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Althea Root is also known by the names Mallards, Sweet Weed, Hock Herb, Wymote, and Schloss Tea. The genus name Althaea is from the Greek word "althe" and means "to heal". Althea Root powder has been used as a binding agent to hold other herbs together in making pills, and has been commonly substituted for slippery Elm in herbal remedies as many Elm trees are becoming endangered due to Dutch Elm Disease. During times of famine, Althea Root has nourished many people. During the reign of Charlemagne in the 9th century, Althea was promoted as a cultivated vegetable. Althea is a native of most countries of Europe, from Denmark southward, and is found in the western U.S. It grows in salt marshes, in damp meadows, by the sides of ditches, by the sea, and on the banks of tidal rivers.