A wonderful emolient of the mucosa, marshmallow soothes the irritated and inflamed mucosa of the urinary, digestive and respiratory systems. The roots, flowers and leaves are harvested all summer long and made into an extract, infusion or decoction.
Marshmallow is also known as the common marshmallow, or simply marshmallow, marsh mallow, or marsh-mallow. The scientific botanical name for the common marshmallow is Althaea officinalis. Other names include Altea, Alteia, Althaea taurinensis, Althaeae Folium, Althaeae Radi, Althea, Althée, Guimauve, Guimauve Officinale, Gulkhairo, Herba Malvae, Mallards, Malvavisco, Marsh Maillo, Mauve Blanche, Mortification Root, Racine de Guimauve, Sweet Weed, Wymote.
Key Points
- highly edible
- ancient historical use as a food
- flavor used to make marshmallow candy
- medicinally used to treat inflamed areas of the body
History
Marshmallow root has been used to make a confection since ancient Egyptian times. This has evolved into the candy treat we know in modern times, often roasted in campfires.
Where is it found?
Marshmallow is a perennial species which is indigenous to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced into the eastern part of North America.
It can be found on the margins of salt and brackish marshes, flats, wetlands, ditches and grassy banks near the sea.
What's it used for?
Marshmallow is highly edible. Many types of mallows have been used for food and mentioned by classic writers. The Romans are it as a delicacy. It's been used by poorer inhabitants in Syria, especially when other crops fail, especially cooked with onions.
The root extract is used as a flavoring to make a Middle Eastern snack called halva. The water from cooking any part of the plant can be used to make an egg-white substitute often used to make meringues. Flowers and young leaves can be added to salad, boiled or fried. Cooking too many leaves can become sticky and gum or glue like.
The leaves and roots are used to make herbal medicines. Taken orally, it's used to treat treat stomach ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, swelling of the stomach lining, and pain and swelling of the mucous membranes that line the respiratory tract. Marshmallow forms a protective layer on the skin, and also lines he digestive tract. It can be used to decrease a cough and help heal wounds by decreasing inflammation. A compress made from marshmallow can be applied to the breasts to reduce pain ad swelling from breast feeding.
Are there any risks?
There are no known serious side effects, but it can lower blood sugar which might be a concern for those with diabetes. It might also increase the risk of bleeding, as such should be avoided in times of surgery before and after.
Lithium interacts with marshmallow, decreasing the ability of the body to eliminate lithium from the body. The mucilage in marshmallow might affect how the body absorbs other types of medication.
References:
Previous posts on Getting to Know Herbs:
Skullcap | Codonopsis (Poor Man's Ginseng) | Schisandra | Rhodiola | Canadian Goldenrod | German Chamomile | Blue Vervain | Blessed or Holy Thistle | Common Horehound | Cayenne | Ashwagandha | Gotu Kola | Common Verbana/Vervain | Holy Basil | Sweet Annie | Globe Artichoke | Butterfly Weed / Pleurisy Root | Joe-Pye Weed / Gravel Root | Valerian | Malva/Mallow | Boneset | Elecampane | Lungwort | Cramp Bark | Motherwort | Common Plantain | Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) | Black Cohosh | Common Bearberry | Mahonia Mountain Grape (Oregon Grape) | Blue Cohosh | Goldenseal
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