Nicole (she/her) shares about her recent trip to Palestine with the International Solidarity Movement. Plus all about the medicinal properties of the Mallow family.

Links & resources from this episode

• International Solidarity Movement
• Prisoner’s Herbal Book

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

Welcome to the Frontline Herbalism podcast with your host Nicole

This is your place for all things plants and liberation.

Let's get started.

Hello friends.

How are you doing?

I'm really sorry for the kind of break in the podcast in December.

I had a kind of fantasy about being able to record shows while I was away, but

So this, this week's episode is all about mallow, which is one of the herbs in the

And yeah, it's definitely one of my all-time favorite plants.

I know I say that every week, but yeah.

I hope you enjoy this segment about Mallow, this kind of first part of the show.

I'm actually gonna be talking about what I've been doing the last three weeks.

Before I dive in, I just wanted to give a bit of a serious content warning

It's a lot of state violence references to murder, to imprisonment, cancer.

So yeah, I just wanted to flag that up before I dive in.

So, yeah, that's where I've been.

I've been in Palestine for three weeks.

I went with my partner who is an absolute anarchist heart throb and mega babe.

I have two amazing boyfriends, but one of them has been going to Palestine for

Yeah, so we were there for three weeks.

We had a base in Ramallah in the West Bank, and we also went down south

And we also went to loads of other places like Tulkarem and

And yeah, it kind of just felt like we spent the whole trip on a service, which is

And yeah, to be honest, like I'm still, I only just got back

. Yeah.

It's just like I'm still processing it.

It feels very disorienting to be back in England and to leave like that

Yeah, so it was a bit of an eventful trip and the second day I actually

Had to go to hospital.

Getting an IV.

Yeah.

It.

It was like my worst nightmare for traveling.

Like I'm really not a very confident traveler.

I have a lot of kind of allergies, which you know, as most of us know is to do with

But yeah, it was pretty scary and it kind of like eclipsed the trip a little bit

And, and then I developed like a horrible chest infection.

, which I caught from my partner.

And so yeah, I just felt like the whole time I definitely wasn't at

I missed Sam and Kev in prison.

I had a lot of grief around Taylor.

, but yeah, I feel.

Proud of myself with support from friends that was able to kind of

Sorry, I knew I would get emotional recording this.

Just, I cannot explain like the hospitality and the kindness and like

And it also felt like something that, that lots of, I hate say it, but lots of like

More middle class people would just kind of like go abroad, you know, to

And I think, yeah, I think that actually affected me being like

And I think I've had my.

. Yeah.

My eyes just like pulled wide open as to how much like international support.

I mean, you know, I do know this, like I am an internationalist.

I do a lot of international solidarity work and prisoner support internationally

I'm not like just exclusively UK focused.

But yeah, like, I mean in the sense of like physically going somewhere, like it

and I just kind of, yeah, it was just amazing to experience that firsthand of

Like, You know, because he knows that if an internationalist is there

, another person was attacked really badly by settlers and the, the police

And thankfully, like an internationalist had filmed the whole thing, like half an

And it showed.

, you know, he, he got attacked and , he wasn't to blame.

And the organizer, Sami was like, yeah, you've saved my dad

So yeah, it was very, it was very life changing for me to see like that.

Yeah.

That kind of like welcomeness.

, and that, yeah, just that kind of like heartbeat of internationalism

Yeah.

And we were very, very lucky that I did, you know, I did a bit of protection magic,

And I was, yeah, just expecting, okay, maybe I'll get arrested,

Like I kind of prepared myself for all these things and then, yeah, we just seemed

Like we would turn up somewhere and then leave and then find out something

My partner said it was like the only time he's ever been where he hasn't had.

You know, directly be involved in a situation.

So yeah, so I was very grateful in that respect.

But I think.

Yeah, even just like listening to people and seeing the situation on the

But yeah, we recorded these podcast interviews and we're gonna be launching

There's only a couple of people on the ground and they need many

So that podcast I will answer on here, but I think it's gonna be

But we did some amazing interviews with different people from different villages

While we were there, school was demolished.

and yeah, people's homes are under attack and yeah, people are

So we have some interviews with people from that region including , , youth

, and we've also got an interview with some folks who are ISM

, nearly three months to kind of, so people can get like a feeling of what it's like.

Yeah, there was lots of like prison things.

, one of the first days we went to a demonstration in support of

And their children are looking at years in prison.

They've been tortured in prison, , for defending themselves against settlers.

And yeah, we, we interviewed them and that.

Yeah, this woman said about her son trying to kill himself and trying

And there was just this like raw insight into how prison like changes

To connect, to connect with her in their campaign.

We also interviewed someone from an organization called Adameer who do huge

And you know, we have some really good questions about

And we also talk to people from a Martys organization.

Yeah, they're kind of like Martyrs situation.

It's like a martyr is kind of anyone that the occupation kills.

It's obviously also people who who died in resistance, but it's people who, you know,

And when we were there, there were like a number of deaths that occurred.

People saw in the news about a 16 year old called Jana, who was shot by snipers.

, and Jana, she was getting her cat off a roof.

And were shot multiple times.

And yeah, there's been no accountability for this.

Like Israel are like, oh, it was an accident.

But yeah, she, she fell.

And in Palestine they have this like incredible tradition where they actually

And I think it was like very, Sorry.

I dunno why I'm so tired.

Very emotional today.

It was very beautiful because like I felt since Taylor died that there

It was like very difficult to honor him, you know, like people translated

And we had one demo, but other than that it kind of like, Fell on silent ears, and I

You know, like Palestine's, huge population of people who've, you know,

So, you know, they have like cultures and rituals to celebrate people who

Another person who died was a man called Nasser Abu Hmaid.

And he died of cancer.

He'd done 20 years in prison and yeah, absolute medical neglect,

That was something I learned was that Israel like holds people's bodies and

As a kind of like weapon of oppression.

Yeah.

We interviewed someone from a Marty's association who is fighting for the

And , yeah, it was very, very moving.

And the day that this man died, there was like huge

There was a general strike, all these like shops closed down

And it was like a really amazing, like public.

I don't mean amazing in like a good way.

I mean an amazing, in a, like a beautiful moving way that, you know, the, the

Yeah.

So that was really intense.

And I also did a really awesome interview with someone from the Palestinian Medical

Yeah, they're just fucking incredible.

Like the amount of, kind of like mutual aid work is just mind blowing, and it's like

Also met people from the Jordan Valley solidarity and saw kind of their lives

Like I was like so sick and I was a bit 'citied-out', if I'm honest.

And then we went to the Jordan Valley and Rashid, the person who lives

And I got to see plants like mallow, which I'll talk about

He was explaining me about different types of thyme and sage in the region.

And yeah, it was like, ugh, it was so nice.

Like, and they had these two super cute puppies, so that definitely helped.

But yeah, , you know, I'm gonna be talking about how ISM really need people,

Like they, you know, the farmers there who are, you know, it's mostly horticultural,

So if there's any kind of like herbalist, agroecology, permaculture type folks who

It would definitely be top of my list in terms of like an amazing

We also interviewed some women organizers, including someone from a women's union

Yeah, this is connected to the occupation as well.

But yeah, so anyway, I really look forward to launching the podcast.

I'm kind of gonna be doing lots of editing, unfortunately.

, things are a little bit delayed because I've got to go to Calais this week.

I normally go the first week of the month, so I'm gonna be there

But yeah, when I get back, I'm gonna try and do like much more posts about

And yeah, doing all the things I really, yeah, I really left there feeling like

And to be honest, like I felt very safe, not in terms of the

Like I actually didn't have, I was expecting a lot more sort of

I mean, maybe the odd comment, but like nothing that I was expecting.

And yeah, it.

Yeah, I think, I think a lot of like boujie gentrification is

Like we were totally able to find like all the boujie vegan food we

Couldn't find tofu, but everything else, I had a lot of rice and beans.

But yeah, definitely.

Really?

Yeah, like I said, just really welcoming and you know, like it's obviously

And so yeah, there is this like constant hostility from the occupation

So, you know, it's not like.

Going on a holiday to Magaluf, you know, like it is a different thing.

But I do think, not that I've ever been to Magaluf, by the way.

, I don't even know where is it in Spain?

I'm not sure.

Anyway, what I'm saying is like they really value people on the ground.

You can get a visa for up to three months.

There's training, there's support.

Yeah.

And I think.

, you know, they were really, really affected.

ISM by the pandemic and by people not coming.

And I think, you know, with the election of people in Palestine, , in Israel,

I mean, they've, you know, they've already been in a terrifying

But yeah, I think if you can be there and your presence means that

Or someone's home doesn't get demolished, then that's like a really amazing act and

Who, you know, when there was only one or two people that they couldn't

They weren't able to, you know, block bulldozers or anything else,

So, yeah, I just wanna encourage people to check that out the ISM

Feel free to message me with any questions as.

And yeah, this episode is all about mallow.

And Mallow was actually one of the herbs that I found in Palestine, and

And mallow was just so soothing and comforting to me and just

mallow is one of the tattoos on my arm, so I hope you enjoy the the

I didn't say about prison, but you know what, I've decided not to talk about it cuz

But basically there was another death in Eastwood Park where Taylor was

Someone burnt to death.

So yeah, it's really awful.

I'll talk about it next week, I think.

But for now, please enjoy mallow.

Please check out the ISM website, and I hope you have a really good New Year's Eve.

I hope you're all outside prisons tonight making noise.

I hope you've had a good time with your families, and I mean families in the

Hello,

Mallow.

Okay, I'm doing it again about favorite plants, but this kind of

One of the herbs on my sleeve.

But yeah, let's dive into them.

So Latin name, Malva sylvestris, plant family, Malvaceae, Mallow family.

Identification, tall and upright up to one meter or rather creeping

Flowers are 2.5 to four centimeters across.

If you see a flower that's like 4.2 centimeters, just

I feel bad, like I love botany a lot, but its so reductionist anyway.

Okay, mallows have five flower petals.

The flowers of common mallow are whitish to light pink in color and have pink stripes

Mallow flowers are bisexual, meaning both the female and male

The pistol sticks out.

The ovary is located at the base of the petals and eventually

Like fruits, the fruits are circular and look like a

Vegan cheese, obviously, just joking . Okay.

Other species.

The most commonly used species of Mallow family for medicinal purposes

However, there are many related useful species, including musk

hibiscus, hollyhock, desert scarlet globe allow, okra, Indian mallow, Chingma.

Cocoa and Cotton are also part of the mallow family.

Other species of the British mallows include Cornish Mallow,

Mallow folk names in English.

High Mallow, Tall Mallow, Blue Mallow, Cheese-cake.

Malva comes from the Greek word malaxos meaning slimy or to soften.

Chemical constituents.

mucilages, terpenoids, phenol derivatives, enzymes: sulphite

chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B and xanthophylls.

Food and nutrition.

The leaves, flowers and roots have a long history of edible use spanning

The leaves can be used as a vegetable.

They're a great thickening addition for soups.

The flowers can be added to salad.

Mallow water has been used as a vegan egg substitute.

The root can also be blended with water and then strained to make

Mallow is high in calcium, vitamin A and iron, as well as dietary fiber,

Ecological roles.

Common mallow is commonly found on waist ground, footpaths meadows,

Mallow's strong roots can help and fertilize to degraded soils.

Katrina Blair writes how Mallow can be a great midwife to other plants, as well

The cause of this fungus is often from an overly moist environment

Herbalist.

Julie and Matthew Seale highlight that the low growing leaves tend to accumulate

You know, for example, if they're growing on the side of a road.

Cultivation and harvesting.

Mallow is very easy to grow from seed and is adaptable to most soils.

Mallow leaves are best harvested when the stems are bright,

Beware of rusted leaves.

It's ideal if the plants can be used fresh because of their

However, they can be dry too.

They will lose about one third of their mucilaginous quantities.

The roots are best harvested in the autumn when they have more mucilage.

Energetics.

Temperature, neutral to cooling depending on the constitution.

Moisture, moist tissue state, dry atrophy, heat excitation, wind tension.

Taste, sweet and salty.

Herbal actions antibacterial, mild astringent, demulcent diuretic,

Health challenges supported by common Mallow.

JT Burgess wrote in 1868 that the uses of Mallow are infinite.

The fresh or dried leaves are best infused in cold water to preserve the

A fresh herb root tincture can also be made.

However, this mucilaginous herbal action will be significantly affected.

Some of the health challenges supported by common Mallow include digestive issues.

Mallows are mildly stringent, which means they help tone the

It also has a vulnerary reaction with an ability to staunch mild bleeding.

Combined with its soothing emolliant and moisturizing properties, you

This includes ulcers, gastritis, colitis, and enteritis, as well as Crohn's disease.

It can also support people to recover from leaky gut syndrome, commonly

Mallows, Marshmallow in particular, can also support with heartburn

The strong herbal infusion is the most effective as you want to cover

Likewise, for inflamed conditions such as hemorrhoids, Mallow can bring relief.

Herbalist, Sajah Popham recommends sitz baths especially.

Respiratory infection.

The herb is a powerful demulcent for coughs, cold sore throats,

Sajah writes that marshmallow, the most commonly used member of the

It tends to relax excessive spasm in this smooth muscles lining the

Secretions from the membranes.

Mallow is for respiratory conditions that are hot and dry sore throats.

Mallow can help soothe sore throats, especially those that are hot and dry

The flowers are commonly made into a syrup for this purpose.

Urinary Tract infections in a similar way to the above.

Mallow helps to, soothe the inflamed tissues in the mucosal membranes

Marshmallow is commonly used by herbalist to help relieve conditions such as

Just wanna note again, like this is just like an overview and you're not gonna.

Like a kidney infection, like nephritis, like with marshmallow,

Something like cystitis.

, you know, that could be like a DIY thing in prison, but, , I

Toothache, mallow flowers can be chewed to relieve toothache in insect

You can chop or chew the fresh leaf and apply directly as a poutlice.

Burns marshmallow but any Mallow leaf you can access in an emergency have

After common first aid practices are followed, Mallow leaves traditionally

Cosmetic skincare.

Katrina Blair says that Mallow is celebrated in our community, is one

It repairs sun damage and rejuvenates the skin.

It makes a wonderful green facial mask that removes skin blemishes

Mallow leaf and flour can also be made into herbal oils to

Sore or strained eyes.

Mallow can also be made into an infusion for bathing inflamed eyes.

Musculoskeletal system.

Why not famous for its affinity with a musculoskeletal system, many herbalist

Also, a lot of musculoskeletal issues can be linked directly

In the case of my ribcage, food intolerances were a major culprit.

Mallow can be used to support inflamed tissues immune system.

Another less known affinity of Mallow is its support for the immune system because

Sajah describes how the presence of polysaccharides indicates

As commonly these sugar compounds are seen as similar to bacteria or other pathogens

It's also important to remember that the mucosa is laid in with white

Thus, by simple virtue of increasing mucosal secretions, immunity is enhanced.

Cautions in large doses, Mallow can be laxative and purgative.

While it can take a while to get to grips with the concepts of energetics, it is

How to practically use Mallow in prison.

Where you might find Mallow?

I used to find mallow in the stony areas in full sun, often at the edges

Digestive inflammation for people with some ulcers, gastritis, colitis, arthritis,

Drink a cold infusion, ideally of the roots if you can, but the leaves are also great.

If not, do this for six weeks and then take a break.

Continue as needed.

Hemorrhoids, add the leaves to a sits bath where you're basically pla , where you're

, I love how I wrote it like that.

Okay.

Ideally, some kind of tub bowl, large enough for you.

Or if your wing has a bath, you could add the leaves to the water or to make it

And let it infuse for as long as you can, and then add it to the bath water.

If a sitz bath is not an option, you could also mash up some leave with

You could also make a small poultice or pad and place in your underwear.

Coughs, cold, asthma, and chest troubles.

Drink the cold infusion.

Sore throats, drink a cold infusion.

Eating flowers directly can also help urinary tract infections.

Make a cold infusion and drink as much as possible at least two to

Toothache chew a mallow leaf.

Insect bites, boils, abscesses, sores, cuts, bruises, or general skin complaints.

Chew the fresh leaf and apply it directly to the skin, holding it in

Burns after doing the necessary first aid sea wound section for more detail.

Mallow leaves can also be placed on the skin for minor burns.

You can also make a compress with a cold infusion of Mallow and

Face mask.

Make a strong cold infusion with Mallow leaves or flowers.

Apply damp leaves to the face and allow to sit there.

Then remove and wash your face with the infusion.

So make a cold infusion with the leaves and use as an eye wash.

I know it's unlikely that you'll have an eye bath available in prison.

One option is to save those little plastic cups that they give out.

Medication, make sure it is super clean, and then pour the infusion

Thanks so much for listening to the Frontline Herbalism podcast.

You can find the transcripts, the links, all the resources from the show