Marshmallow - Althaea officinalis

ColdMoistRelaxant
Written By Kayla Ellis

Marshmallow

Latin Name: Althaea officinalis

Ayurvedic Name: Khatmi

Other Common Names: Cheeses, Mallards, Mallow, Mauls, Mortification Root, Schloss Teai, Sweet weed, White mallow, Wymote

Family: Malvaceae

Medicinal Parts: Leaves, roots

Taste: Salty and bland with a touch of sweetness

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Parts of the Plant

    • Light pink to white

    • Darker pink towards center

    • Five petals

    • Five fuzzy sepals

    • Purple pollen

    • Medium green

    • Symmetrical

    • Lobes on each side of the leaf

    • Serrated edges

    • Covered in a fine fuzz

    • Pronounced veins on the underside of the leaf

    • Woody looking

    • Almost looks like multiple small branches stuck together

    • Growth Pattern - The flowers grow up and out from the joints of the plant with a leaf

    • Blooming - The stalk will have multiple clusters of teardrop shaped blooms that will bloom in succession

    • Height - Marshmallow can be up to, or even more than, five feet tallItem description

 

Actions, Affinities, Energies, and Notable Constituents

  • Actions - Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, nutritive, vulnerary

  • Affinities - Digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems - particularly mucous membranes

  • Energetics - Cold, moist, relaxant

  • Constituents - Arabinogalactans, asparagine, flavonoids, mucilage (leaf 6 –16%, root 5 –35%), pectin (root 11 –35%), phenolic acids

Medicinal Applications

  • Moistening for dehydrated bodies, especially those that cannot hold onto water

    • Brings water to the tissues of the body, both internally and externally, with a particular affinity for the digestive system

    • Hydrating for dry skin, particularly for skin affected by external factors such as dryness and/cracking from salt or sunlight exposure

    • Moistening and expectorant qualities also applicable for respiratory spasms and dry coughs

  • Soothing and healing to inflamed and irritated tissues, whether in the GI tract, the skin, or elsewhere

    • Soothing for stomach troubles, including heartburn, constipation, GERD, general stomach aches, stomach and intestinal ulcers, diverticulitis, etc.

    • As an adjunct to diet modifications, soothing for allergic reactions in the intestines, such as Celiac disease

    • Soothing demulcent qualities act on the urinary system, useful for cystitis and urinary tract infections

The medicinal use of the Marshmallow plant can be traced back through written records to as early as the 9th century BCE!

Historical Medicinal Applications

  • Ancient Greek - Wound healing, sore throats, bee sting balm, sore tooth balm

  • Arab - Anti-inflammatory

  • Roman - Laxative, insomnia, burns

 

Fun Recipes

Old Fashioned Marshmallows

The sweet, soft, and pillowy marshmallows that we know and love today didn’t always taste like they do now! If you’re curious to know how the O.G. marshmallows tasted, try out this fun, historical recipe!

Marshmallow Cold Infusion

If you’re dehydrated and you know it, clap your hands! 👏👏 The next time you expect to be out in the sun, try this soothing marshmallow cold infusion to quench your thirst and satisfy your body. One sip will have you saying: Give me more! 🍵

Marshmallow Lozenges

Have you ever had a cough that just doesn’t want to go away? Tickle that itch in your throat with a tasty medicinal treat: marshmallow lozenges!

Kayla Ellis