a common tube.

Fetus- a flat, disc-shaped fractional polysperm, consisting of 15-25 yellowish-gray single-seeded fruitlets (achenes), which contain dark brown, kidney-shaped seeds. The weight of 1000 seeds ranges from 2.0 to 2.8 g.

Blooms from June to September, bears fruit from July.

Distribution and habitats of marshmallow

Althaea officinalis is widespread in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of the European part of the former USSR, in the south of Western Siberia, in Kazakhstan, and some regions of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

In the forest-steppe and steppe zones, marshmallow prefers habitats that are sufficiently provided with moisture: the banks of rivers, oxbow lakes, ditches, lakes and ponds, coastal thickets of bushes, damp, mostly saline meadows and fallow lands, swampy lowlands. Usually forms small groups, sometimes sparse thickets. In Ukraine it is found mainly in the basins of the Dnieper, Seversky Donets and Southern Bug. Marshmallow is found in small quantities in the Dniester basin.

The main collection and procurement areas are Ukraine, Voronezh region of Russia, Dagestan.

Biological features of marshmallow

Althaea officinalis is a moisture-loving plant. Under natural conditions it grows in areas with humid and temperate climates. In the wild, it occurs on soils with close groundwater and has a well-developed root system and above-ground mass.

Marshmallow reproduces both by seeds and vegetatively. Seed germination occurs 7-9 days after sowing in well-warmed, moist soil to 16-18 °C. Under favorable conditions, seedlings appear in 15-18 days. In the initial period, marshmallow seedlings grow very slowly and are demanding of moisture. If there is a significant lack of moisture, they die.

In the first year of the growing season, marshmallow blooms and bears fruit weakly. It blooms in June, and the fruits ripen in July - August. By the end of the growing season, buds form in the upper part of the root, from which branched stems grow in the spring. The development of stems and their number depend on the growing conditions and plant density. In the second year of life, the marshmallow blooms and bears fruit profusely. The period of growth and fruiting of marshmallow under favorable growing conditions continues almost until the onset of frost.

Preparation of marshmallow and quality of raw materials

The roots and rhizomes of marshmallow are harvested before regrowth begins, in April - the first half of May, or in the fall, in September-October, after the above-ground parts of the plant die off.

Currently, marshmallow is grown in Moldova on an area of ​​300-350 hectares, 50-60 tons of root and 150-200 tons of grass are produced annually. The yield of dry roots is 10-25 c/ha.

Marshmallow reproduces by seeds, less often - vegetatively and seedlings. Sowing marshmallow seeds is carried out in early spring at the first opportunity to go into the field or before winter, when there are no conditions for the emergence of seedlings.

Marshmallow roots and grass are harvested in the second and third years of the growing season. Roots are harvested early in spring or autumn.

The grass is harvested in the second year of the marshmallow growing season. The grass, cut at a height of 20-30 cm from the soil surface, is dried in windrows and then dried under a canopy, spread out in a layer no more than 50 cm thick.

According to the requirements of the State Pharmacopoeia and Pharmacopoeial Article FS 42-812-73, peeled marshmallow roots are cylindrical pieces or split lengthwise into 2-4 parts, slightly tapering towards the end. The thickness of the pieces is 0.5-1.5 cm and the length is up to 35 cm. The cut raw materials are pieces of various shapes ranging in size from 3 to 8 mm.

Raw materials must have a moisture content of no more than 14%; total ash no more than 8%, including ash insoluble in 10% hydrochloric acid no more than 0.5%; woody roots no more than 3%; marshmallow roots, poorly cleaned of cork, no more than 3%; organic impurities (parts of other non-poisonous plants) no more than 0.5%; mineral impurity (earth, sand, pebbles) no more than 1%.

Store raw materials in dry, well-ventilated areas. The roots are hygroscopic and easily become damp. Shelf life: 3 years.

Collected at the beginning of flowering, the dried herb of cultivated marshmallow consists of non-lignified shoots with partially fallen, whole or broken leaves and flowers.

Chemical composition of marshmallow

The roots of marshmallow contain about 35% mucilage, consisting mainly of polysaccharides - pentosans and hexosans, which are broken down during hydrolysis into galactose, dextrose and pentose. In addition, the roots contain pectin substances up to 16%, starch up to 37%, sucrose up to 10%, asparagine 2%, betaine 4%; fatty oil 1.7%. Leaves and flowers contain mucilage and about 0.2% solid essential oil.

Pharmacological properties of marshmallow

Marshmallow root is a typical representative of medicines related to mucus; in terms of the content of active compounds, it is almost equivalent in this regard to flax seeds. The term “plant mucilage” refers to a mixture of the corresponding mucilage and pectins, sometimes with the addition of aminopectins or dextrin. The composition of mucus molecules includes so-called uronic acids (for example, galacturonic acid), some organic acids and polysaccharides.

Mucus in water swells and forms characteristic colloidal systems, the medicinal value of which depends on the physicochemical properties that essentially determine the pharmacological action of these drugs. Plant mucus covers the mucous membranes with a thin layer, which is retained on them for a long time and thereby protects the mucous membranes from further irritation. As a result, spontaneous regeneration of damaged tissues is facilitated and the inflammatory process is reduced. Acting as a protector, plant mucus softens dense inflammatory plaque (for example, plaque on the mucous membranes of the throat and larynx).

In addition, mucus facilitates expectoration due to the properties characteristic of colloids. An aqueous extract of marshmallow root, taken orally in a sufficiently large dose, has an enveloping effect on the gastric mucosa. Its protective effect is more effective and lasting, the higher the acidity of gastric juice, since the viscosity of mucus increases upon contact with hydrochloric acid released during gastric secretion.

The use of marshmallow in medicine

The high mucus content and the above pharmacological properties of herbal preparations from marshmallow determine their use for diseases of the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract. Since aqueous extracts from marshmallow root have enveloping, protective, emollient, anti-inflammatory properties, and also have an expectorant and some analgesic effect, they are used primarily for chronic bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, bronchopneumonia and bronchial asthma.

Marshmallow root should be classified as an antitussive, since any effective expectorant also reduces cough. Marshmallow preparations soothe coughs, for example with laryngitis. A mucous decoction of marshmallow root, flowing down the back wall of the pharynx, moistens the vocal cords and can penetrate the trachea, softening hard plaque and promoting the healing of affected mucous membranes. Due to the content of mucous substances, starch, polysaccharides and a number of colloidal compounds, marshmallow preparations envelop the affected areas and protect the nerve endings of the mucous membranes of the oropharynx and trachea from various irritating factors, which not only gives a pronounced therapeutic effect, but also contributes to a longer lasting local effect of other drugs .

In addition, marshmallow root is widely used for gastritis and peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, especially with increased acidity of gastric juice. Mucous substances and colloidal aqueous solutions of the plant root envelop the affected ulcerative-erosive areas of the mucous membranes, creating a protective layer against the action of aggressive components and pathogenic flora, and also create favorable conditions for the healing of pathological areas, while simultaneously providing an anti-inflammatory effect. When used in combination with other more active anti-inflammatory drugs, marshmallow mucus slows down their evacuation and thereby creates favorable conditions for a longer and more complete local therapeutic effect on the affected areas.

The softening properties of marshmallow are used to soften and remove dense plaque during inflammation of the mucous membranes. Infusions of marshmallow root are prescribed in the form of rinses, poultices and enemas. There is experience in using marshmallow root as a dietary supplement when prescribing a mucus diet.

Clinical observations on the use of marshmallow infusion and extract for eczema and psoriasis are noteworthy. Patients were prescribed marshmallow in the form of infusion and extract orally, 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals for 1-3 weeks. As a result of treatment, significant improvement was observed in the majority of patients. For example, in patients with psoriasis there was a transition from a progressive stage to a stationary stage, and from a stationary stage to a regressive stage. The intensity and prevalence of psoriatic rashes decreased. All patients had improved sleep, appetite, and mood, and irritability disappeared; stool normalized and diuresis increased. A parallelism between the regression of pathological manifestations on the skin and the improvement in the functional state of the adrenal cortex was also noted.

Techniques for industrial cultivation of marshmallow

The best precursors for marshmallows are fallows and winter grains harvested for green fodder and grain.

Fertilizing the soil for marshmallow includes basic and pre-sowing treatment and depends on the degree of weediness of the site, the predecessor, sowing time and weather conditions.

The main tillage consists of fall plowing and semi-steam tillage. After harvesting the grain, the stubble is peeled twice. Before plowing, full doses of mineral fertilizers are applied. Plowing is best done to a depth of 30-35 cm, which makes it possible to increase the yield of roots and reduce losses of raw materials during harvesting. Plowing is carried out with simultaneous rolling of the soil using ring rollers. As weeds appear and grow, semi-steam tillage is carried out. For the last autumn cultivation, it is better to use the RVK-3.0 combined tillage implement.

Early spring and pre-sowing tillage of the soil is carried out depending on its physical properties, time of sowing, methods of main tillage and a number of other conditions. The main objective of the treatment is to create conditions to reduce the evaporation of soil moisture, destroy weeds and provide a compacted bed for seeds for rapid germination.

The prepared field for sowing marshmallow must have a leveled, finely cloddy surface and a sufficient supply of moisture in the top layer of soil.

The use of fertilizers for marshmallows consists of basic, pre-sowing and fertilizing. For the main treatment, it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers at the rate of N 120 P 60. Simultaneously with sowing, 30 kg/ha of granulated superphosphate is applied. In the second year of the growing season, marshmallow feeding is carried out in early spring at the rate of N 60.

The main method of propagating marshmallows is by sowing seeds. Spring sowing is carried out at the first opportunity to enter the field. For sowing, CO-4.2 seeders are used. Row spacing is 60–70 cm, seed sowing rate is 6–8 kg/ha, sowing depth is 3 cm.

Pre-winter sowing of marshmallows is carried out at a time when there are no longer conditions for the emergence of seedlings. The advantage of this sowing period is that the seeds do not require pre-sowing preparation and sowing is carried out at a less busy time. Compared to spring sowing, seedlings appear earlier, which contributes to their better growth and development in the future.

Relatively recently, a new method of pre-sowing seed treatment was developed. It consists in the fact that before sowing, marshmallow seeds are treated with a solution of gibberellin in a concentration (700 mg of gibberellin per liter of water) and left for 24 hours. Treatment of seeds with gibberellin ensures high field germination of seeds during spring sowing and increases yield by 10-15%.

The pre-sowing treatment of seeds with gibberellin is as follows: gibberellin is first dissolved in a small amount of ethyl alcohol (1 g of the drug in 20 ml of alcohol), and then in water to the required concentration. A mound of seeds no more than 0.5 m high is evenly moistened with a gibberellin solution and mixed repeatedly. The treated seeds are kept moist in the mound for a day and then dried. Immediate sowing is not necessary. For 100 kg of seeds, 10-12 liters of gibberellin working solution are usually consumed.

The pre-sowing treatment of seeds with gibberellin successfully replaces the previously used method of pre-sowing germination.

In the absence of gibberellin, seed preparation consists of soaking them for 3-4 hours in warm (not higher than 40 ° C) water and keeping them moist in a warm room for 30-48 hours. After which the seeds are dried to a free-flowing state.

Marshmallow can also be propagated by annual roots.

With this method of propagating marshmallows, annual roots are first grown in areas where marshmallows are sown thickly, with row spacing of 30 cm, and are not thinned out. They are dug up in the spring or better in the fall and planted in a permanent place with a planting machine to a depth of 5-10 cm. This method of cultivating marshmallows, compared to seed propagation, has a number of advantages. Thus, from 1 hectare of propagation site you can obtain planting material for 10 hectares of industrial plantation, and there is no need to cultivate 10 hectares of crops without a harvest in the first year.

At the beginning of the growing season, marshmallow is demanding on soil moisture and is very sensitive to weeds. Therefore, during this period it is very important to keep the crops loose and free from weeds.

When seedlings appear, the first loosening of the row spacing is carried out to a depth of 4-5 cm with cultivators with one-sided razor paws. Further processing is carried out as weeds appear. During the growing season in the first year of life, it is necessary to carry out 2-3 hand weedings and 4-5 inter-row treatments.

On plantations of subsequent years of life, harrowing is carried out in early spring with a BP-8 harrow or other heavy harrows. During the growing season, the plantation is weeded by hand and 3-4 inter-row treatments are carried out.

Roots and grass are removed in the second and third years of life. Harvesting the roots of marshmallow is usually carried out in autumn or early spring. It is possible to harvest the roots in the first year of the growing season, but the yield should be at least 12-16 c/ha. Before digging up the roots, preparatory work is carried out on the plantation. They involve mowing the above-ground mass with mowers and removing it from the field. The remaining stubble is cut with KIR-1.5 or other rotary mowers at soil level.

On uncompacted, light-textured soils, roots can be harvested with potato diggers. On compacted and heavy soils, the roots are plowed with a plow without moldboards. The roots are then selected by hand, shaken off the soil and removed from the field. In order to avoid large losses, the roots are additionally plowed twice and manually selected. At the washing site, the remaining stems are removed. Washing is carried out using root washing machines. The root is dried in an SKM-1 dryer and other thermally heated dryers at a temperature not exceeding 50-60 °C.

Raw materials are packaged in bales of 50 kg, in bags of 20-25 kg. Shelf life: 3 years.

Special areas are allocated for growing seeds. The collection of marshmallow seeds begins in the second year. Particular attention is paid to the control of weeds, diseases and pests in seed plots. When 50% of the ovaries are browned, harvesting begins. The mowed mass is dried in windrows and then taken to sites where it is dried and the seeds are ripened.

In sunny weather, the dry mass is threshed with a grain combine. The resulting seeds are not always freed from the bracts, so they are passed through a beater. Further cleaning is carried out using OS-4.3, Petkus machines, and an OPS-1 pneumatic sorting column. The peeled seeds are dried to standard humidity. Store the prepared seeds in multilayer paper bags.

Growing marshmallow in garden plots

The soil for cultivation on personal plots must be fertile, sandy loam or loamy. The area allocated for growing marshmallows is dug up in the fall to a depth of 25-27 cm, having previously added 5-6 g/m2 of compost and potassium fertilizers at the rate of 10-15 g/m2.

In early spring, the area is developed with a rake and loosened with a hoe to a depth of 4-5 cm. Then the area is somewhat compacted, furrows are made and seeds are sown to a depth of 2-3 cm. The seed consumption rate is 1 g/m2, row spacing is 45-60 cm. For sowing, it is better to use seeds that have been scarified or soaked in water for 3-5 days.

Plant care mainly consists of keeping the area free of weeds and maintaining the optimal number of plants per linear meter. The plant density should be within 10-15 plants. Fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers is carried out for annual crops in the phase of a well-developed rosette of leaves, and for perennial crops - in early spring. The consumption rate of nitrogen fertilizers is 10-15 g/m2.

In late autumn, the root is dug up with a shovel, freed from the soil, the above-ground part is removed, and quickly and thoroughly washed with running water. If the root thickness is more than 2 cm, it must be cut lengthwise and dried at a temperature of no more than 50-60 ° C.

The seeds are harvested by hand when 70-80% of the ovaries have browned.

Dosage forms of marshmallow, route of administration and dosage

Decoction of marshmallow roots(Decoctum radicum Althaeae): 6 g (2 tablespoons) of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml (1 glass) of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in boiling water (in a water bath) for 30 minutes, cool at room temperature in for 10 minutes, filter. The remaining raw materials are squeezed out. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted to 200 ml with boiled water. The prepared broth is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days.

Take hot, 1/2-1/3 cup 3-4 times a day after meals.

Raw materials are not packaged. The roots are stored in a dry, cool place.

Dry marshmallow root extract(Extractum Althaeae siccum) is a grayish-yellow powder with a peculiar sweetish taste.

Marshmallow root extract liquid(Extractum Althaeae fluidum) is a thick liquid of dark amber color, a peculiar sweet taste, almost odorless.

Marshmallow syrup(Syrupus Athaeae) consists of dry marshmallow root extract (2 parts), sugar syrup (98 parts). It is a clear, yellowish liquid with a peculiar sweet taste. Used in mixtures to improve taste and as an enveloping agent.

Mukaltin(Mucaltinum). Tablets of 0.05 g containing a mixture of polysaccharides (dry mucus) from the marshmallow herb. Prescribe 1-2 tablets per dose before meals. The indications are the same as for all marshmallow root preparations. Store in a dry, cool place.

Collection No. 103
Used for laryngitis. According to the method of preparation and use - inhalation.

Collection No. 167
Used for sore throat, pharyngitis

Collection No. 189
Used for bronchitis. According to the method of preparation and use - infusion.

Malvaceae family (Malvaceae)

This wonderful plant should be in everyone's garden bed - especially if you have small children.
The Latin generic name comes from the Greek althos - medicine, species translated from Latin means pharmaceutical.
Common names: mallow, marshmallow, kalachiki, wild rose, mallow.
Bashkir and Tatar names: shifali meche boryche, which translates as healing cat pepper.
If you send us the names of this plant from other peoples of our Motherland and stories about how it is used in your area, we will be glad.
Unfortunately, this plant is listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Bashkortostan, and by growing it, we will not only be healthy, but also help this wonderful healing plant not to disappear.

WHAT IS MALTHEA GOOD, WHAT IS IT FAMOUS AROUND THE WORLD?

The marshmallow stems were used for fiber and the seeds for oil.
Althaea is one of the most ancient medicinal plants. Even the ancient Greeks and Romans used marshmallow as a medicinal remedy.
In medicine, marshmallow literally uses all its organs “from head to toe”: rhizomes and roots, leaves and flowers.

The well-known drug “Mukaltin”, used as an expectorant, is made from a mixture of polysaccharides isolated from the marshmallow herb.
Marshmallow preparations are used for diseases of the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract as an expectorant, soothing irritation of the pharynx and trachea, as well as an enveloping agent.
The mucus contained in marshmallow swells in water and promotes the healing of damaged tissue, reducing the inflammatory process.
Marshmallow is useful for high acidity of gastric juice. An aqueous extract of marshmallow root has a coating effect on the gastric mucosa.
Infusions and extracts of marshmallow are also recommended for psoriasis and eczema.
The enveloping effect of mucus helps relieve pain in inflamed tissues.
Marshmallow roots are edible. They can be eaten both raw and boiled. Crushed roots are added to porridges, jelly, and dough when baking buns.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE ALTEIKA IN THE “FACE”?

It is very important to correctly identify the medicinal plant. To do this, you can use photographs and also a description of the appearance of the plant; botanists call this a “morphological description.” Morphology translated from Greek means: “morphe” - form and “logos” - doctrine.

MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF MALTHEA OFFICINAL

A perennial herbaceous plant 60-150 cm high, with a thick, fleshy, branched whitish rhizome, from which several straight, slightly branched cylindrical stems arise. The stems are grayish-green, sometimes dirty purple.

Leaves are alternate, petiolate, 5-15 cm long, pubescent on both sides; the upper ones are entire, ovate, the middle and lower ones are shallowly three- or five-lobed, crenate-toothed along the edge; stipules narrowly lanceolate or linear, falling off early.

Pale pink, large, five-membered, regular flowers on short stalks, sit in the axils of the upper and middle leaves.

Marshmallow flowers in mid-July

The fruits are disc-shaped aggregate achenes, which in a mature state disintegrate into individual fruitlets. The seeds are dark brown, kidney-shaped. Blooms from June to September); bears fruit in August-October.

Attention! It is necessary to distinguish from other very similar representatives of the family. Malvaceae: wood mallow and Thuringian khama, which cannot be used as a medicine.

Marshmallow officinalis differs from these species in a number of characteristics: the marshmallow's undergrowth consists of 8-12 leaves, and in the named species - of 3; the leaves of the marshmallow are 3-5-lobed, ovate, and those of the mallow and khama are broadly ovate or rounded-reniform, 5-7-lobed; The petals of marshmallow are pale pink, those of khama are bright pink, and those of mallow are pink, with dark stripes.

HOW TO GROW MARSHALLOW MARSHALL?

Althea in nature grows in habitats sufficiently provided with moisture: floodplain meadows, along river banks, among bushes. Therefore, in the garden you need to choose sufficiently moist soils of average mechanical composition. If the soil is heavy loamy, when planting, mix the soil with sand in a ratio of 1:2 (sand: soil) and add mulch-raising agent. We add 100 g of Gumi-Omi Autumn fertilizer into the holes. If the soil is loose and structured, when digging up roots for medicinal raw materials, all that remains is to shake off the soil and you won’t have to spend a long time and painfully removing the clay stuck to the roots.

Marshmallow is propagated both by seeds and vegetatively - by division or segments of rhizomes with buds. If you want to get strong, good roots, plowing or digging up to a depth of at least 30 cm is recommended. Seeds can be sown before winter or early spring. The seed sowing rate is 8-10 g/m2.

When sowing in spring, the seeds require pre-sowing treatment: they are moistened with an aqueous solution of KorneSil for 24 hours, mixed several times, then dried and sown to a depth of 1-2 cm.

You can also soak the seeds in water at a temperature of 4°C for 3-4 hours, then keep them moist in a warm room for 30-48 hours. When sown in winter, seed germination is higher.

With good care, marshmallow blooms in the first year. At the end of flowering, the flower stalks are cut off for decoration and better root growth. To obtain seeds, inflorescences are left on the plant; in the fall, the inflorescences are cut, dried and threshed.

Plants are planted at a distance of 50-60 cm. In the initial period of growth, tender marshmallow sprouts are very sensitive to soil moisture and weeds. Therefore, you need to regularly weed and loosen. It is better to first sow the plants in a special seedling bed, or in boxes, then plant them in a permanent place in August-September. We add Gumi-OMI UNIVERSAL - 70 g/m2 into the seedling bed or box.

The survival rate of marshmallow is excellent. To avoid rotting, before planting, immerse the roots in a solution of Fitosporin-M RASSADA. For better rooting, add KorneSil solution.

When digging we add 30 g/m2 of superphosphate, in the spring we add urea 30-40 g/m2.

With good agricultural technology, marshmallow blooms in the first year. The roots and grass of marshmallow are removed in the second or third year of life.

For one family, 3-5 bushes are enough. You dig up 1 bush every year, you can plant a piece of root (2 cm) with buds back, a plant from such planting material will develop faster than from seeds. For other plants, you use leaves and flowers for treatment.
In the photo you see a young plant in mid-May - you can already take leaves for treatment.
Althea is sometimes affected by diseases and pests.
To prevent rust, white rot and spots, spray (10 g per 20 liters of water per 200 m2) and water at the root with Fitosporin-M Universal.
When mallow leaf beetle or weevil appears, treat with potassium green soap.

WHAT BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES DOES IT CONTAIN?

Roots and rhizomes contain: mucus, consisting of polysaccharides; starch, pectin, sucrose, asparagine, betaine, carotene, lecithin, phytosterol, fatty oils.
Leaves and flowers contain mucus and traces of essential oil.

HOW TO PREPARATE BOTHES AND TEAS

Decoction of marshmallow roots: 6 g (2 tablespoons) of roots, pour 200 ml of boiling water and heat in a water bath for 30 minutes, cool for 10 minutes, filter. The raw materials are squeezed out and water is added to 200 ml. The broth is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days. Take hot, 1/3 cup 3-4 times a day after meals for colds and on an empty stomach for stomach pain, as an anti-inflammatory and enveloping agent.

Tea made from marshmallow leaves. 2 teaspoons of dry crushed marshmallow leaves are poured with 1 glass of boiling water, left for 10 minutes, then filtered. It is recommended to drink tea for gastrointestinal diseases to improve stomach function. If you add a little honey to your tea, you can drink it to treat cough. The tea is also used externally - for compresses and gargles for sore throat, skin irritation, psoriasis and eczema.

Cold infusion of marshmallow. Pour 2 tablespoons of dry marshmallow raw material into 1 glass of cooled boiled water, leave for 6–8 hours, then strain, squeeze out the raw material and bring the extract to the original volume with cooled boiled water. The extract should be taken 2-4 tablespoons 1-2 times a day.

Infusion for acute respiratory infections and ARVI. Pour 1 tablespoon of dry crushed marshmallow leaves into 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 60 minutes, then strain and squeeze out the raw materials. Drink 1/4 cup in small sips 3-4 times a day for colds, flu and pneumonia.

Treatment of sore throat with marshmallow decoction. Pour 2 tablespoons of dry crushed marshmallow leaves into 2 cups of boiling water, place on low heat and boil for 5-6 minutes. Then leave for 1 hour, strain and squeeze out the grass. We gargle with the decoction several times a day.

Infusion of marshmallow flowers. Infuse one teaspoon of flowers in one glass of boiling water for two hours, strain. Take one teaspoon 3 times a day warm for colds.

Infusion of marshmallow leaves. Pour boiling water over one tablespoon of crushed marshmallow leaves and leave for 1 hour, strain. Take one teaspoon three times a day for colds.

An infusion of marshmallow roots, flowers or leaves. Boil two tablespoons of roots, flowers or leaves in 500 g of water, leave for two hours, strain. Use for rinsing, compresses, poultices and enemas during inflammatory processes.

Breast tea. Marshmallow is part of the famous breast tea. To prepare tea, take 40 g of marshmallow root, 15 g of licorice root, 20 g of coltsfoot leaves, 10 g of mullein flowers, 10 g of fennel fruit. Infuse a tablespoon of the crushed mixture in a glass of cold boiled water. Take several times a day for colds (cough, tracheobronchitis, bronchitis).

CONTRAINDICATIONS: impaired respiratory function of the lungs, chronic constipation, individual intolerance.
Not recommended for use in the first months of pregnancy; Newborns and young children may experience constipation. Use with caution in diabetes.

COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF MEDICINAL RAW MATERIALS

Marshmallow roots are collected in early spring or autumn, in the third year after sowing. The dug up roots are freed from the ground, quickly washed, dried and then peeled with a sharp, clean knife, cut into pieces, and then dried at a temperature not exceeding 80°C.
The above-ground part is collected in the second year during flowering and dried in the shade with good ventilation.
The roots have a shelf life of 3 years.

Radix althaae. Althaea officinalis L. is a perennial herbaceous plant of the mallow family. Composition and properties. Marshmallow root contains a large amount of mucous substances (up to 35%, which are broken down during hydrolysis ... Domestic veterinary drugs

Marshmallow syrup

Althea plants from the mallow family- (Althaea L), mallow, marshmallow, a plant known to Theophrastus. Now this name refers to a genus of plants belonging to the mallow family (Malvaceae). These are annual, biennial or perennial, sometimes small, sometimes significant... ...

Althea (plant)- (Althaea L) mallow, marshmallow is a plant known to Theophrastus. Now this name refers to a genus of plants belonging to the mallow family (Malvaceae). These are annual, biennial or perennial, sometimes small, sometimes significant... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Althaea root- (Radix althaeae) marshmallow root used medicinally. See Althea... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Medicinal plants- I Medicinal plants are a source of medicinal raw materials. Dried, less often freshly collected parts (leaves, grass, flowers, fruits, seeds, bark, rhizomes, roots) of medicinal plants are used as medicinal raw materials.… … Medical encyclopedia

Althaea officinalis- General view of a flowering plant... Wikipedia

Marshmallow- Marshmallow is an analogue of marshmallow (but in the version of the recipe without eggs). Marshmallow-like candies consisting of sugar or corn syrup, jelly ... Wikipedia

Althea - Althaea, Marshmallow, Marshmallow- From the mallow family. A perennial herbaceous plant up to 150 cm in height. The root is woody, short, thick, and numerous brownish-yellow fleshy roots extend from it. The stem is erect, woody at the base,... ... Handbook of Homeopathy

marshmallow- [te], I; m. 1. Genus of herbaceous plants of the family. Malvaceae (one species of this plant, marshmallow, is used in medicine). Collection of marshmallows. 2. A medicinal preparation from the roots of this plant (used in the treatment of respiratory diseases... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Marshmallow syrup- Active ingredient ›› Marshmallow root extract (Althaeae officinalis radicibus extract) Latin name Sirupus Althaeae ATX: ›› R05CA05 Marshmallow root Pharmacological group: Secretolytics and stimulants of motor function… … Dictionary of medicines

Flower formula

The formula of the marshmallow flower is: *Х6+5В5Т∞П (∞).

In medicine

Preparations of marshmallow are used for coughs, for diseases of the respiratory system with chronic bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis; whooping cough, acute respiratory diseases, bronchopneumonia and bronchial asthma. In gastroenterology, marshmallow is used for gastritis and peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, with increased acidity of gastric juice. In dermatology, marshmallow is used for eczema, vesicular dermatoses, psoriasis, rosacea in the form of applications, for ulcerative and erosive processes in the oral cavity, burns, seborrheic dermatitis of the face, inflammatory and conglobate acne, etc. The roots of marshmallow are included in the composition of the preparations.

In cosmetology

Marshmallow roots are also a promising raw material for producing effective cosmetics. Due to the content of mucilage, amino acids, vitamins and tannins, marshmallow roots have softening, protective properties and can be widely used in skin and hair care.

For children

As a medicine, an infusion of crushed marshmallow roots can be used by children from 3 years of age.

Classification

Althaea officinalis L. belongs to the mallow family (Latin Malvaceae), which has 85 genera, distributed mainly in the tropics and subtropics, and relatively few in temperate regions. The marshmallow genus includes about 12 species of plants growing in the temperate zone of Europe and Asia, of which 8 are found in the CIS.

Botanical description

Marshmallow is a perennial densely pubescent plant due to the presence of star-shaped branched hairs, has one or more stems and a strong branched short rhizome with rather thick, long fleshy roots. The stems are mostly erect, simple, sometimes branched in the upper part, from 50 to 150 cm high. The leaves are alternate, depending on their placement on the stem they have a different shape of the leaf blade. The upper leaves are long-petiolate, ovate, pointed, irregularly tubular-toothed at the edges, ovate-oblong, three-lobed with an elongated middle blade, and broadly wedge-shaped at the base; the middle leaves are slightly rounded or almost flat at the base; the lower leaves are larger and wider than the others, three- or five-lobed, sometimes heart-shaped at the base. All marshmallow leaves are grayish-green in color and pubescent. Marshmallow flowers are located on peduncles, crowded at the top of the stem and placed on common peduncles emerging from the axils of the upper and middle leaves, with a subcup characteristic of plants of the mallow family; sepals broadly ovate, hairy, pointed. The corolla is pale pink, not very open, consists of 5 petals; The petals are broadly ovate, deeply notched at the apex, narrowed near the base. The formula of the marshmallow flower is: *Х6+5В5Т∞П (∞). The fruits are small, disc-shaped aggregate achenes, wrapped in a cup, pubescent with short hairs, up to 7-10 mm in diameter. The seeds are dark brown, smooth, kidney-shaped, 2-2.5 mm long. The plant blooms in summer from June to August, the fruits ripen from July.

Spreading

Althaea grows throughout almost all of Europe, with the exception of the northern regions of the Scandinavian countries and Scotland. It is also found in North Africa, Iran, Afghanistan, Asia Minor and northwestern China and Mongolia. Widely distributed throughout the European part of Russia, reaching the North Caucasus, the plant is also found in the south of Western Siberia, in Kazakhstan, in the lowlands of Altai, in individual desert oases and in non-desert regions of Central Asian countries. As a weed, marshmallow is introduced to North America.

Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

In medicine and industrial pharmacy, marshmallow roots (Althaeae radices) are most widely used as medicinal raw materials.

Marshmallow roots are harvested at the beginning of the growing season before the aerial parts grow (March - May), as well as in the fall, when the stems begin to dry out. The dug up roots are cleaned of soil and washed in cold water, dried a little in the sun and cut into pieces up to 30 cm, and thick roots are cut lengthwise into 2-3 parts; To obtain cleaned roots, the gray surface layer is peeled off from them before drying. Afterwards, the roots are dried in the shade, spread out in a thin layer, on nets, stretched sheets, in the open air in attics and in well-ventilated rooms. In dryers, raw materials are dried at a temperature not exceeding 40° C.

To obtain medicinal raw materials, another type of marshmallow is used - Armenian marshmallow (lat. Althaea armeniaca Ten.).

Chemical composition

Marshmallow belongs to plants containing mucilage; therefore, in the phytochemical aspect, the polysaccharides of marshmallow roots are the most well studied. It was found that marshmallow roots contain 30 to 35% mucilage. In 1912, monosaccharides - D-glucose and D-L-xylose - were identified in the mucus of the plant, and in 1946 uronic acids, methylpentoses and hexoses were discovered. Dry mucus contains from 19.52 to 21.68% reducing polysaccharides in terms of glucose. In addition to mucilage, the roots of marshmallow contain from 5 to 11% linear polysaccharide triticin and up to 78% invert sugars, tannins (from 4.11 to 7.96%), essential amino acids, in particular asparagine (from 0.8 to 2% ) and betaine (up to 4%); starch (37%), pectin (11-20%), fat (2%), organic acids, carotene.

Pharmacological properties

Marshmallow has an expectorant, enveloping, anti-inflammatory and mild analgesic effect, which is due to the high content of heterogeneous mucus. In modern pharmacological nomenclature, marshmallow root belongs to the group of antitussives. A mucous decoction of marshmallow root, flowing down the back wall of the pharynx, moistens the vocal cords, penetrates the trachea, softening dense plaque, protects the nerve endings of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and trachea from irritating factors and accelerates the healing of affected areas of the mucous membrane. In addition, due to its colloidal properties, mucus facilitates expectoration.

When used together with other more active anti-inflammatory drugs, marshmallow root mucus has the ability to slow down their evacuation, thereby facilitating a longer and more complete effect of other medications on the affected areas.

An aqueous extract of marshmallow root, taken orally, also has an enveloping effect on the gastric mucosa. The effectiveness of the enveloping effect increases with increased acidity of gastric juice, since when interacting with hydrochloric acid, the viscosity of mucus increases. Plant mucilage from marshmallow root and colloidal aqueous solutions envelop the mucous membranes of organs with a thin layer for a long time, protecting them from further irritation by harmful factors, in particular cold or dry air, chemical irritants, preventing them from drying out and creating favorable conditions for healing. Mucus is able to adsorb and inactivate toxins of bacteria and viruses, toxic products that damage epithelial cells, and prevents contact of toxins with the mucous membrane. As a result of the action of mucus, spontaneous regeneration of damaged tissues decreases and the intensity of the inflammatory process decreases.

For medical purposes, infusions, decoctions, dry and liquid root extracts, and marshmallow syrup are used.

Use in folk medicine

In folk medicine, a water infusion of marshmallow roots is used as an adjuvant for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs with large mucus secretions: for whooping cough, pneumonia, bronchitis, and cough. The infusion is used for inflammation of the bladder, painful and involuntary urination, inflammation of the intestines, simple diarrhea, dysentery, dyspeptic diarrhea in children, kidney disease and especially stomach and duodenal ulcers.

Historical reference

Marshmallow root has an ancient history of medicinal use. The healing properties of marshmallow root have been known since ancient times. It was mentioned in their philosophical and medical treatises by the ancient Greek thinkers Theophrastus, Galen, Dioscorides and Hippocrates. The ancient Greeks called marshmallow Herba omniborbium, which translated from Latin means “herb for all diseases.” In the Middle Ages, the healing properties of marshmallow were described in their treatises by such naturalists as Albertus Magnus (1193–1282), Paracelsus (1493–1541), Matioli (1500–1577), Adam Lonitseri (1527–1587), Simon of Siren (1541–1611). ). The medieval Arab scientist Avicenna (979–1037) highly valued marshmallow. Also in the Middle Ages, marshmallow was widely cultivated in monastery gardens and vegetable gardens by the Benedictine Fathers.

The Latin name of plants of the genus marshmallow comes from the Greek word althos - “doctor” and indicates the medicinal properties of plants of this genus.

Marshmallow root is an official raw material in Russia and most European countries, as well as in the USA and Canada.

Literature

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6. Lesiovskaya E.E., Pastushenkov L.V. "Pharmacotherapy with the basics of herbal medicine." Tutorial. – M.: GEOTAR-MED, 2003.

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