Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Mallow (Malva sylvestris) has a long history of traditional use in herbal medicine, particularly in European and Mediterranean folk practices. Historically, mallow leaves and flowers have been applied externally as poultices or used in infusions to soothe various types of inflammation, including minor skin irritations and mucous membrane discomfort. For ear infections or earache, traditional herbalists sometimes recommended warmed mallow infusions or oil infusions as ear drops, capitalizing on the plant’s reputed anti-inflammatory and demulcent (soothing) properties. However, the evidence underpinning these uses is largely anecdotal or based on centuries-old herbal texts rather than controlled scientific studies.

There is minimal modern clinical research specifically evaluating mallow for ear infections (otitis media or otitis externa). Most references to its use for earache are found in ethnobotanical surveys and historical literature, not in contemporary medical or pharmacological journals. Some laboratory studies have found that mallow extracts possess anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial effects, but these findings have not been directly linked to efficacy for treating ear infections in humans. Thus, while the use of mallow for earache is justified by traditional practice, there is little to no scientific validation for its use in this context.

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