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Drug marshmallow is distributed in Ukraine, in the southern parts of Belarus and the North Caucasus, in the Volga region, Central Asia, Eastern and Western Siberia. It grows on loose moistened soils, in meadows, among shrubs in floodplains and along river banks. In the USSR it is cultivated as a medicinal and ornamental plant.
It is used untwooded and peeled from the cork layer lateral roots, collected in spring (March - April) or in the fall (September - October), when the stems die off. Althea medicinal has a faint odor, peculiar, the taste is sweetish, mucilaginous. Flowers and leaves are collected during the initial flowering period.
Chemical composition
.The medicinal properties of althea help to cure ailments due to the active beneficial elements. In the roots are found mucilaginous substances up to 35%, the hydrolysis of which produces galactose, glucose, arabinose, rhamnose, starch up to 37%, sugars up to 10.2%, fatty oils, asparagine 2%, betaine 4%, lecithin, phytosterol, pectins, vitamins.
The medicinal properties of althea have a favorable effect on the human body. The flowers contain essential oil, which contains acids with an odor reminiscent of valerian root. The leaves contain mucus, carotene, ascorbic acid, traces of essential oil.
Treatment with Althea. Its application
.Althea treatment is widely practiced. Althea preparations have expectorant, emollient, anti-inflammatory properties, due to the content of mucilaginous substances, starch and other substances of colloidal nature. The medicinal properties of althea are used as an enveloping agent that protects the nerve endings of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx and gastrointestinal tract from various irritants.
Treatment with althea help to slow the absorption and longer local action of various drugs. Used mainly for catarrhal condition of the respiratory tract, diarrhea, acute gastritis, enterocolitis, ulcerative processes on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. Althea preparations are especially indicated in pediatric practice in cough, whooping cough.
The medicinal properties of althea (biennial roots without bark) in Bulgaria help with inflammatory diseases of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, coughs, whooping cough, diseases of the genitourinary organs, peptic ulcers, diarrhea. Infusion is prepared cold: 6-8 g of crushed root poured cold water for an hour, strain through gauze, add sugar or honey. Take 20 g every 2 hours. In inflammation of the gums, tonsils and pharynx used in the form of a hot infusion for gargling.
Treatment with marshmallow in France is used if you need an enveloping mild cough remedy in the form of decoction, infusion and soaking cold water crushed root, which produces a clear mucilaginous liquid. In addition to the root, the flowers and leaves of althea are used as a good remedy to relieve irritation of the pharynx and trachea. In pediatric practice, a child is advised to chew the root of the althea, after which dental treatment is started.
In Austria, the roots, leaves and flowers are used as a cold infusion, decoction, tincture for bronchitis, throat catarrh and as an eye wash. The plant is recommended as a good medicinal remedy for the home medicine cabinet.
In the GDR roots and leaves of althea found use also as an enveloping and anti-inflammatory agent for diseases of the lungs, throat, digestive tract, externally for skin diseases and as a gargle especially in children's practice. It is used in the form of a cold infusion.
Althea root is an official raw material in the USSR and in 26 countries of the world, leaves - in 10, flowers - in 3 countries of the world (Klan, 1948). The medicinal properties of althea are widely known to many scientists, so its root is included in some collections.
Abu Ali Ibn-Sina recommended a decoction of the roots, seeds, and leaves as an expectorant, emollient for coughs, pneumonia, pleurisy, hemoptysis, bladder stones, difficulty urinating, and even tumors.
In Russian folk medicine althea root is used in catarrhal inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, flu, sore throat, jaundice. Treatment with marshmallow is done externally in the form of infusion in conjunctivitis, for gargling throat with sore throat, with diarrhea (in enemas), and with bleeding in the form of spritzing with the addition of oak bark. From the root of althea prepare infusions, decoctions, extracts, syrups and powders. Previously, the powder was used to make candy, soothing coughs, added to various mixtures, so that the drugs included in the mixtures, do not irritate the walls of the stomach and intestines. Decoction of the root, infused for several hours in a closed bowl, is used in a mixture with honey for coughs 2-3 teaspoons.
We use the root, flowers and leaves of althea as an enveloping, anti-inflammatory agent for lung and bronchial diseases..
