Marshmallow Leaf

Althaea officinalis – Marshmallow

Botanical Name – Althaea officinalis

Family - Malvaceae

Other Names - Velvet Leaf, Mortification Root, Cheeses, Schloss Tea

Planetary Ruler – Venus/Moon

Element –Water, Gender – Female, Sign – Sagittarius, Gem - Topaz

History - The name ‘althaea’ is believed to come from the Greek ‘altho’ meaning ‘to cure.’

Marshmallow was introduced from China. The Romans used it for barley soups and in the stuffing for pigs. Carrying a piece of mallow was thought to attract a new love or make a departed lover think about you. It has long been associated with love, as it was believed to cure impotency and act as an aphrodisiac.

The roots contain natural sugars and were early medicinal sweets and the original marshmallow.

Parts Used - The Leaves can be collected when required in summer and the seeds are collected ripe in autumn. The root is best harvested in late autumn, where it needs to be dried immediately.

Cultivation - Seeds are sown in spring. The base can be divided in spring or autumn and stem cutting are best taken in spring. Plant marshmallow 2 feet apart.

Description - Marshmallow is a hardy, herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 6 feet, if in the right conditions. It likes full sun in a moist soil.

The shortly petioled leaves are large, velvety, toothed and tear-shaped. They are green-grey in colour. The root is thick, long and yellow-brown, and it tapers to a white fibrous fleshy root that is fibrous on the inside.

Flowers appear in late summer or early autumn. They are pale pink or white with pink stamens and they are usually 1 inch across. Light brown disc-shaped seeds are found slotted upright in a ring called a ‘cheese.’ 

Active Constituents - Root: 11-25% mucilage, 11% pectin, 37% polysaccharides. Oil, sugar, phosphate of lime, asparagine, tannins, glutinous matter and cellulose.

Flowers: Mucilage and flavonoids.

Leaves: Mucilage, flavonoids, coumarin, salicylic acid and other phenolic acids.

Actions

• Demulcent
• Diuretic
• Emollient
• Vulnerary
• Mild Laxative
• Expectorant (Leaves)
• Antilithic

Indications - Marshmallow with its high mucilage content is perfect for all conditions requiring healing and soothing, especially where there is inflammation, irritation and burning on mucous membranes.

It can be used internally for bronchitis and asthma. It used to be boiled in wine or milk and used to relieve diseases of the chest and hence was used for coughs, bronchitis and whooping cough. 

Leaves turned into a poultice will reduce inflammation and bruising. it is also very useful in bites and stings to take the inflammation and swelling away. 

Externally the root will aid varicose veins, ulcers, abscesses and boils. A compress will help to soothe burns and skin irritations. The root is indicated for weather damaged skin.

A good poultice can be made with crushed fresh roots to remove any obstinate inflammation and prevent mortification, hence its other name.

Marshmallow ointment is indicated for ulceration and to help draw splinters.

Dosage - Leaf infusion with 1-2 tsp for a cup of boiling water and allow to infuse for 10 minutes. This can also be drunk three times a day.

Tincture 1 to 4 ml three times a day. Syrup of the root 2-10ml, three times daily.

1 teaspoon in a decoction boiled for 15 minutes can be drunk three times a day.

Cautions -  Prolonged usage could lead to vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

Wormwood - The potent tonic

Artemisia absinthium – Wormwood

Botanical Name – Artemisia absinthium

Family – Asteraceae

History - Dioscorides used many species of wormwoods for treating worms.

In the 19^th century there were problems of addition from regular drinkers, and their side effects included muscle cramps and damage to the CNS. It is the absinthe that has been a major ingredient for aperitifs and herb wines.  This led to France banning the use of absinthe. This ended the large scale cultivation of wormwood for commercial uses. It has also been used for the yellow dye that can be obtained from it.

Parts Used - The Ariel parts are harvested in late summer.

Description - A perennial from the Artemisia genus that grows to 1m, with grey-green stems and feathery leaves which are both covered in fine hairs. Leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate. It is often confused with the tree wormwood, which is a taller plant with more silvery leaves and prolific yellow flowers. Sweet wormwood, Roman wormwood, Mugwort and Southernwood are just a few of the other plants found in the Artemisia genus. 

        

Cultivation - This plant was native to Europe, though now is grows through out Asia and US. It can be propagated from seed in spring or by dividing the roots in autumn. Plants are thinned out to 30 – 60 cm apart. Seeds can be slow to germinate; cuttings taken in summer can sometimes be quicker. The plant prefers medium soil in full sun or slight shade.  Wormwood grows from either seeds or seedlings. If started from seeds, plant indoors first and transfer outside after sprouting. Plant seedlings after the last frost in spring in full sun. Wormwood prefers dry soil. Water occasionally, but don’t overdo it. Wormwood is not typically vulnerable to disease, but overwatering can lead to root rot. 

Constituents - Volatile Oil containing sesquiterpene lactones – artabsin, anabsinthin

Vol oils – thujone and azulene. Flavonoids, Phenolic acids, lignans. Glucoside, Resin and starch

Actions

·         Aromatic Bitter

·         Vermifuge

·         Cholagogue

·         Anti-inflammatory

·         Stomachic

·         Mild antidepressant

·         Hepatoprotective

·         Antipyretic

·         Antiseptic

Indications – Harmful organisms are a serious health problem in every country in the world, not only developing countries. Organisms of all sorts can contaminate food and water, causing health problems in both people and animals. Wormwood contains several compounds, most notably artemisinin, that are resistant to harmful organisms. These compounds create an environment that is actively hostile to harmful organisms and discourages them from thriving, even in animals as well as humans.

The essential oil from wormwood is an excellent form of medicine for the gall bladder and the stomach. It is very good for any weaknesses of the digestive tract, working to increase bile and digestive juices and hence increase absorption of food. Hence it is useful in conditions such as anaemia. It will also ease bloating and wind.

Wormwood has traditionally been used as a vermifuge, hence its name Wormwood, as it is very effective for eliminating worms. The anti-inflammatory action of wormwood makes it helpful in infections. The tincture of wormwood was formerly used for nervous diseases.

Wormwood is a nerve stimulant, though it can be toxic in excessive doses.

The Yale University School of Medicine performed a study in which patients with digestive ailments were given either a placebo or an herbal blend containing wormwood for a ten-week period. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study observed that the patients who took the herbal blend reported improved mood and quality of life.

It is an appetite stimulant and has been used for roasting meat and poultry.

Placing the tips of the plants between your clothes and under the bed will help to repel insects.

Dosage - 1-2ml (1:1) three times daily

Cautions - Take only under medical supervision, best taken in small doses usually for no more than 4-5 weeks at a time. Pregnant and lactating woman should not use the plant as it can abort the foetus and taint milk. C.I Epilepsy, GIT bleeding. It can prolong menses 

Chickweed unites the world.

Stellaria media – Chickweed

Botanical Name – Stellaria media

Family – Caryophyllaceae

Other names – Starweed, Addre's mouth, Indian chickweed, satin flower, starwort, stitchwort, tongue-grass, winterweed, star chickweed, tongue grass.

History - Chickweed is native to Europe and Asia, though now it is found in most regions of the world. It is said that there is now no part of the world where chickweed is not to be found and it has become one of our most common weeds. Dioscorides in the 1^st century described chickweed as a ‘useful corn meal for inflammation of the eyes.’ Chickweed does have a history as being used as a tasty and nutritious vegetable.

Chickweed was reportedly used at times for food. Chickweed enjoys a reputation as treating a wide spectrum of conditions in folk medicine, ranging from asthma and indigestion to skin diseases. Traditional Chinese herbalists used a tea made from chickweed to treat nosebleeds.

Chickweed was used in cases of bronchitis, pleurisy, coughs, colds, hoarseness, rheumatism, inflammation, or weakness of the bowels and stomach, lungs, bronchial tubes. Chickweed was said to heals and smoothes anything it comes in contact with.

Description - It has hairy stems, oval leaves and star-like white flowers. It is distinguishable from other weeds of the same genus by a line of hairs that run up the stem on one side only, which when it reaches a pair of leaves the hairs are continued on the opposite side.  Chickweed is an annual or biennial weed found in abundance all over the world in gardens, fields, lawns, waste places, and along roadsides. The usually creeping, brittle stems grow from 4 to 12 inches long and bear opposite, entire, ovate leaves. The small white flowers can be found blooming all year long in terminal, leafy cymes or solitary in the leaf axils.

Parts Used - Ariel parts are collected in summer, though it can be harvested all year round. It can be used both fresh and dried. Both wild and caged birds like to eat the seeds of this plant, as well as the fresh plant. 

Cultivation - Chickweed grows easily on wasteland, parks lawns. It can be seen throughout Perth during the cooler months of the year. Seeds can be planted during wetter winter months.

Active Constituents - Chickweed contains triterpenoid saponins, coumarin’s, flavonoids, carboxylic acids and Vitamin C. The saponins may account for chickweed’s ability to reduce itching.

Actions

·         Anti-pruritic

·         Vulnerary

·         Anti-inflammatory

·         Emollient

·         Demulcent

·         Refrigerant

·         Alterative

·         Pectoral

·         Resolvent

Indications - Chickweed is commonly used topically for the treatment of skin conditions and especially for irritated skin. It is commonly used for externally for cuts, wounds and those especially for itching and irritation.  It is used chiefly as a juice, poultice, cream or ointment. It is commonly used to relieve eczema, psoriasis, varicose ulcers and nettle rash. An infusion of the fresh or dried plant can be added to a bath, where the emollient properties are useful for helping rheumatic inflammation of the joints, as well help to encourage tissue repair.

Eczema , Insect stings and bites, bronchitis, pleurisy, coughs, colds, hoarseness, rheumatism, inflammation, weakness of the bowels and stomach, lungs, bronchial tubes, and any other forms of internal inflammation.

Chickweed may be used externally for inflamed surfaces, skin diseases, boils, scalds, burns, inflamed or sore eyes, erysipelas, tumours, piles, cancer, swollen testes, ulcerated throat and mouth, and all kinds of wounds.

The fresh leaves can be used as a poultice for ulcers, carbuncles and abscesses.

A decoction from the fresh plant is good for constipation and an infusion is effective for coughs and hoarseness. 

Chickweed is an old wives remedy for obesity.

Dosage - Although formerly used as a tea, chickweed's main use today is as a cream applied liberally several times each day to rashes and inflammatory skin conditions (e.g., eczema) to ease itching and inflammation.

Tincture 1-5 (45%)                  1-5 ml  tds

Liquid Ex. (25%)                     1-5 ml

1-5 ml of a 1:1 extract 3 times a day.

Infusions: 1 cup of boiling water onto 2 tsp of dried herb. This can be drunk 3 times a day.

Caution - Can cause diarrhoea and vomiting in excessive doses.

C. I. in Pregnancy