The pretty pale pink flower on the tall stem of my Marshmallow plant.
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) is used herbally for it’s ‘soothing’ qualities. It is a ‘demulcent’ and an ‘emollient’ in herbal terms, which simply means it soothes and calms inflammation especially the lining of the digestive and respiratory system.
Herbalist use the root part of the plant, made into a ‘glycetract’ (rather than a tincture). A glycetract is more effective at extracting the mucilage, which is responsible for the soothing effects.
Traditional Marshmallow is used to treat coughs, bronchitis, asthma and any inflammation in the digestive system, including gastritis, reflux, ulcers, irritable bowel & ulcerative colitis. It is also know to improve the bowel flora.
Externally, it has traditionally been used as a gargle to soothe sore throats (laryngitis & pharyngitis), and as a poultice for leg ulcers, varicose ulcers, burns, and abscesses
Marshmallow is an easy perennial to grow, but it does like water, so a wet boggy area of your garden would suit it well. These photos are from my garden where it appears to be growing well on the north coast NSW, but I did add a heavy layer of water crystals underneath the plant on transplanting them.
I often use Marshmallow as one of the herbs in a herbal mix for the conditions above, but always check with your qualified herbalist before taking any medicinal herb, as it might not be right for you.