Plant Profile: Marshmallow

Marshmallow

(Althaea officinalis)

Family: MALVACEAE

Energetics: Cooling. Moistening

Taste: Sweet

Tissue States: Hot. Dry. 

Parts Used: Mostly root in digestive tract, but Leaf & flower are also used especially in the urinary system & lungs. Though some have said that all parts can be used somewhat interchangeably. 

Systems affected:  Digestive. Urinary. Skin. Respiratory. 

Key Components: More than 11% mucilage. 37% starch. Polysaccharides. Flavonoids. Betaine. Coumarins. Beta-Carotene. Vitamin B. Calcium. 

Preparations & dosage: Mucilage from root is best drawn out with cold overnight infusion. Cold infusion (both internally & externally). Decoction. Tea. Powder. Food. Tincture (low alcohol).

Actions:
Foundational:  Demulcent. Nutritive.
Primary: Expectorant. Vulnerary. Immunomodulator. Diuretic. 
Emollient.
Secondary: Protective. Skin

Uses: Mucilage & starch content make it a extremely rich & nutritive tonic. Soothing to all manner of inflamed tissue.

Respiratory System: Specific for inflamed tissue of the respiratory system (especially dry coughs). Irritated tissues and dry coughs. Not only is it soothing to those dry and inflamed tissues of the respiratory tract during a cold or flu but Marshmallow has a specific effect on the immune system by stimulating phagocytosis which is the action of the phagocyte cells consuming pathogens and other waste material in the body. Dry cough that is worse at night. Hardened mucus. Bronchitis. Asthma. Emphysema. Whooping Cough. 

Digestive system (particularly the bowel) & skin. Useful for stomach ulcers and it helps neutralize excess acid in the stomach. The vulnerary action also makes it an excellent choice not only for soothing irritated digestive tissue but also for helping to heal wounds in the digestive tract such as stomach ulcers.

Urinary System: Well known for its soothing actions on the bladder & kidneys, making it a key ingredient in many formulas for treating bladder & kidney infections, kidney stones & cystitis.

Mouth: Use as a mouth rinse for all kinds of inflamed mouth conditions such as canker sores, ulcers, cuts, sore inflamed gums and even sore throats. 

Often mixed with other more aggressive or irritating herbs to counter the effects.

Skin: Externally is soothing to the skin. Excellent for moisturizing dry chapped skin. Also effective in a bath for soothing dry, itchy skin and even eczema. Marshmallow has historically been used to prevent gangrene. Studies show that it does have antimicrobial activity and is shown to have an effect on E. coli. The leaf can be used as a formentation or poultice to soothe skin rashes and other skin irritations. A marshmallow compress can also be helpful in breast engorgement and dry cracked nipples. 

Can be used in a similar way as slippery elm in convalescence as well as in "wasting" diseases and during treatment for cancer where the patient is weakened and unable to eat many foods. 

Marshmallow as Food: While the root is very high in nutrients, the flower and young leaves make a tasty addition to a salad as a green and also contain nutrients and mucilage.  

Combines well with: 
For ulcers (internal or external): Combine with Comfrey
Bronchitis: Licorice & White Horehound.

Flower Essence: 

Identifying: The Marshmallow plant grows to about 3-5' tall. Marshmallow flowers are lightly pink in the center fading out to white. They have 5 separate petals and the center has many stamens around the center pistil. Leaves are heart shaped. They have irregular serrations and small soft hairs. Marshmallow has long, pale yellow roots that taper down away from the plant. Malva neglecta or common mallow is often found wild in the US. It can be used similarly to Malva officinalis. Studies have shown that this plants leaves and flowers contain more mucliage than that of Malva officinalis. 

Growing: Quick growing perennial. Full sun/partial shade. Gravitates to damp, marshy areas. Best in zones 5-8 but can do well as far north as zone 3. Give lots of space as it can grow more than 4’ tall. Seeds are fairly reliable and germinate quickly but do need to be stratified first. Those just starting may have better luck starting with 1 or 2 seedlings purchased from a nursery. 

Collection: Harvest leaves and flowers in late summer or early fall. To get a larger leaf harvest, just before it goes to flower, cut the stem about 1' from the base of the plant so that there are still some leaves on the plant. It is possible, depending on the length of your growing season, that the stem may branch off and grow another set of leaves.

Harvest root in late fall. 

Contraindications: NONE

Sources:

Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: Rosemary Gladstar. Pg 166-169; 

https://herbmentor.learningherbs.com/herb/marshmallow/
The Complete Herbs Sourcebook: David Hoffman. Pg 284
The Earthwise Herbal: Volume 1: Matthew Wood. Pg 79-83