Marshmallow is a perennial plant native to Europe and parts of Asia. It has medicinal properties and can be used to treat wounds, respiratory illnesses, gastric ailments, and urinary diseases. The roots, leaves, and flowers contain mucilage, polysaccharides, and antioxidants that soothe mucous membranes and reduce inflammation. Marshmallow tea or extracts can be applied topically to wounds or taken internally to treat coughs, sore throats, digestive issues, and urinary problems. It may interact with blood sugar medications, so people with diabetes should use it cautiously.

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Alternative medicine: Marshmallow
Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:50:02
By Patricia Khashayar, MD., Press TV, Tehran
Marshmallow is useful in treating wounds, gastric ailments, urinary diseases as well as
asthma, coughs and other respiratory diseases.
Botanical: Althaea officinalis (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Malvaceae
Synonym: Althaea Leaf, Apothekerstockmalve, bismalva, buonvischio, cheeses,
Eibischwurzel, Guimauve, gul hatem, Herba Malvae, kitmi, malvavisco, malve, mortification
root, mucilage, Racine De Guimauve, sweet weed.
Habitat:
Marshmallow is native to most European countries. Today, it is cultivated in salt marshes and
moist regions throughout Europe, western and northern Asia, and eastern US.
Description:
Marshmallow is a perennial tree that grows 3 to 4 meters in height. It has rounded 3-lobed
velvety leaves and showy white, pink-and-white, or pink flowers.
The roots are thick, long and tapering. They are whitish yellow on the outside and white and
fibrous on the inside.
Part Used Medicinally:
Leaves, root, flowers.
Constituents:
Marshmallow contains starch, mucilage, pectin, polysaccharides, oil, asparagine, tannins,
flavonoids, lecithin, pectin, lime phosphate, glutinous matter and cellulose.
It has a high vitamin and mineral content, particularly calcium, zinc, iron, sodium, iodine,
vitamin A, B-complex and C.
Medicinal Uses:
Marshmallow was traditionally used to treat wounds, toothaches and insect stings.
It is a popular remedy for asthma, common cold, sore throat, coughs, bronchitis and
whooping coughs.
Marshmallow has anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, laxative, demulcent and emollient
properties.
It strengthens the mucous membranes as well as the respiratory system and eases
gastrointestinal irritation.
Marshmallow is rich in flavonoids and anthocyanidins, which help boost the effect of anti-
bodies in fighting off diseases.
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It also reduces certain kinds of urinary inflammation and helps excrete renal stones.
Marshmallow lessens heartburn, indigestion and intestinal conditions, such as ulcers, irritable
bowel syndrome and constipation.
It is an effective weight loss aid and helps treat diarrhea, gastritis, Gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD) and inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis).
The mucilage content of marshmallow root is useful in treating topical wounds as well as sore
throats and coughs.
Powdered marshmallow root boiled in milk is recommended in hemorrhagic urinary problems
and dysentery.
A combination of marshmallow root and Echinacea or Golden Seal & Echinacea blend is a
good treatment for kidney stones, bed wetting, bladder and urinary bleeding, nervous
conditions, infected wounds, whooping coughs, and pneumonia.
Cooled marshmallow root tea has been used to soothe skin inflammations. It can also be used
as a gargle in mouth irritations.
A compress, poultice, or paste made from the root works is a good emollient for skin
irritations, rashes, boils, varicose ulcers and wounds.
Marshmallow decoction helps treat cystitis, polyuria, painful urinary complaints, arthritis,
bruises, sprains and other muscular pains.
Preparation:
As marshmallow contains both mucilage and starch, it must be prepared cold to ensure that
the mucilage and not the starch is extracted. Therefore, 'marshmallow decoction' is not a true
decoction; it is a cold maceration.
Marshmallow gargle is prepared by briefly boiling pieces of root whereas marshmallow tea is
macerated in cold water. Marshmallow syrup is good in treating children suffering from
coughs.
Caution
Although there are no known reports or studies about marshmallow allergy; however, allergic
reactions to marshmallow are not rare.
Marshmallow can lower blood glucose levels; however, diabetics and hypoglycemic patients
should use marshmallow with caution.
Individuals taking drugs, herbs (Aloe vera, American ginseng, bilberry, bitter melon, burdock,
fenugreek, fish oil, rosemary, arginine, cocoa, and ephedra) or supplements that affect blood
sugar must also use marshmallow with caution.
As marshmallow may interfere with the absorption of other drugs, it should be taken 1 hour
before or 2 hours after other drugs.
There are no known side effects for marshmallow and it has been reported safe for use during
pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Marshmallow shell contains CTX, a mild hallucinogen that is often artificially refined, which
can cause permanent brain damage in doses higher than 5mg.
PKH/HGH
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