This plant can be found nearly everywhere.  This edible weed has a mild flavor.  The leaves and stems can be eaten in a salad. Mallow can also be dried for tea or even thrown into soups as a thickening agent.  You can even fry mallow leaves in hot oil to make crispy mallow chips. 

Medicinally speaking, mallow can be used on the skin to aid healing of sores or reduce swelling.  You would apply the macerated mallow leaves directly to the skin as a poultice.   The mallow tea thickens creating a coating which is beneficial for sore throats.

You can harvest the leaves beginning in spring throughout summer.  It flowers in late spring and seed pods are formed in early summer. 

The constituents of mallow are as follows:

Vitamins A, B, C and E

Inulin (predominately in the root)

Magnesium

Zinc

Selenium

Potassium

Iron

The common mallow is known for its high mucilage content which make it useful for to reduce inflammation and assists with the healing and regulating of the urinary, digestive and respiratory systems.  This mucilage is rich in protein and Carbs. 

Mallow is also said to help improve sleep, treat headaches and reduce some of the signs of aging.  Mallow can be useful when added to a facial mask. 

As you can see, the value of common mallow is quite high.  There are so many uses.  Why not try common mallow the next time you make soup or salad.    

https://elmaskincare.com/herbs/herbs_mallow.htm

©Jennifer Wallace 2020