Marshmallow
Marshmallow (Althea Officinalis) is originally thought to have been cultivated by the ancient Egyptians who, amongst other uses, made sweets from the plant’s stems, as did the Romans, who mixed the root juice with sugar syrup to make a pre-cursor to the soft, squidgy, pink and white “marshmallows” (which don’t contain any actual Marshmallow) you find in shops today. It’s not an overstatement to say, from flower to root, it is one of the most versatile and useful plants you can grow in your garden. The entire plant is also edible as well as being medicinal. The root can be eaten raw like a carrot, cooked in soups and stews, treated as a side-vegetable, used medicinally in teas, tinctures, ointments and salves, or it can be cut up, dried and powdered, and that’s just the root! The leaves and flowers are also edible and can be used for medicinal purposes in teas. And if that wasn’t enough, the flowers and leaves can also be dried and used as a tobacco substitute too. The leaves, however, are not recommended for drying if being used for medicine as they lose most of their beneficial qualities in the drying process. As a sacred, magical herb, Marshmallow was traditionally used to call for ‘help’ from benevolent spirits. It was often grown near, and even on, graves to decorate and sanctify them as a sign of respect for the dead.
- Marshmallow binds to toxins and helps the body purify itself. Its diuretic properties will also aid the cleansing process.
- Soothes all inflamed tissues both internally and externally. When it’s used on wounds, as well as calming any inflammation or irritation, it is said to prevent gangrene from setting in.
- Its demulcent properties make Marshmallow an excellent remedy for any burns, bites, stings, rashes, dryness, sunburn…and so on.
- Its mucilage content coats the inside of the gastro-intestinal tract from the mouth, to the bowels, protecting them from further damage and from inflammation related conditions. In combination with a few other herbs it can greatly improve leaky gut syndrome.
- One of the best remedies for coughs, colds and for cooling inflamed lungs. Excellent for all respiratory conditions
- Marshmallow’s lubricating and moistening qualities soothe painful, swollen, inflamed joints.
- Much like Liquorice root in Traditional Chinese Medicine, when used with other ‘stronger’ herbs, Marshmallow is useful for calming their effect on the system. (See “*Please Note” section below)
- Stimulates immune function and its anti-bacterial properties are known to kill gram-positive bacteria.
- Marshmallow has an almost miraculous ability to soothe even the most ‘distant’ internal areas of the body that seem out of reach to many other herbs. Hence, amongst other things, it’s a very effective laxative.
- It has a very high nutritional value and was once eaten as food everywhere it grew. It is a very safe herb, with no real limit to how much can be consumed. (See “*Please Note” section below)
- Most, or many, herbs require heat or alcohol in order to extract their medicinal properties, but one of the most useful things about Marshmallow is that it’s just as effective when extracted with just plain, cold water. Fill a jar, one third to half way up, with small, cut-up pieces of dried Marshmallow root. Fill to the brim with cold water and leave overnight. Strain, keep it in the fridge and drink as required over the next few days. Alternatively, throw a few fresh leaves into the pot with any other herbal tea to add a lovely, soothing roundness to it.
*Please Note:
Marshmallow is becoming quite rare now in its natural setting. If foraging, you could try to find Common Mallow (Malva Sylvestris) instead. It‘s identical in effect, though slightly less potent. As always though, you could grow your own Marshmallow. It’s worth its weight in gold.
As stated, Marshmallow is very effective when used to reduce the strength of other herbs, so it’s good to bear in mind, It will have the same effect on any prescription medications too. So please be careful using Marshmallow, an otherwise unbelievably safe herb to use, if you are on prescription medication. It has been said that if you stagger the Marshmallow with your meds, and take it a few hours before or after your prescription, it probably won’t cause you much trouble. Just be open and remain aware that it’s usually possible to mitigate possible side-effects somehow, but do consult with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns. And generally speaking for any herb, please do the research and seek advice regarding your concerns before adding any new herbs to your daily healthcare routine, especially if you’re on prescription meds.
Once again, we make no attempt to diagnose or treat anyone’s medical condition. We merely share information which already exists in the public domain about how these plants have been used historically, and are still being used successfully today.
We are not responsible for anyone else’s healthcare decisions, only our own. We will not accept liability for any harm, loss or injury which may occur as a result of choosing to act upon the information shared.
