Marshmallow
Scientific Name: Althaea officinalis.
Other Names: Mallards, Sweetweed, Wymote, Mauls, Cheese Plant, Mortification Root, Guimauve, Schloss Tea.
Medicinal Properties and Actions: Demulcent, Emollient, Nutrient, Vulnerary, Laxative, Diuretic, Sweet, Cool, Moist, Galactagogue. It affects the lungs, stomach, intestines, bladder, kidney and skin.
Description: This plant is often regarded as a weed. It grows to a height of 2-4 feet, has several woody stems and rhubarb-like leaves. It gives fruits that are small and yellow, resembling cheese. This resemblance gives explanation to the name “Cheese Plant,” for which it is sometimes referred. This herb also grows large purplish flowers. The medicinal parts of the herb are the roots, leaves and flowers.
Traditional uses: Ancient physicians recognized marshmallow’s utility both internally and externally, prescribing it for bruises, toothaches, insect bites, vomiting, upset stomachs, and poisoning. Pliny wrote “Whosoever shall take a spoonful of the mallows shall that day be free from all diseases.”
The question always arises, what about the pillowy white marshmallow confection? There is a connection between the herb and the candy. The French peeled the roots of marshmallow revealing a white pith that was boiled to soften it and release its sweetness. This has evolved into the puffs of sugar that so many of us have roasted over the campfire.
Marshmallow’s medicinal properties have been applied to numerous conditions including: sore throat, bloody urine, fever, pleurisy, tuberculosis, coughs, hoarseness, wheezing, wounds, burns, scalds, cramps, breast engorgement, gonorrhea, diarrhea, headache, whooping cough, pneumonia, hiatus hernia, ulcers, boils and sprains.
Modern uses: Externally, marshmallow is a great remedy for wounds and infections of all kinds. Dr. John Christopher tells a story of a man scheduled to have his legs amputated in order to halt the progress of gangrene. Dr. Christopher prescribed soaking the legs in a warm decoction of marshmallow root and cayenne alternated with soaking in cold water. Months later, the man came back to him, walking on his legs that had been so badly diseased.
To use marshmallow externally, bruise the roots and then chop them to make a poultice. Apply directly to the affected area. You can also soak a cloth in a decoction of marshmallow and wrap the area.
Probably the best internal use of marshmallow is for upsets in the digestive system. Marshmallow is the best natural source of mucilage. When this mucilage combines with water, it creates a gel that is soothing, protective, and lubricating to the membranes. It is used to relieve inflammatory conditions such as colitis, ulcerations, etc. and to settle “acid” indigestion.
The soothing mucilage in marshmallow also reduces inflammation and irritation to respiratory and urinary passages. It is used for kidney and bladder inflammation and for dry cough.
There are no known toxic effects of marshmallow. The plant is useful for both small children and the elderly. General use is one to four capsules taken from one to three times daily. The powder can also be moistened and applied as a poultice.
Sources
Advanced Treatise in Herbology by Edward E. Shook (Beaumont, California: Trinity Center Press, 1978).
An Illustrated Dictionary of Chinese Medicinal Herbs by Wee Yeow Chin and Hsuan Keng (Sebastopol, California: CRCS Publications, 1992).
Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine by Dorothy Hall (Melbourne, Australia: Lothian Publishing Company, 1988).
“Marshmallow” in Nature’s Field (May/June 1992).
“Marshmallow” by Dr. John Christopher, M.H. in Herbalist (August 1976).
The Energetics of Western Herbs, Vol 1 by Peter Holmes (Boulder, Colorado: Artemis Press, 1989).
The Healing Herbs by Michael Castleman (Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press, 1991).
The Herbs of Life: Health and Healing Using Western and Chinese Techniques by Lesley Tierra, L. Ac. (Freedom, California: The Crossing Press, 1992).
Weiner’s Herbal by Michael Weiner, M.S., M.A., Ph.D. and Janet Weiner (Mill Valley, California: Quantum Books, 1990).
