{"id":1854,"date":"2020-07-03T10:52:16","date_gmt":"2020-07-03T09:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/84.18.216.250\/~herbalreality\/?post_type=herb&p=1854"},"modified":"2025-10-23T11:32:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T10:32:17","slug":"marshmallow","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/marshmallow\/","title":{"rendered":"Marshmallow"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":498,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"f7e6e116-c448-4ff6-a6a0-ac055f0373ed","beyondwords_preview_token":"ec216e3a-a9a5-4d29-b1ff-268700e35dd2","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[53,54,58,91,2016,2017],"conditions":[685,695],"sustainability":[1575],"sense":[786,28,27],"western_action":[1005],"chinese_action":[],"ayurvedic_action":[],"energetics_action":[1382,1488,1491,1494],"region":[1893],"class_list":["post-1854","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cold","tag-flu","tag-inflammation","tag-maarshmallow","tag-marshmellow","tag-marshmellow-root","conditions-digestive-system","conditions-respiratory-system","sustainability-amber-sustainability-status","sense-cooling","sense-mucilaginous","sense-sweet","western_action-demulcent","energetics_action-cool","energetics_action-moist","energetics_action-neutralising","energetics_action-sweet","region-western-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20200703","herb_author":1235,"banner_text":"Marshmallow soothes all exposed surfaces and mucous membranes","latin_name":"Althaea officinalis<\/em>","pseudonym_name":"","family_name":"Malvaceae","herb_summary":"Marshmallow applies its mucilaginous properties to calm any inflamed, irritated, raw, sore, damaged and infected surface it can reach.","key_benefits":"Dry cough\r\nHeartburn and acid stomach\r\nMild gastritis\r\nMinor cuts and wounds","how_does_it_feel":"If you can find some marshmallow root or powder chew on a little of it. There is a faint aroma, and slightly sweet taste and then the slimy mucilaginous properties dominate.","hdif_image_1":498,"hdif_image_2":1034,"hdif_image_3":13648,"hdif_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_pg2ybI0en8","sense":[786,28,27],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"Relieving dry cough and upset and irritable digestion are the dominant roles of marshmallow. As its primary mucilage ingredient is sensitive both to heat and alcohol it is best taken as a powder or extracted in cold or warm water.\r\n\r\nYou can expect almost immediate relief as the effect is almost entirely from the physical properties of the mucilage on the mucosal lining of the upper digestive system. The effect on the airways is likely to be due to consequent reflex action on the airway structures.","into_the_heart_of":"\"\"Marshmallow contains 11% mucilage which acts as its primary medicinal constituent. Mucilage will trap liquid to form gel like substances and will also swell to many times its original volume. Mucilage forms a protective layer over damaged mucosal membranes, allowing time for cellular regeneration and healing to occur but also protects membranes from further deterioration, for example, damage from gastric acid exposure.\r\n\r\nLonger term use of mucilage also allows time for damaged cells to heal.\r\n\r\nExternally, the marshmallow mucilage can draw fluid and toxicity from wounds and infections. In small dosages, mucilaginous compounds restrain the peristaltic action within the gut and work well to promote an antidiarrheal action. In larger dosages, they can promote a gentle laxative effect.","tradtional_uses":"Marshmallow root was one of the classic \u2018demulcent\u2019 or \u2018emollient\u2019 remedies in European tradition. One of a number of earliest mucilaginous wound remedies, applied internally to inflammations of the upper digestive system and to dry cough. Its leading role among these remedies was usurped with the discovery of slippery elm bark and aloe juice from the Americas.\r\n\r\nMarshmallow was eaten as a delicacy by the Romans and Egyptians and has been used as a food at various times in history when other crops were scarce.","what_practioners_say":"

Digestive tract<\/h3>\r\nMarshmallow is used in all hot, inflamed, irritated and dry conditions of the digestive mucosa such as hyperacidity, reflux oesophagitis, hiatus hernia, and to relieve gastritis and peptic ulcers.\r\n

Respiratory<\/h3>\r\nMarshmallow is used for irritated and dry conditions of the airways with unproductive and tickly coughs. Marshmallow can help provide long-term relief in lung infections by allowing time for the inflamed and infected mucosa to heal.\r\n

Urinary<\/h3>\r\nMarshmallow may help relieve urinary inflammations such as cystitis, urethritis, urinary stones and nephritis.\r\n

Skin<\/h3>\r\nMarshmallow is applied to inflamed, irritated and dry conditions of the skin such as wounds, burns, scar tissue, ulcers, lumps and swellings. Marshmallow can be applied externally to the skin to provide symptomatic relief and as a drawing agent.","research":"A review of the research literature concluded that in combination with other plant extracts marshmallow could be a good choice for cough, sore throat, and other respiratory ailments (2).\r\n\r\nMarshmallow was shown to have a minor effect in reducing dry mouth syndrome in a controlled clinical trial (3). One review found that using an ointment containing 20 percent marshmallow root extract reduced skin irritation (4).\r\n\r\nA poultice with\u00a0Althaea officinalis<\/em> was found to reduce breast engorgement in lactating women in a clinical trial (5).","did_you_know":"A confection made from the root since antiquity evolved into the modern \u2018marshmallow\u2019 candy, but these no longer contain any marshmallow root.","additional_information_right":{"illustration":13920},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"Marshmallow is native to most of Europe, where it can be found growing in salt marshes and damp meadows, river banks and coastal areas. The plant grows to heights of 1-1.5metres and has characteristically soft and \u2018velvety\u2019 leaves, covered in a thick layer of fine, soft hairs. The flowers are normally a light pink or white in colour. The marshmallow roots produce large volumes of mucilage when they come into contact with liquid.<\/span>","common_names":"