Marsh
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MARSH MALLOW ALTHAEA OFFICINALIS The decoction opens the strait passages and makes them slippery, whereby the stone may descend the more easier, and without pain, out of the reins, kidneys and bladder, and eases the pains thereof. A perennial growing three or four feet (0.9 to 1.2 m) high with hairy white stalks, spreading branches, soft and hairy leaves and palish-pink flowers. Where to find it. Salt marshes, damp low-lying land, river banks and coastal regions. Flowering time: Late spring, early summer. Astrology: Venus. Medicinal virtues: The leaves and roots boiled in water, with Parsley or Fennel roots and applied warm to the belly, helps to open the body and cool hot agues. It gives abundance of milk to nursing mothers. The decoction of the seed in milk or wine helps pleurisy and other diseases of the chest and lungs. The juice drank in wine helps women to a speedy and easy delivery. The leaves bruised and laid to the eyes with a little honey, takes away the imposthumations of them. For stings of bees or wasps, the leaves bruised and rubbed into the place will take away the pain, inflammation and swelling. A poultice made of the leaves with some Bean or Barley-flour, and Oil of Roses, is an especial remedy against all hard tumours and inflammations, imposthumes, or swellings of the testicles. The juice boiled in oil takes away roughness of the skin, scurf or dry scabs in the head. An excellent gargle to heal sore throat or mouth is made by boiling the flowers in oil or water and adding a little honey and Alum. The roots boiled in wine or honeyed water and drank is of special use for coughs, hoarseness, shortness of breath and wheezing. The roots and seeds boiled in wine or water are profitable against ruptures, cramps or convulsions of the sinews, and boiled in white wine for kernels that rise behind the ears, and inflammations or swellings in women's breasts. The mucilage of the roots, with Linseed and Fenugreek, is much used in poultices, ointments and plasters to mollify and digest hard swellings and to ease pains in any part of the body. Modern uses: An emollient and soothing agent which has a relaxing effect on the body's internal passages. It is mainly used for inflammation and irritation of the alimentary canal, urinary and respiratory organs. It is available from herbalists as a fluid extract, tincture, concentrated decoction or syrup. The powdered root can be combined with Slippery Elm powder for use in poultices. For domestic use an infusion of the leaves is excellent for most purposes where a soothing agent is required. Use 1 oz (28 g) of the leaves to 1 pt (568 ml) of boiling water and take three or four times a day in doses of 2 fl Oz (56 rnl). The syrup is helpful in pericarditis. |