Marshmallow Uses and Plant Monograph
Slippery, slimy, gooey… hardly words you would think of when describing your medicine, but if you are an herbalist you’ll know this illustrates the demulcent property, which is one of our most important herbal actions. Marshmallow is revered in the herbal world for being an incredibly demulcent herb.
If you’re not immediately familiar with the demulcent action, I’m still certain it’s something you’ve experienced. Think of an old bowl of oatmeal and how it becomes thick and gooey. That’s demulcent!
Demulcent herbs are filled with polysaccharides which are long chain carbohydrates that become thick and viscous when soaked in water. The resulting brews of demulcent herbs are used to soothe hot and inflamed tissues. There are about 1,000 different reasons for which you could use a demulcent preparation, ranging from ulcers and burns to dry coughs and inflamed tissues!
Like many herbs, marshmallow has a long history of use. While historical records show it was used as long as 2,000 years ago, it was undoubtedly used for thousands of years before that.
The genus name for marshmallow is derived from the Greek word altho, which means “to cure,” thereby giving us great indication of how highly regarded this Althaea plant was in ancient times.
“Whosoever shall take a spoonful of the Mallows shall that day be free from all diseases that may come to him.”
- Pliny
Marshmallow Uses & Plant Profile Summary:
- Botanical Name: Althaea officinalis
- Family: Malvaceae (mallow)
- Parts Used: roots, leaves, flowers
- Energetics: cooling, moistening
- Taste: sweet
- Plant Properties: demulcent, emollient, expectorant, vulnerary, immunomodulatory, diuretic, nutritive, skin protector
- Plant Uses: dry spasmodic coughs, digestive inflammation, urinary inflammation, dry and itchy skin, sore and dry mouth and throat, UV damage to skin, wounds
- Plant Preparations: cold infusion (internally and externally), decoction, tea, powder, low alcohol tincture, food
Marshmallow for the Urinary Tract
While it may make the most sense to use marshmallow directly on the tissues that need soothing, it also works systemically in mysterious ways. Herbalists commonly use marshmallow for hot and irritated conditions in the lungs and urinary system even though it never comes in direct contact with these tissues. Herbalist jim mcdonald explains:
“Though it makes sense that demulcents coat tissues, the physical mucilage is actually very poorly absorbed by the body, and certainly isn’t traveling through the blood to the kidneys. Rather, the ingestion of mucilage seems to promote a systemic moistening of tissues throughout the body, with some demulcents being more specific to particular organ systems.”
- jim mcdonald, herbcraft.org
As a result it frequently gets used for hot and painful urinary problems such as cystitis, kidney stones, and UTIs. Besides being a demulcent specific to the urinary tract it is also a diuretic, which can be of further aide in many urinary problems.
Marshmallow for the Cold and Flu Season
Marshmallow is a wonderful ally for the cold and flu season especially for its ability to soothe an inflamed and sore throat. However, marshmallow goes beyond simply addressing a tissue state, it also stimulates phagocytosis, an important action of the immune system where phagocyte cells “chomp” on pathogens and waste material in the body.
Marshmallow is commonly used as a simple or in formulas to address dry and irritated lungs, which can result in spasmodic or hacking coughs or coughs with little to no expectoration.
Recent research has also shown it to have mild antitussive qualities, but I never think of it as something used to suppress a cough, but rather as something to support hot and/or dry lung tissues to resolve a cough.
An interesting in vitro study concluded that teas made from marshmallow “are effective stimulators of cell physiology of epithelial cells, which can prove the traditional use of Marshmallow preparations for treatment of irritated mucous membranes within tissue regeneration.”1
Marshmallow for Digestive Inflammation
Marshmallow is almost always included in protocols for inflammatory problems in the digestive tract, such as ulcers, colitis, or dry constipation. Besides being able to soothe inflammation, marshmallow root is also a vulnerary, helping to heal wounds within the digestive tract.
A marshmallow infusion can also soothe the painful sensations of heartburn (but a more holistic protocol such as dietary changes, astringents, bitters, and possibly antimicrobial herbs will be needed to address the root cause.)
Herbalist Nicholas Culpeper relates this story about a mallow’s ability to heal:
“You may remember that not long since there was a raging disease called the bloody flux; the College of Physicians not knowing what to make of it, called it The Plague in the Guts, for their wits were at ne plus ultra about it. My son was taken with the same disease; myself being in the country, was sent for; the only thing I gave him was Mallow bruised and boiled both in milk and drink; in two days it cured him, and I have here to shew my thankfulness to God in communicating it to his creatures, leaving it to posterity.”
- Nicholas Culpeper
Marshmallow for Healing Wounds and Soothing Burns
Although not commonly used this way in modern times, marshmallow was historically considered a powerful topical treatment for wounds and burns. In the past it was called “mortification root” because of its ability to prevent gangrene.
While marshmallow was used historically to prevent gangrene, you don’t commonly see it used for antimicrobial applications in modern herbalism. In addition to this historical use, modern day research is shedding light on marshmallow’s antimicrobial features. In a study which looked at 16 different herbs and their ability to address E. coli, a common gut and urinary tract infective bacteria, the researchers remarked that “Some of the results were unexpected. Althaea officinalis affected microbial metabolism in spite of the lack of literature precedent.”2
“Externally, marshmallow root is very useful in the form of poultice, to discuss painful, inflammatory tumors, and swellings of every kind, whether the consequence of wounds, bruises, burns, scalds, or poisons; and has, when thus applied, had a happy effect in preventing the occurrence of gangrene. The infusion or decoction may be freely administered.”
- King’s American Dispensatory, (1898)
Besides the roots, the leaves are also used as a fomentation or poultice to soothe rashes and other irritations of the skin. While herbalists commonly use cabbage leaves for easing the painful symptoms of breast engorgement during breastfeeding, marshmallow compresses, in addition to routine interventions (warm and cold compresses), have also been shown to improve breast engorgement.3
Marshmallow as a Healing Food
Marshmallow and other members of the Malvaceae were historically eaten as foods. The roots of marshmallow are especially high in nutrients, and the young leaves and flowers are tasty in salads.
Marshmallow root can be used similarly to slippery elm for people who are weak and unable to eat many foods, as might be found in convalescence or during cancer treatment.
“In pulmonary consumption and other wasting diseases it is one of the finest strengthening medicines to which employment can be given; possessing so much nutriment that it may with propriety, with the addition of milk, be taken as a food agreeing with and remaining in the stomach when that organ has become intolerant of other foods.” —Hatfield Botanic Pharmacopoeia, (1886)
Wait! I Thought This Article Was About S’mores Ingredients
The marshmallow plant was historically used to make a confection similar to fluffy marshmallows. Modern day marshmallow candies no longer contain any part of Althaea officinalis, but you can make your own in the traditional style. Check out my recipe for rose marshmallows here.
Other Mallows
Marshmallow is in the Malvaceae. This family name is derived from the Greek word malake, which means soft. Almost all members of this family are used in similar ways to marshmallow.
Members of the Malvaceae that you might be familiar with include:
| Roselle Hibiscus | Hibiscus sabdariffa |
| Chinese Hibiscus | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis |
| Rose of Sharon | Hibiscus syriacus |
| Cranberry Hibiscus | Hibiscus acetosella |
| Hollyhock | Alcea rosea |
| Common Mallow | Malva neglecta |
| Globemallow | Sphaeralcea acerifolia |
| Fanpetals | Sida spp. |
| Cotton | Gossypium herbaceum |
| Okra | Abelmoschus esculentus |
Malva neglecta, or common mallow, is a European and Asian weed that commonly grows in the U.S. and can be used very similarly to marshmallow. One study showed that common mallow had higher mucilage in the leaves and flowers than other similar plants, including Althaea offcinalis.4
Botanically Speaking
Marshmallow, Althaea officinalis, originally hails from central Asia, but is commonly grown all over the world. It loves to grow in salt marshes and is an easy herb to grow in your garden.
(One study showed that antioxidant levels were highest in the white flowers compared to the pink.)5
Plant Preparations
Marshmallow root, high in polysaccharides, is best prepared as a cold infusion. To make a cold infusion, simply fill a jar 1/3 of the way with dried marshmallow root. Then fill the jar with lukewarm or room temperature water. Let sit for a minimum of 4 hours or preferably overnight. Place the infusion in the refrigerator if you need to prevent slight fermentation (if your immune system is compromised, for example).
Marshmallow roots are high in both polysaccharides and starches. By using a cold infusion you extract mainly the mucilaginous polysaccharides that are the demulcent constituents of the herb. If you simmer the root to make a decoction, you extract the starches in the plant, which is fine, but it will be less demulcent. The cold infusion is considered to be a more pure extract of the mucilage of marshmallow.
When making an alcohol extract or tincture of marshmallow, keep in mind that alcohol above 20% percent will break down the polysaccharides. Some herbalists make a decoction of the root and then preserve it with 20% alcohol. I prefer to use teas or infusions and avoid making tinctures with marshmallow.
Despite the benefits of the cold infusion, marshmallow root can be used as a hot tea, used externally as a wash, added to other tea blends, made into a syrup, or used as a powder mixed into water, honey, or ghee.
Marshmallow leaves and flowers can be made into a tea or syrup, or used as a poultice or fomentation. I like using the aerial portions when making a tea blend with other aerial portions of plants.
All parts of the plant can be infused into oil for use as a salve or ointment. Preliminary research suggests that marshmallow may protect the skin from UV damage.6
Dosage Suggestions
Root (or powdered root): 15 grams or as needed
Infusion or tea: 15-30 grams or as needed for wash or compress
Special Considerations
Marshmallow is considered safe for everyone to use although it is recommended to take it several hours away from taking prescription medications, as it may inhibit or slow the absorption. Marshmallow may aggravate cold and moist conditions.
Footnotes
The Herbal Remedy Vault has all of our printable recipe cards...
