Hollyhock Medicinal Properties
- Medicinal action Antispasmodic, Hypoglycemic
- Key constituents Phenolic and Polyphenolic Compounds, Dihydroflavonol
- Ways to use Hot infusions/tisanes, Food, Tincture, Poultice, Ointment
- Medicinal rating (2) Minorly useful plant
- Safety ranking Safe
What is the hollyhock plant used for?
Hollyhock is a plant. The flower is used to make a medicinal tea. People use hollyhock for preventing and treating breathing disorders and digestive tract problems. Some people apply hollyhock directly to the skin for treating ulcers and painful swelling (inflammation).
Can you eat hollyhocks whole?
Yes, the whole plant can be used for food purposes. Hollyhocks are members of the Malvaceae family with beautiful, showy flowers. They bloom from July to September and seeds appear towards August. If you intend to pick the flowers for floral arrangement, medicinal or culinary purposes, harvest them in July and August when they are in full bloom.
What does HollyHock do to your body?
Taken internally, Hollyhock is soothing to the gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tracts in the human body. It promotes urination, soothes ulcers and can help relieve a dry cough. When you have a very sore throat and it’s hard to swallow, try a cold infusion of Hollyhock.
What are the benefits of Hollyhock tea?
The tea of Hollyhock can help you to cure some diseases. For the example, it will be good for the treatment of a sore throat. As the consequence, the tea is believed to help to relieve a sore throat by curing dry cough and preventing the throat irritation.
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How do you use hollyhock medicinally?
The flower is used to make a medicinal tea. People use hollyhock for preventing and treating breathing disorders and digestive tract problems. Some people apply hollyhock directly to the skin for treating ulcers and painful swelling (inflammation).
Are hollyhocks toxic to humans?
Unfortunately, they can cause dermatitis in both pets and people when touched, warns "Poisonous Plants of California." Hollyhocks can trigger either contact dermatitis or allergic dermatitis, which can result in redness and itching of the skin and irritation of the mouth if eaten.
Is hollyhock a herb?
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) is the ancient herb which has been used since long ago for various healthy purposes. As all it's parts, leaves, root and flowers are edible. So this plant became much popular in medieval times. An herbalist in 15th century gave it a name of Hollyhock.
How do you use hollyhock seeds?
1:222:11How To Collect and Save Hollyhock Seeds - How to Prune ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimply break the seed heads off by hand they should come away from the stems. Really easily spreadMoreSimply break the seed heads off by hand they should come away from the stems. Really easily spread the seeds out on a plate or a paper towel remove all the chaff. Or the parts of the seed pods.
Can I eat hollyhock seeds?
Hollyhock is completely edible – leaves, roots, flowers, seeds – not just an amazing looking flower, common in many cottage gardens. It's a valuable medicinal plant too and can be use in natural homemade skin care.
Can hollyhocks be used as cut flowers?
Hollyhocks can become great cut flowers with a bit of effort on your part — and it's a strangely satisfying effort.
Can you make hollyhock tea?
Place your hollyhock flowers in a jar. Bring water to boil, then pour over hollyhock in a heat-safe container. Cover and allow the tea to infuse for about 20 minutes. Strain hollyhock flowers from the liquid using a fine mesh strainer into a bottle or jar.
Are hollyhocks and hibiscus the same?
There are however, differences. Unlike the Hibiscus, the Hollyhock's leaves are divided and edged with rounded lobes. They are also not as thick and shiny as those of the Hibiscus. A Hollyhock bud possesses the same outer ring of bracts, and inner calyx, but they are lighter green and more hirsute (hairy).
Why are hollyhocks so called?
The name Hollyhock is believed to have derived from the Anglo-Saxon term, 'holy-hoc' or holy mallow – mallow being a common name given to all members of the althea family. The word, althea, comes from the Greek, altheo, meaning, to cure – a reference to the medicinal virtues of the plant.
Can you just scatter hollyhock seeds?
The hollyhock seed should not be planted deeply. We find hollyhocks germinate very well if you just scatter the seeds on the surface of the ground where you wish them to germinate.
What do hollyhocks symbolize?
Hollyhocks symbolize the circle of life, ambition, fertility, and abundance. Traditionally these flowers have been planted near the front door to welcome in prosperity to the home.
Do hollyhocks come back every year?
Hollyhocks are biennial or short-lived perennials. In the first year they put on root and foliage growth and in the second they flower, set seed and then die. Double hollyhocks are stunning but they don't have the appeal that single varieties have to pollinating bees.
Medicinal use of Hollyhock
The flowers are demulcent, diuretic and emollient. They are useful in the treatment of chest complaints, and a decoction is used to improve blood circulation, for the treatment of constipation, dysmenorrhoea, haemorrhage etc. The flowers are harvested when they are open and are dried for later use. The shoots are used to ease a difficult labour.
Edible parts of Hollyhock
Young leaves - raw or cooked. A mild flavour, but the texture leaves something to be desired. They have been used as a pot-herb, though they are not particularly palatable. They can also be chopped up finely and added to salads. Inner portion of young stems - raw. Flower petals and flower buds - raw. Added to salads.
Other uses of the herb
A fibre obtained from the stems is used in papermaking. The fibres are about 1.9mm long. The stems are harvested in late summer, the leaves are removed and the stems are steamed until the fibres can be removed. The fibres are cooked with lye for 2 hours and then ball milled for 3 hours or pounded with mallets. The paper is light tan in colour.
Propagation of Hollyhock
Seed - sow April/May or August/September in pots or in situ. Easily grown from seed, which usually germinates in about 2 - 3 weeks at 20�C. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division after flowering. Only use rust-free specimens. Root cuttings in December.
What is Hollyhock used for?
Hollyhock is used for pain, stomach ulcers, wound healing, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
How long before surgery can you stop Hollyhock?
Surgery: Hollyhock might lower blood sugar and might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking hollyhock at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Is Hollyhock safe for breast feeding?
Pregnancy and breast -feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if hollyhock is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Diabetes: Hollyhock might lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar ( hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully ...
Why do you use Hollyhocks?
Hollyhock is applied to the skin to cure ulcers as well as painful inflammation. The boiled roots and leaves ease delivery and increase the milk production. The crushed leaves treat itchiness from insect bites and relieve discomfort of burns and scalds. Hollyhocks prevent miscarriage.
What is Hollyhock used for?
Traditional uses. Hollyhock is used to treat inflammation. In folk medicine, it is used as astringent, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, emollient, demulcent and febrifuge. It is stops bedwetting and used as a mouthwash for the bleeding gums. The flowers are considered as diuretic, demulcent and emollient.
What is the purpose of Hollyhock?
The roots also treat loss of appetite. Hollyhock helps to prevent and treat digestive tract problems and breathing disorders.
Where did Hollyhock originate?
History. Hollyhock is native to Asia and Europe. Hollyhock was originated in the South-Western province of China and was grown at least fifteenth century in Europe. It is cultivated as ornamental plant and also used for medicinal purposes.
Does Hollyhock tea increase appetite?
The root of Hollyhock promotes the appetite because it possess the starchy property. One should consume the tea to increase the appetite. Women’s health. The root and flowers of Hollyhock plant eases the kidney and womb irritation in the women. It effectively treats vaginal ejection.
Is Hollyhock a perennial or annual?
Hollyhock is the flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It grows from rich and well-drained soil. This herb is an annual, biennial or perennial. Other common names of Hollyhock include Common Garden Hollyhock, Derives, Common Hollyhock, Garden Mallow and Garden Hollyhock. Hollyhock is an erect, herbaceous, biennial or short lived perennial plant ...
Does Hollyhock root help with burns?
The mouthwash made from the root provides relief from this condition. It eliminates the irritation and pain. Treat burns. Hollyhock root and stems cools the burn, blister and also lowers the swelling as well as pain.
What is Hollyhock used for?
The flower is used to make a medicinal tea. People use hollyhock for preventing and treating breathing disorders and digestive tract problems. Some people apply hollyhock directly to the skin for treating ulcers and painful swelling (inflammation).
Is Hollyhock safe to take?
Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
How to make hollyhock oil?
Once melted, combine it with the hollyhock infused oil. Place the oil and butter mixture in the refrigerator for around 30 minutes, or until it starts to firm up. Using a fork, stir well.
Can alcohol denature Hollyhock?
One thing to remember about this plant is that high heat and alcohol can denature some of the healing properties, so, for the most part, avoid those two methods of preparing or preserving Hollyhock when using for medicinal purposes.
Is Hollyhock a flower?
Many people don’t realize that the common garden flower, Hollyhock, is completely edible – root, leaves and blossoms – and useful for more than just its charming looks. Hollyhock is related to Marshmallow and can sometimes be used as a milder substitute for that herb; a primary exception being that Hollyho cks have woodier and tougher roots, ...
About Hollyhocks
The hollyhock plant originated in the areas surrounding Turkey and was first introduced to the UK in 1573. The variety Nigra which has distinctive black flowers was first described in 1629. The plant was initially grown for medicinal purposes and was used to treat ailments such as tuberculosis.
Growing Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks are a biennial plant that grows and develops in the first before flowering and setting seed in the second year. The plants are typically hardy in zones 6 to 10 however there are some varieties that the suitable for growing down to zone 3. To see a selection of different varieties that have different growing conditions click here.