DESCRIPTION : Belongs to hollyhock family. Tall perennial (3-4 ft.). Covered with large pink flowers in late summer. The leaves have the texture of velvet, with the lower leaves being circular, 3-5 lobed, toothed and 1 1/4 to 3 1/4 inches wide. The upper leaves are ovate to lanceolate, pointed, lobed and toothed. It has woolly stems and several spreading, leafy branches. The flowers are generally solitary, 1-2 inches across, borne from the upper leaf axils, five pink or white, obovate, notched petals. Gummy starches and sugars extracted from the root provided the main ingredient for the original marshmallow candy. Today it is made synthetically. Flowers July through September.

CULTIVATION : Althea prefers marshes and other wet places. It will grow well in good garden soil. Best in full sun. Hardy to zone 5. Soil pH neutral. Althea can be grown from seed that is sown in spring, or by cuttings. Divide adult plants by division in autumn. Plant about 2 feet apart.

PARTS OF THE PLANT USED : Roots, leaves and flowers.

COLLECTION : The leaves should be collected in summer after flowering. They should be stripped off singly and gathered only on a nice day, in the morning, after the dew is dry. The root is collected in autumn. Clean the root of fibers and cork covering and dry immediately.

PLANT ANALYSIS: Constituants, Root 25-35 % mucilage; tannins; pectin; asparagine. Leaves, mucilage; traces of essential oil. Althea also contains phosphate of lime.

MEDICINAL USES : Marshmallow's demulcent can be used wherever soothing and healing properties are needed. The root is used mainly for digestive problems and on the skin. In inflammations of the digestive tract, such as inflamation of the mouth, gastritis, peptic ulcer, enteritis and colitis,the root is advised. Externally, the roots are often used for varicose veins and ulcers as well as abscesses and boils.The leaf is used for the lungs and urinary system. The leave may also be used in cases of urethritis and urinary gravel. Althea is soothing for any mucous membrane irritations anywhere. The leaves make an excellent poultice for leg ulcers. When made into a tea, althea is excellent for coughs and bronchitis. The common name Mortification Plant records the use of althea for treating wounds. Use in a compress or poultice.

For pain, apply the softened root to the area, or add a strained decoction of the root to a foot bath or full bath. To make the decoction, simmer a quarter of a pound of dried cleaned root in two quarts of water, and reduce it to six cups. Strain and add to bath. The powdered root has been used as a binder in formulating pills.

Althea may be boiled in wine or milk, or made into a syrup for coughs.

Any wild mallow flower is excellent for compress for wasp stings.

Prepare an infusion of althea leaves and apply as a compress to reduce inflammation of the eyelid.

Prepare a strong tea from the leaves and use as a rinse for an abscess or boil.

To quickly reduce inflammation of the breasts, European gypsies chew the stems of the mallow plant and apply to the breast. To duplicate this effect , add 5-10 drops of mallow tincture to a cup of hot water. Dip a cloth into the mallow tea, and apply the warm compress to the breast.

MEDICINAL ACTIONS : The root is demulcent, expecorant, diuretic, emollient, vulerary. It has a soothing effect on inflammation and irritation of the alimentary canal and of the urinary and respiratory tract. It is said to ease passage of kidney stones.

DOSAGE : A decoction is made of the root using 1 teaspoon in a cup of water and boil gently 10-15 minutes. Drink three times a day. In a tincture form take 1-4 ml three times a day.

MAGICKAL USES : It is used in protection rites.Althea is also a good psychic power stimulator. You may either burn this plant as an incense or carry it in a sachet.

Althea, when placed on an altar, also brings in "good" spirits during rituals.

HISTORY : the Greek physician Hippocrates described the value of althea in the treatment of wounds. Dioscorides, another Greek physician, prescribed a vinegar infusion as a cure for toothaches and recommended a preparation of the seeds to soothe insect stings. The Roman poet Horace, touted the laxative properties of the roots and leaves. Renaissance period herbalists used althea for sore throats, stomach problems, gonorrhea, leukorrhea, and as a gargle for infections of the mouth.

LORE : In medieval times if a person was accused of something, to prove innocence the accused had to hold a red-hot iron bar. He/she was considered innocent if the person suffered no serious burns. Accounts from the Middle Ages state that anointing the palms with an ointment made from marshmallow would allow the accused, innocent or guilty, to remain unburned.

CULINARY : The Romans considered althea a delicacy.

P�t� de guimauve was the French confection made from the roots. The uncooked young top and tender leaves can be added to spring salads. The roots have more substance and may be prepared for the table by boiling, then frying in butter with onions.

Recipe for Marshmallow sweets*

Make sure the mallow roots aren't moldy or too woody. Marshmallow gives off almost twice its own weight of mucilaginous gel when placed in water.

4 tablespoons marshmallow roots

28 tablespoons refined sugar

20 tablespoons gum tragacanth (or gum arabic)

Water of orange flowers (for aroma or instead of plain water)

2 cups water

1-2 egg whites, well beaten

Make a tea of marshmallow roots by simmering in a pint of water for twenty to thirty minutes. Add additional water if it simmers down. Strain out the roots. Heat the gum and marshmallow decoction (water) in a double boiler until they are dissolved together. Strain with pressure. Stir in the sugar as quickly as possible. When dissolved, add the well beaten egg whites, stirring constantly, but take off the fire and continue to stir. Lay out on a flat surface. Let cool, and cut into smaller pieces.