Marshmallow Root - Benefits, Uses and Side Effects

Botanical Name of Marshmallow Root: Althea officinalis.

Other Common Names:
Mallow, white mallow, common marshmallow, malvavisco, altea, hatmi, iviscus, ghasul, khitmi, khatmah, usubeni-tati-aoi.

Habitat:
Marshmallow root is native to Europe. It has been brought to America recently as a plant of medicinal uses. It thrives in an environment of dark and salty marshes.

Description:
The marshmallow plant is a perennial which has a height that can vary between two to four feet. The color of the flower itself is a pink or light pink variant or that of a pale grey. The flower is about 1 to 1 ½ inches in length and blooms in the fall months of August through October. They are round with unusual toothed margins and three to five lobes. The roots are a pale yellow, tapered, lengthy and thick.

Plant Parts Used:
The flowers of the marshmallow root are used to make expectorant syrups. They are picked when the flower has matured to at least two years old, and in August just as the flower is coming into bloom. The Root it exhumed in the late fall; cleaned of root fibers and corked and desiccated immediately.

The Flower of The Marshmallow Root
(Althea officinalis )
(Click on image to enlarge)

Marshmallow Root & Tincture

Marshmallow Extract by Herb Pharm Organic Marshmallow Root by Starwest Botanicals

Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Marshmallow Root

• Marshmallow root has a long history dating back thousands of years as an herbal remedy for cough, sore throat and other respiratory problems such as bronchitis and whooping cough (pertussis). This is due to the large amounts of mucilage found in the flower as well as the root.

The Herb Marshmallow Root
(Althea officinalis)
• Recommended uses include that of diarrhea and indigestion; along with chronic diseases that cause these such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
• Weight loss has been promoted when taking marshmallow because it swells when mixed with fluid, prompting the stomach to have a feeling of more fullness.
• This herb has shown to be helpful in almost all problems related to inflammation of the digestive tract; including peptic ulcers, hiatus hernias, mouth ulcers, enteritis and colitis.
• External uses have shown to be very effective as well. Laboratory tests from the 1960’s concluded that marshmallow root has anti-inflammatory activity on the human tissue indicating that this herb could be helpful in treating cuts, scrapes, and other wounds, as well as a remedy for eczema, psoriasis and pinkeye.
• Marshmallow roots form an imperative ingredient of ointments and creams that are effective in cuing boils and other bodily abscesses.
• Roots may be formed into a mouthwash and used to treat inflammation. It is in this form that the roots can be extremely helpful in aiding the irritation of teething infants. The root may also be peeled fresh and given to infants to chew on.

Potential Side Effects of Marshmallow Root

Althea has little to no known levels of toxicity and is commonly considered to be completely safe. Marshmallow liquid preparations may include the use of sugar and/or alcohol. Exercise caution when using if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence or liver disease. Use is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women. There are current studies being conducted on the use of Marshmallow root in increasing the production of milk in lactating women but the results are not official and are still being studied.

There is a possibility that marshmallow may interfere with the absorption of other drugs and therefore should be taken at least one to two hours after ingestion of any other drug. Caution should be taken when using with any dietary supplement. These supplements cause a decrease in blood sugar levels just as the althea has been known to do.

Dosage and Administration

The best way to take marshmallow root is by supplements. Herbal tablets of about 5 mg can be taken once per day or a liquid alternative of 5-15 ml 3 times daily. As a cough and respiratory agent 2 grams of the root should be put into one cup of cold water, soaked for two hours and then gargled. For topical use shredded root should be mixed with enough warm water to form a thick paste and spread onto a clean cloth. Apply to irritated area as needed.

Leave a Comment or Tips on Marshmallow Root

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Name: Harriet
E-mail: Private
Date posted: January 04, 2012 - 08:04 am
Message: I totally agree with the below posts, it is great for interstitial cystitis and also really helps with IBS too. It is an absolute wonder herb. Also, I don't know whether it is a coincidence, but I haven't had a cough or cold since I started talking it (9 months ago), and I used to get them all the time.

Name: JJJ
E-mail: Private
Date posted: August 15, 2011 - 05:34 pm
Message: I also found marshmallow root to be very helpful for interstitial cystitis. Very soothing for my bladder.

Name: sue
E-mail: Private
Date posted: May 25, 2011 - 03:48 am
Message: I have had great success using marshmallow herb made into a tea 3/4 times a day to ease very serious interstitial cystitus. It is the best remedy ever. Please pass it on. Also had IBS and that is a lot better too. Drinking it every day for the last 6 weeks.

Name: Sue
E-mail: Simondolls@aol.com
Date posted: March 07, 2011 - 04:52 pm
Message: I am a dog breeder. When I think that one of my bitches doesn't have enough milk I give them marshmello root. This makes them produce milk. Has never failed. Trying to find out if it works in humans. My friend is having problems producting milk for nursing
thanks
Sue

Name: linda gitzlaff
E-mail: lgitzlaff2@wi.rr.com
Date posted: May 18, 2011 - 02:13 am
Message: I have used marshmellow root for symptoms of IC and Kidney stones. I take three times a day with water and have results within a couple of days. It is an antiinflammatory and also keeps my IBS symptoms at bay.

Name: linda
E-mail: linda@teacupmilliner.com
Date posted: January 17, 2011 - 05:33 am
Message: I had bladder sling surgery in 2009 with devastating results. I hope women will not do this operation because of what can happen. I was put on antibiotics for months and infections never cleared. I took a leap of faith and started taking this product, full amount recomended for a month and half dose ever since. Infections left and never came back since. I wrote a blog on the dangers of sling surgery because I am crippled because of it. here's the link. http://bladderslingsurgerymystory.blogspot.com/

Name: Terry Irwin
E-mail: Private
Date posted: December 31, 2010 - 07:53 am
Message: Marshmallow root and pepsin causes my left eye to become bloodshot. Herbs and I don't seem to get along.For example,slippery elm bark causes dry skin and itching.

Name: stephanie
E-mail: Private
Date posted: October 16, 2010 - 06:52 am
Message: I have Crohn's disease, & I have been making a tea out of marshmellow root. It has been very soothing to my stomach & has relieved a lot of the burning I feel in my bottom area.

Name: Kevin
E-mail: hdcrazie@att.net
Date posted: February 01, 2010 - 09:28 pm
Message: I've had a kidney stone that won't come out, to large the doc says (7mm)
Dull pain comes & goes for many months.
I was lookin into med. treatment and I came across this Marshmellow root, well I've been taken it now for about week and a half now. The dull pain is gone!
I plan on taken the whole bottle till it's gone and maybe another. I take 2 to 3 caplets a day. The guy at the health food store said that he has guys
come in alot for it.

Name: Mary Jo
E-mail: Private
Date posted: January 10, 2012 - 04:51 am
Message: My husband has had excellent results using the liquid for bladder infection. The dosage used was that listed above.

"Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities which chance discovers."
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