Musk Mallow (Abelmusk / Abelmosk) sweetens breath and spices up your love life
- May 5, 2015
- 2 min read
Musk mallow, Abelmoschus moschatus (syn. Hibiscus abelmoschus), has a huge number of other common names, including abelmosk, ambrette, annual hibiscus, bamia moschata, galu gasturi, muskdana, musk okra, muskseed, ornamental okra, rose mallow (which is also used for hollyhock), syrian mallow, target-leaved hibiscus, tropical jewel hibiscus, water mallow and yorka okra. Having this number of common names generally means that a plant has been known as a folk remedy, food source or both for a very long time. It is closely related to okra (or gumbo), and more distantly to hollyhock, rosella and marsh mallow.
A native of south east Asia, the musk mallow has been imported across the world as an ornamental, often used for summer bedding. Despite being sometimes called the annual hibiscus, it is in fact a half hardy perennial which reaches a height and spread of around 6-7' (2m) by 3' (1m). It's easily propagated from seed sown in heat in spring, or semi-ripe cuttings in summer. In cooler climates such as the UK, it is best grown in large pots if you wish to overwinter it, so that it can be moved into a conservatory or frost free greenhouse in the winter months.
Most parts of musk mallow are edible. Unripe seed pods can be used as a substitute for okra, young shoots and leaves added to soups or used as a vegetable, and the seed can be used as a substitute for sesame seeds. Both the seed and the essential oil are used for flavoring, believed to be one of the ingredients used in the manufacture of Benedictine liqueur, but as the recipe is a trade secret it's impossible to be sure.
The essential oil has been used in aromatherapy to treat anxiety and depression, but should be used with care as it can cause photosensitivity. It can also be used topically to treat joint pain, cramp and poor circulation. But the main part used medicinally is the seeds, which are chewed whole as a breath sweetener and to treat digestive problems including griping pain, to soothe nerves, as a diuretic and also (mainly in Egypt), an aphrodisiac. Ground to a paste and mixed to an emulsion with water, they can be used to treat wounds, or an emulsion made with milk can be used to treat itching skin. A paste made from ground bark can also be used to treat cuts and wounds.
As with all plants grown medicinally, musk mallow should be grown organically to ensure the purity of its effective constitutents. To find out more about growing organic musk mallow visit the Gardenzone.
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