Marshmallow

Althaea officinalis

Marshmallow root should not to be confused with the sugary marshmallow on top of a hot chocolate.  This medicinal plant is indigenous to Western Asia and Europe, but now grows widely throughout North America.
Marshmallow has been used in traditional European medicines for more than two thousand years.  The genus name for Marshmallow, Althaea is derived from the Greek ‘altha,’ which means ‘to cure’, indicating its healing properties.

The Romans used Marshmallow root as a vegetable.  Throughout much of Europe and the Middle East, it served as a standby crop when other foods were scarce.  Traditionally, the peeled root was given to children to chew on as an aid for teething.  Marshmallow sweets were once made from root extracts of the plant.

In traditional medicine, Marshmallow was successfully applied externally as a poultice to treat bruises, boils, burns, muscle aches, sprains, insect bites, and other local inflammations of the skin.  It was also used in lozenges to soothe sore throats, relieve inflamed gums, and help ameliorate dry, irritating coughs.

Marshmallow is still used in modern western herbal medicine to reduce inflammation and soothe the linings of the throat and airways.  This eases soreness and reduces the urge to cough.

The root contains mucilage which has a soothing effect on the membranes of the respiratory, digestive and urinary tract. It is thought that mucilage forms a protective layer on top of linings, for example in the throat or the intestine, causing a soothing and protective effect.   Mucilage is also of benefit in respiratory infections because of its antimicrobial, anti-spasmodic and wound healing effects; all of this contributes towards the healing and recovery of the lungs.

Marshmallow, as well as being used for coughs, colds and bronchitis, is also effective in cystitis, dysentery and diarrhoea.

Cautions and Contra-indications.
Nil known.