Althaea officinalis
Action: Demulcent, emollient, vulnerary, diuretic, galactagogue.
Systems Affected: Lungs, stomach, intestines, kidneys, bladder, mucous membranes, general effects on the whole body.
Preparation and Dosage (thrice daily): Dried root, dose 2-5 grams by cold extraction or decoction. Dried leaf, dose 2-5 grams by cold extraction or infusion.
Marshmallow, which is grown in some parts of the world as a decorative Marshmallow, which is grown in some parts of the world as a decorative garden shrub, has a long medicinal and culinary history. It was regarded by the Greeks as a panacea (its botanical name derives from the Greek altho, meaning ‘to heal’) and the Romans considered it a delicious vegetable. An erect hardy perennial growing to 5 meters in height, it is native to Europe and the temperate zones of western Asia. It occurs wild and is also commercially cultivated, being widely used in both folk medicine and modern medicine.
Marshmallow is the best source of easily-digested mucilage. Renowned for its demulcent properties, it is a first class remedy for any irritation or inflammation of the respiratory system, alimentary tract or urinary organs. _ ,
Internally it is used to soothe and heal irritation and inflammation of the mucosa in bronchitis, colds, irritating cough, laryngitis, gastritis, enteritis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, constipation, cystitis, urethritis and bladder stones or gravel.
It is specifically indicated for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer, and for respiratory catarrh with irritating cough.
Marshmallow combines well with Coltsfoot, Horehound and/or Liquorice for the treatment of pulmonary complaints. It can be used with laxative herbs for chronic constipation associated with dryness and lack of fibre. It is protective and healing in the irritations associated with diarrhoea and dysentery. Used in combination with other diuretic herbs such as Celery seed or Parsley root, it relieves irritations of the kidneys and urinary tract, its demulcent action aiding the smooth expulsion of stone and gravel.
Marshmallow is high in minerals, especially calcium. The powdered root is excellent for enriching milk in nursing mothers and will increase the milk flow. Heat the powdered root in milk and drink freely.
Applied as a poultice on a daily basis, Marshmallow root is highly effective in treating blood poisoning, septic wounds, suppurating ulcers, abscesses, boils, burns, bruises and eczema. The powdered root applied to moist surfaces draws out and absorbs all moisture.
Concerning harvesting preparation of the plant:
All parts of the plant (roots, leaves and flowers) contain mucilage, but the roots (which are strongest in effect) and leaves are generally preferred. The root is gathered in autumn, the leaf in midsummer when the plant is in flower. The root is normally peeled before drying but this is not essential.
Since the infusion and decoction tend to be gelatinous, the cold extract method can be used to prepare the herb: to make one dose place 1 or 2 tablespoons of the dried root or leaf in a cup of cold water. Let stand for eight hours, then strain. It may be taken cold or slightly warmed up.
Marshmallow is completely safe to use and is in fact consumed both as a medicine and as a vegetable. The roots are boiled and then fried with butter or oil. The young tops are eaten in spring salads.
Mucilage is used as a botanical, herbal and pharmacological term to describe substances which swell when water is added to form a viscous fluid. Mucilaginous plants are fairly widespread throughout the world, but only a few, such as Marshmallow, Mullein, Comfrey, Flax (Linum usitatissimum) seed and Iceland Moss (Cetraria islandica), contain sufficient quantities to be medicinally useful.
Mucilage forms a fine layer on the surface of the mucous membranes, thus protecting them from irritants and soothing inflammation. But because mucilage is not absorbed, its effects remain purely local. It is, however, highly effective in treating many inflamed and irritated conditions of the mucous membranes: for example, irritating cough, laryngitis and bronchitis in the respiratory system; heartburn, gastritis, colitis, enteritis and ulcers in the digestive tract; cystitis, vaginitis, urethritis and stones and gravel in the urogenital organs.
Mucilage also has a slightly laxative action, as it tends to loosen the contents of the bowels, absorbing water from them in the process. For this reason seeds with a high mucilage content such as Plantain and Flax are widely used as laxatives.
As Mannfried Pahlow points out in Living Medicine, one other effect of mucilage is to weaken the sense of taste, especially in relation to sour or acidic food. Thus, ‘although raspberries contain less sugar and more acid than redcurrants, they are richer in mucilage and therefore taste sweeter’.
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