With a festering wound, cut off a piece of leaf, bruise, and empty the leaf on the wound and the next day the pus is gone. But what is this plant called?
Asker: Eric, age 64
Answer
Dear Eric,
that could be about Malva mallow (Malva sylvestris) (and Lesser mallow (Malva neglecta)). In the past, this plant(s) was(s) often used in our regions for open and festering wounds. Some studies indeed point to the stimulating effect of an extract of M. sylvestris on wound healing (just search for “wound healing activity of Malva sylvestris”) .
Kind regards,
Ron Merken
Answered by
dr. Ronny Merken
Biology
Free University of Brussels
Avenue de la Plein 2 1050 Ixelles
http://www.vub.ac.be/
Avenue de la Plein 2 1050 Ixelles
http://www.vub.ac.be/
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