Chinese Mallow

BotanicalBest taken away from food

What is it

Chinese mallow (Malva verticillata) is a leafy plant widely grown in Asia. Its leaves and seeds are used as a food, and the seeds (dong kui zi) are used in traditional Chinese medicine, primarily for urinary and digestive complaints.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Digestive support (traditional use)

Mixed Evidence

Long traditional use of seeds as a mild laxative and demulcent. Modern controlled human evidence is limited.

How it works

The seeds contain mucilage (water-soluble polysaccharides) and dietary fiber. The mucilage gives them mild laxative and demulcent (soothing) properties, helping bowel movement and easing urinary tract irritation in traditional use. Leaves are nutritious greens with vitamin C, carotenoids, and minerals. Modern controlled human evidence specifically for Chinese mallow as a supplement is limited.

Dosage

Traditional decoction doses of seeds are 5-10 g per day. Leaves as food are typical leafy green portions.

When and how to take it

Eat leaves as a vegetable at meals. Seed preparations are typically taken between meals.

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Seed decoction

Traditional preparation.

Mucilage extracted in water

Fresh leaves

Used as a leafy green.

Vitamins and minerals retained

Safety

Generally considered well-tolerated as food and in traditional doses. Seeds have mild laxative effects at higher amounts.

Who should be cautious

Avoid large doses of seeds in pregnancy. Generally safe as a leafy vegetable.

Interactions

Mucilage content can theoretically slow absorption of medications taken at the same time; separate by 1-2 hours.

Food sources

Chinese mallow leaves

Amount
1 cup
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Is Chinese mallow the same as common mallow?⌄

They are related Malva species but different plants. Both have demulcent properties from their mucilage.

Can I eat the leaves?⌄

Yes, they are a popular leafy green in Asian cuisine.

References

Chinese Mallow on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Chinese Mallow on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Chinese Mallow (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.