Marshmallow, Closeup
Latin Name: Althea officinalis
Family: Malvaceae
Description
The healing properties of marshmallow were first recorded in the 9th century BCE and were widely used in Greek medicine. Powdered roots were once used to make soft lozenges for throat infections and coughs and were forerunners to the popular candy "marshmallow" that no longer contains extracts of the herb. The name altheae comes from the Greek altha, which means "to cure" and refers to the healing properties of the plant.
Marshmallow was originally found throughout Western Europe, Central Asia and Northern Africa. It prefers moist to wet soil in sun.
Leaves are gathered in summer and dried for infusions, liquid extracts and ointments. Roots are lifted in autumn from two year old plants and dried to liquid extracts, ointments and syrups.
Marshmallow
Ailments / Situations Where Used Marshmallow is a sweet mucilaginous herb that soothes and softens tissues. It has expectorant effects and controls bacterial infection. Use externally for wounds, burns, boils, eye and skin inflammations, insect bites, splinters, minor injuries, gingivitis, mastitis, and gangrene.
Roots preparations are useful for inflammations and ulceration of the digestive tract, hiatus hernia, bronchitis, excess mucous, asthma, whooping cough, and cystitis.
The leaves are useful for urinary tract infections, excess mucous, bronchitis, irritating coughs, and cystitis
Source
Leaves and root.
Preparations
Decoction: Add 1 teaspoon chopped root to one cup hot water. Take three times daily.
Infusion: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons leaves to one cup hot water. Take three times daily.
Ointment: About 20%.
Tincture: Take 1 to 5mL three times daily.
This is an excellent herb for poultice and compress applications (root).
Combine marshmallow with white horehound and licorice for bronchitis and other chest problems, and externally with comfrey and slippery elm for skin problems.
The peeled root is given to children as a teething aid.
Contraindications / Precautions / Warnings
No known contraindications.
Ailment / Situation Listing
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