Health Benefits of Hollyhock

HOLLYHOCH (ALCEA ROSEA L.)

Scientific Name: Alcea roses L.
Synonyms: Althea rosea, Althea ficifolia (L)
Family: Malvaceae

The name of this plant comes from Latin and Greek,
Alcea(Latin) and Althea(Greek), which both means to cure

Hollyhock(Alcea Rosea L) is described to be a biennial which means it takes two years to complete its biological cycle, some are annual as a short life where you can start to see flowers the first year, Hollyhock flowers are in different colors-White, light yellow, yellow, dark red, pink, and purple, This plant needs full sun, rich, well-drained soils, they are easily grown in a wide range of soil and can easily grow from seed or self-seed, they can also be sown indoors

Uses of Hollyhock

1 Can be used as an Analgesic (relieve pain)as a natural remedy
2. Used as a natural Antiaromatase-Aromatase inhibitor( aromatase inhibitors are a class of medicine that work by blocking the aromatase, which is the enzyme that converts androgen into estrogen, so it is used in the treatment of cancer, specifically breast cancer in postmenopausal women
3 Antidiaphoretic helps people with abnormal sweating or perspirationAnti-edemic prevent and suppress oedema

4Antiestrogenic -it suppresses estrogenic activity naturally
5 anti-inflammatory
6 Gastroprotective
7 hypoglycemic
8 Used to treat malaria,
9 It can prevent miscarriage
10 It can treat inflammation or any swelling and itch
11 It can treat sore throat

How people in the past used Hollyhock

Arabians they prepare as a tea using floral petals and sweeten it, they drink it for cough, they also use leaves make it in collyria and poulticed onto a wound or abscesses and they also used leaves in collyria to treat eye diseases

Brazilians have been using it for inflammation

Lebanese make tea out of dried plants or from flowers for colds, clamps, and Sore throat, they also used to mix it with coffee powder, or soot or spider web to stop bleedingCosta Ricans take a floral infusion for cough and sore throat, they have been using flowers tear for aphonia, bronchitis, and many other diseases

How to use Hollyhock
Fresh and young mucilaginous leaves cooked and eaten, flower petal can be eaten raw or cooked, Black petals are great at imparting deep colour to tea(warm water) and Roots tied an edible starch

Side effects
No health Side effects have been reported or observed.