Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia

The Basics

What is Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia?

Hollyhock is used for pain, stomach ulcers, wound healing, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Brand names for Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia

Na

How Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia is classified

Complementary Therapies, Phytotherapy, Plants, Medicinal

Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia During Pregnancy

Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia while pregnant

N/A

Taking Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia?

The constituents of hollyhock (Alcea rosea, Althaea rosea) leaf have not been well described, but it is believed to contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins. Few studies on hollyhock related to breastfeeding exist, but one moderately well done study found that a compress of hollyhock leaf sped resolution of engorgement during breastfeeding. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Maternal / infant drug levels

The constituents of hollyhock (Alcea rosea, Althaea rosea) leaf have not been well described, but it is believed to contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins. Few studies on hollyhock related to breastfeeding exist, but one moderately well done study found that a compress of hollyhock leaf sped resolution of engorgement during breastfeeding. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Possible effects of Hollyhock / Alcea rosea Althaea rosea Althaea ficifolia on milk supply

A nonblinded, randomized trial of hollyhock leaf compresses in addition to warm compresses followed by cold compresses was compared to the warm and cold compresses alone in the treatment of breast engorgement. Nursing mothers completed the procedures on their own and rated their own levels of engorgement based on a standard checklist. Twenty women in each group completed the study. Although both groups had a lessening of their engorgement scores over the 6-day study period, the mothers who used the hollyhock compresses had a more rapid decrease in engorgement.[1]

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