Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Common mallow (Malva sylvestris), sometimes referred to as "common madia," has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine for soothing coughs and irritation of the respiratory tract. Its use dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, where it was valued as a demulcent—a substance thought to coat and soothe mucous membranes. The leaves and flowers contain mucilage, a gelatinous plant substance that can provide a soothing effect on irritated throat tissues, potentially alleviating cough reflexes triggered by dryness or minor irritation.

While there are some in vitro and animal studies suggesting that extracts of Malva sylvestris may have mild anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, robust clinical trials in humans are lacking. Most of the support for its use against cough is therefore rooted in ethnobotanical and traditional medicine literature, rather than direct scientific validation. European Pharmacopoeia monographs acknowledge mallow as a traditional remedy for oral and pharyngeal irritation and associated dry cough, but always with the caveat that these uses are based on longstanding tradition, not confirmed by controlled clinical studies.

In summary, common mallow is primarily used for cough on the basis of traditional knowledge, with limited scientific support and no high-quality clinical evidence to confirm its efficacy.

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