Marshmallow benefits, nutrition, usage, safety, dosage

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis - L.) also known as Mortification Root, Sweetweed, Cheeses, Cheese Flower, Yao Shu Kui, Prawoslaz.

 

Marshmallow is an erect perennial that can grow to 3 or 4 feet tall with a strong tap root that is yellowish on the outside. The stem and leaves are covered in soft hairs, and the grayish-green leaves are rounded to triangular in shape with pointed and serrated edges. The flowers are five-petaled and either pale pink or white. The flowers give way to round flattish fruits known as “cheeses.”

Marshmallow is an African plant that is abundant in tropical regions and now grown in most countries in Europe from Denmark southward and around the world. It likes salt marshes, damp meadows or growing by the sea on tidal rivers.

 

Part used: root, leaf, flower

 

Constituents: Mucilage/polysaccharides between 6% and 20% root and 5-10% leaf/flower. Mucilage fractions include acidic polysaccharide composed from L-rhamnose, D-galactose, D-galacturonic acid and D-glucuronic acid also arabinan. Pectin 35%, starch, trace minerals (incl. phosphorus), malic acid, sugar, calcium, phytosterol, tannins, saponin asparagin 1-2%, fixed oil, small amounts of phenolic acids (caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, p-hydroxyphenylacetic, and syringic), coumarin scopoletin.

 

Flavour/Temps: Moist, Sweet, Cool to Cold, Slightly Bitter

Relaxing, Softening, Thickening

 

Tropism: Bladder, Lungs, Kidneys, Stomach, Intestines

 

Meridians: Stomach, Lung, Large Intestine, Bladder

Fluid and Warmth bodies

 

Ground: Sanguine and Choleric krases

Charming/Yang Ming Earth and Tough/Shao Yang biotypes

All constitutions

 

 

Key actions in Western Medicine: Expectorant, Emollient, Mild Laxative, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent, Antitussive, Digestive, Analgesic, Mucigenic, Diuretic, Vulnerary

 

Indications in Western Medicine: Peptic ulcers, Gastritis, Hiatus hernia, Insufficient lactation, Urethritis, Cystitis, Bruises, Sprains, Aches or stiffness in tendons and muscles, Gastric hyperacidity with acid dyspepsia, Whooping cough, Lung TB, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Colitis, Enteritis (incl. dysentery), Mastitis, Breast swelling or lumps, Nephritis, Kidney colic, Urinary stones, Bladder irritation, Dry skin eruptions, burns, cuts, gangrene, varicose veins, ulcers, wounds, Chronic infection and putrefaction (esp. in throat and mouth), Insect bites, Furuncles, Boils, Abscesses.

 

Key Actions in Eastern medicine: 

1.Softens the Sinews; Cools and moisten the skin, draw the pus and soften Boils

2.Promotes Lactation

3. Clears Damp-Heat: Reduces Infection, Inflammation and Putrefaction, Stops discharge; Stimulate Immunity; Reduces irritation and Harmonise Urination

4. Moistens the lungs and relieve coughing; Moisten Intestines and Stomach, reduce gastric secretions

 

Indication in Eastern Medicine: Large Intestine and stomach dryness: hunger without eating, hard dry stool, abdominal distension with lumpy sensation; Lung Dryness (Lung Yin deficiency): Dry mouth and throat, Dry, harsh unproductive cough or with blood-tinged sputum, tickling dry cough, congestion, pneumonia, pleurisy; Bladder Damp-Heat: thirst, frequent painful urination, dry mouth; Stomach Fire: fetid breath, great appetite, swollen painful gums, stomach ulcers, heartburn; Large Intestine Damp-Heat: Mucous and blood in stool, urgent burning bowel movements,  constipation, swollen gums, wet diarrhoea, , leaky gut, repairs gut lining.

 

Preparations: Cold infusion, Short Decoction, Tincture, Sirup, Powder

 

Dosage 3 times a day unless instructed otherwise by Herbalist:

Cold Infusion/short decoction 2-5g

Tincture 2-5 ml, 1:5 25% alcohol

Sirup 2-10 ml

Powder 2-5g

 

Note: Ideal preparations of Marshmallow is cold infusion (add root to cold water and leave for few hours, ideally overnight that will not damage precious constituents as decoction will do) and Tincture.

Note: Tincture will work perfectly for conditions described under 3.

Note: Both Tincture and Cold infusion can be used for Douches, Washes, Poultices, Ointments etc. for condition where is present redness, pain and irritation.

Note: Decoction thanks to beneficial starch is perfect to gargles.

Note:  Syrups work perfectly for hot or dry gastric and respiratory complaints.

Note: Marshmallow is used in creams for people with dry or damaged skin, however if the skin is badly damaged or open you can also get great healing from using a Marshmallow poultice. Just mashing the leaf/flower and soaking it in enough water to moisten the herb into a pliable 'putty'. You then place the whole product, herb and water combined, on to a cloth which is then placed directly over the affected wound or skin problem and then you cover that further with a towel or cloth to hold everything in place. This may be left on as long as necessary, even overnight if it can be bandaged in place.

 

Synergy Examples: Marshmallow combines perfectly with Liquorice for any kind of dry or depleted condition, with Wild Cherry for dry and exhausting coughs and with Elecampane for weak lungs and old coughs.

 

Cautions: None

 

Contraindications: None known. No adverse effects are expected (or have ever been reported) from taking Marshmallow in tea or tincture, even in high or frequent doses. It may be confidently taken during pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding and used by the young or old with safety.

 

Interactions with drugs: None known, however there is theoretical concerns that the mucilage in Marshmallow, and the way it provides a coating over the gastric lining, might impair the absorption of certain drugs. There are no reports of adverse reactions in this regard but, if the drug is known to be particularly dose-sensitive and its effects are much needed, then it may be wise to take any high doses of Marshmallow an least an hour or more apart.

Also, there may be a need for caution with Marshmallow when the person is using certain types of drugs. Some research suggests that taking Marshmallow might decrease the need for hypoglycaemic drugs e.g. glimepiride (Amaryl), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos),  glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), rosiglitazone (Avandia) so it would be wise checking blood sugar levels whilst using the herb and, if they go too low then I would suggesting using less of the drugs, not the herb!

 

Side effects: None known

 

History and folklore:

Marshmallow has been used by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Indian cultures as a medicine. It is mentioned in Homer’s the Iliad (written 2800 years ago). Ancient Egyptians used the soft, spongy pith of the plant boiled with honey to make chewy candy-like substance favoured by the Pharaohs and nobility. This is the ancient beginnings of our modern-day marshmallow candy.

 

The plant’s Latin name, Althaea, derives from the word “Althara” which comes from the Greek word for cure.

 

The Roman herbalist, Pliny said, “Whosoever shall take a spoonful of the Mallows shall that day be free from all diseases that may come to him.” The Romans consumed the boiled root that was creamed like butter as a culinary delicacy.

Early Arab physicians used Marshmallow poultices to treat inflammations and early European doctors used Marshmallow internally and externally for its soothing action in treating toothache, sore throats, digestive upsets and urinary irritations.

 

Marshmallow was also a special favourite of the great English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, he wrote “you may remember not long ago there was a raging disease called the body flux, the college of physicians not knowing what to make of it. My son was taken with it and the only thing I gave him was Mallows bruised and boiled in milk and drunk. In two days, the blessing of God be upon it, it cured him”. Culpeper rated Marshmallow highly for “shortness of breath, wheezing, cramps, torments of the belly and other diseases of the chest”

 

The French ate the young tops of marshmallow in salads as a kidney tonic and whipped the sap into a fluffy confection. It has been used in Syria, as a food and during times of famine has been known to help keep rural poor populations alive.

 

The sweet treat also called marshmallow, was originally made from marshmallows. Today commercially made marshmallow uses gelatine instead.

 

The entire marshmallow plant contains high-grade mucilage that helps coat sore throats, skin, upset stomachs, and irritated intestines.

 

Marshmallow is a pure demulcent, moistening but not also nourishing in the way that many other demulcents are such as slippery elm and Irish moss. The plants ability to both moisten dry intestines as well as treat Damp Heat are important attributes and useful in treating many hot, damp, acute conditions.

 

Teas containing both the roots and the leaves seem to be more effective than just using the roots or the leaves individually.

 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, by virtue of the plants moistening abilities, it is considered a Yin herb that is also excellent for treating Damp Heat conditions.

King's Dispensatory writes

“the root of Marshmallow is demulcent and diuretic and will be found valuable in diseases of the mucous tissues, as hoarseness, catarrh, pneumonia, gonorrhoea, vesical catarrh, renal irritation, acute dysentery, and diarrhoea. In strangury, inflammation of the bladder, hematuria, retention of urine, some forms of gravel, and indeed in nearly every affection of the kidney and bladder, their use will be found advantageous. Much use is made of Marshmallow in urinary derangements. They are likewise efficacious in gastro-intestinal irritation and inflammation. Externally, marshmallow root is very useful in the form of poultice, to discuss painful, inflammatory tumors, and swellings of every kind, whether the consequence of wounds, bruises, burns, scalds, or poisons; and has, when thus applied, had a happy effect in preventing the occurrence of gangrene. The infusion or decoction may be freely administered”

T J Lyle writes “the root contains much mucilage which is soothing to the mucous membrane and skin, and is valuable in the treatment of irritated conditions especially in pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, dysentery, diarrhoea, typhoid fever, diphtheria, gonorrhoea, cystitis, urethritis and nephritis. Its influence to soothe will be used by the vital force wherever needed, or where its influence may be determined by other medication”

WM Cook writes “the root contains large quantities of pure mucilage, which is agreeable to the taste and soothing to all mucous membranes... it is useful in irritable coughs arising from acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy; also in acute dysentery, and inflammation or catarrh of the bladder”

The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (BHP) describes the actions of Marshmallow root as “demulcent, diuretic, emollient & vulnerary”. It says it is indicated for “gastritis, gastric or peptic ulceration, enteritis, inflammation of the mouth or pharynx, respiratory catarrh with irritating cough, cystitis. Locally for varicose or thrombotic ulcers”. The BHP suggests combining it with Licorice, White Horehound and/or Lobelia for cough. Used with Slippery Elm as a poultice of ointment for inflammation and crural ulcers (of the leg). The BHP recommends a dose of 2-5 grams or by cold extraction. The extract in 25% ethanol at 2-5mls. The syrup in a dose of 2-10mls.

 

In 1966, Beaune et al. conducted an experimental study and found that the anti-inflammatory properties of marshmallow alone were superior to dexamethasone

 

Mucilaginous herbs like marshmallow root may inhibit coughing by forming a protective coating on the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract, shielding it from irritants. Marshmallow reduces the transport velocity of isolated ciliary epithelia and may protect mucous layers in the hypopharynx, exert spasmolytic, antisecretory, and bactericidal properties. Antitussive activity has been demonstrated by oral doses of marshmallow root extract and a marshmallow polysaccharide

 

Marshmallow contains large amounts of acidic polysaccharides that form mucilage and it is this substance that accounts for much of its soothing, anti-inflammatory effects. In an experimental model it was demonstrated that Marshmallow extracts significantly reduced the cough reflex showing that soothing the gastro-intestinal tract causes a reflex soothing of the respiratory tract

 

In one experiment Marshmallow enhanced the ability of white blood cells to engulf disease microbes (phagocytosis) which strongly suggests that its traditional use in wound healing and gut infections is more than just a soothing local effect

 

British Herbal Pharmacopeia suggest combine Marshmallow (part unspecified):

Meadowsweet and Calamus in gastric inflammation; meadowsweet and balm in treatment of gastric conditions; Comfrey root and Meadowsweet in gastric ulcers; Slippery Elm in digestive disturbance; Roman Camomile, Black Horehound, Hops and Meadowsweet in nervous dyspepsia; Meadowsweet, Centaury and Roman Camomile in dyspepsia; Wild Jam and Galangal in dyspepsia; Meadowsweet and Cayenne for flatulence or spasm in digestive tract; Buchu in genito-urinary conditions with painful micturition and pyuria, Cleavers in cystitis; Slippery Elm and Chickweed in ointment, Comfrey root (ointment) .

BPH suggest combine Marshmallow leaf with:

Coltsfoot, White Horehound and Liquorice for Pulmonary disease; Slippery Elm for wounds, eczema, boils, ulcers (poultice, fomentation or ointment)

BPH suggest combine root with:

Comfrey root in peptic ulceration; Comfrey, Liquorice, Meadowsweet, Roman camomile, in peptic ulcers; calamus, Caraway and Roman camomile in digestive disorders with flatulence and colic; Cassia bark, Meadowsweet and Roman camomile  in flatulent dyspepsia and gastritis; Roman Camomile, Meadowsweet, Cinnamon and Slippery elm in flatulent dyspepsia and gastritis; balm, Nutmeg, Roman camomile and hops in nervous dyspepsia; Pennyroyal, Meadowsweet and balm in flatulent dyspepsia; Quassia, hops and Meadowsweet in nervous dyspepsia; Roman camomile, Parsley root, balm, and Black Horehound in dyspepsia with nausea or vomiting; Black horehound and Irish moss  in dyspepsia; Wild jam and Elderflower in appendicitis and diverticulitis; Cinchona, Roman camomile, Balm, Hops and Angelica in anorexia nervosa, Lobelia and White horehound for cough; Bearberry, Corn silk, Couch grass and Buchu for cystitis; Couch grass, Kava Kava and Celery seed in bladder disease; Slippery elm, Lobelia, and Linseed in furunculosis and local swelling or inflammation (poultice); Slippery elm for inflammation or crural ulcers (ointment or poultice)

 

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