Mallow tea

Required material

1 - 2 tsp mallow leaves (common mallow, Malva sylvestris)

1 cup water

Application

Pour cold water over the mallow leaves, bring to the boil and allow to infuse for 5 minutes.

Drink 2 to 4 cups per day for a tickly cough or sore throat. Can also help for gastric irritation and light diarrhoea.

Important:

As mallow can form a slimy protective layer, also in the gastro-intestinal tract, it should not be taken together with other medication - wait around 2 hours before taking your medication, otherwise absorption can be impaired.

Can be confused with:

Many teas sold in shops as mallow tea are really made from hibiscus, also called red mallow or Hibiscus sabdariffa.

Hibiscus gives the tea its beautiful red colour and acid taste, but does not have the same healing power as common mallow.

Pregnant women should not drink hibiscus tea, as this can cause uterine contractions.

Effect

Mallow tea can have the following effects:

• Mucus-forming, i.e. forms a protective layer over irritated mucous membranes
• Anti-inflammatory
• Calms irritation

Helps against

Coughing, tickly cough, sore throat, diarrhoea

Synonyms

mallow tea, hibiscus tea