Category: Printables

Understanding Herbs - Marshmallow (Althea officinalis)

7/15/2020

Indigenous to Asia minor and the greater part of Europe. Later naturalized on the east coast of the US in New England and New York – partial to salt marshes, damp meadows, by the sides of ditches, and by the sea and on the banks of tidal rivers.

The generic name Althea, is derived from the Greek, altho (to cure), from its healing properties. The name of the order, Malvaceae, is derived from the Greek malake (soft), from the special qualities of the Mallows in softening and healing.

Most of the Mallows have been used as food, and are mentioned by early classic writers. Mallow was a vegetable dish among the Romans and was considered a delicacy. In many other parts of the world it was used during times of famine.

Dioscorides extols it as a remedy, and in ancient days it was not only valued as a medicine, but was used, especially the Musk Mallow, to decorate the graves of friends.
Uses for Marshmallow have been documented for over 2,000 years.

Family: Malvaceae

Parts Used: Root (On a two to three year old plant) – Also the Leaves and occasionally the Flowers
Root is collected early in the spring or fall.
The leaves are picked in August, when the flowers are just coming into bloom. They should be stripped off singly and gathered only on a fine day, in the morning, after the dew has been dried off by the sun.

Other Common Names: Mallards, Mauls, Schloss Tea, Cheeses, Mortification Root, Guimauve tea, Malve, Malvavisco, Malvavisce, GulKhairu, K’uei, Sweet Weed, Wymote, Witte Malve

Misc:

Planetary Alignment – Venus (Culpepper)

Actions:
Emollient
Protective
Nutritive
Demulcent
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-Irritant
Alterative
Antitussive
Vulnerary
Diuretic
Moistening
Soothing

Marshmallow supplies an abundance of vegetable mucilage and easily assimilated calcium making it a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant for the gastro-intestinal tract.

Chemical Constituents:
Starch
Mucilage
Pectin
Sugars
Asparagin
Flavonoids
Tannins
Scopoletin
Salt
Phenolic acids
Acidic polysaccharides

What are its uses?

Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose, and Throat:

Inflammation of the eyes (as a decoction/wash)
Gargle for sore throat (as a strong decoction)
Inflammation of the mouth or pharynx
Softens, and breaks up hard tissues and old scars
“A person wishing to clear his vision should look for dew on the mallow. He should smear his eyes and eyelids with this dew, which he will have found in the morning or at night, when the night is clear, pure, and calm. He should then sleep for a while.” – Hildegard von Bingen 12th century

Integumentary System (Skin):

Bruises
Sprains
Inflammation (topical/poultice)
Mortification (topical/poultice – mixed with slippery elm and applied hot/warm)
Boils
Abscesses
Ulcers
Old wounds
Topically for blood poisoning or gangrene, or septic wounds
Eczema (topical wash)
Psoriasis (topical wash)
Hoarseness
Varicose ulcers
Varicose veins
Scalds
Mature complexion
Dry complexion
Allergies
Insect bites/Bee or Wasp sting (Bruised leaves topically over bite)
Dandruff (As a rinse made with a heavy decoction of the root)

Mental Health:

“If melancholy, brought forth by various fevers, makes a person’s brain ail, one should crush mallow and twice as much sage in a mortar, and sprinkle it with olive oil. He should put this on his head, from the forehead, over the top, and to the back of the head, and tie it with a cloth. Repeat for three days, and for these three days refresh it at night with additional oil, or vinegar” – Hildegard von Bingen 12th century

Nervous System:

Nothing to Report

Respiratory System:

Any irritation to the upper respiratory tract
“Boiled in wine or milk, Marshmallow will relieve diseases of the chest, constituting a popular remedy for coughs, bronchitis, Whooping-cough, etc.” – Grieves
Catarrh/Congestion of the respiratory organs
Dry cough
Triggering reflex mechanisms that travel through the spinal nerves, its demulcent action is valuable for all lung ailments, respiratory catarrh, and coughs. – James Green, Herbalist
Bronchitis (including chronic)
Asthma
Emphysema
Pneumonia

Digestive System:

Any irritation to the alimentary canal
Dysentery (recommended to use the powdered root boiled in milk – traditional)
Stomach ulcers
Duodenal ulcers
Peptic Ulcer
Gastric Ulcer
Hiatus hernia
Slow digestion
Diarrhea
Crohn’s Disease
Colitis
Acidic stomach
GERD
Low digestive enzyme production (leaves) with gastric acidity (leaves and roots)
Constipation
Hemorrhoids (external)
Colic pains
Enteritis

Urinary/Renal System:

Any irritation to the urinary tract
Painful complaints of the urinary organs
Hemorrhage from the urinary organs
Inflammation of the kidney’s and bladder
Cystitis
Kidney stones and gravel
Painful, scanty urination
Strangury
Hematuria
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Renal (Kidney) irritation
Strangury (pain in the urethra)

Endocrine System (Hormones):

Nothing to Report

Cardiovascular System:

High blood pressure with water retnetion

Circulatory System:

Nothing to Report

Immune/Lymphatic System:

Septic conditions of moderate severity

Reproductive System:

Gonorrhea
The juice of the leaves drank in wine, or a decoction of root is said to help women to a speedy and easy delivery – Culpepper 1826

Musculoskeletal System:

Any ache in the muscles or sinew
Inflammation or irritation in the joints
Arthritis
Stiff/dry joints with cracking

Specific Diseases/States/Infections/Viruses/Bacteria:

Individuals who are dried out and over heated
Individuals who are giving up smoking
Helps regulate water and drive moisture into tissues
Individuals going through Chemotherapy (drink as a cold extraction, up to ½ gallon daily)
Thirst with copious urination or no thirst with systemic dryness

Combinations:

Pectoral Tea: Mixture of thinly cut marshmallow root 8 parts, peeled licorice root 3 parts, orris root 1 part, colt’s foot leaves 4 parts, mullein flowers and star anise each 2 parts. – National Dispensatory 1879
Pectoral Tea 2: Equal parts of the flowers of mallow, marshmallow, mouse-ear, colt’s foot, red poppy, violet, and mullein. Although composed of seven flowers, it is known in France as quatre-fleurs. – National Dispensatory 1879
With Comfrey and American Cranesbill for peptic ulcers
With White Horehound, Licorice Root, and Coltsfoot for pulmonary disease
With White Horehound and/or Lobelia for coughs
With parsley and hydrangea root as a tea for kidney stones and gravel
With St. John’s Wort and Calendula as a poultice or salve for soothing and healing skin inflammation and ulcers.
With Red Raspberry Leave as a soothing wash to soothe inflamed eyes.
With slipper elm for burns, scalds, sunburn, and as an ointment
With honey and garlic for sore throat or mouth sores

Pharmacy

Max Daily Dose:

3 to 6ml of 1:5 Tincture (Root)
3 to 6ml of 1:2 Liquid Extract (Leaf)

Max Weekly Dose:

20 to 40ml of 1:5 Tincture (Root)
20 to 40ml of 1:2 Liquid Extract (Leaf)

Applications

Infusion:

For an infusion of the leaf, pour boiling water onto 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried leaf and let infuse for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup, three times daily.

Decoction:

The decoction can be made by adding 5 pints of water to ¼ lb of dried root, boiling down to 3 pints and straining: it should not be made too thick and viscid.
Cold Decoction: Half to 1 teaspoon shredded root or powder to each cup of cold water. Stand overnight. Dose, half to 1 cup. Also used externally as a douche for inflamed eyes.

Tincture:

1:5 @ 25% Dose is 5 to 15ml
1:5 @ 25% 1 to 4ml three times daily

Liquid/Fluid Extract:

1:1 @ 25%. Dose is 2 to 5ml

Powder:

Average dose, 2-5 grams dried root three times daily. For best results plant should not be boiled

Syrup:

Syrup of Marshmallow is made by macerating on part of the cut root with twenty parts of cold distilled water for two hours, then straining through muslin without pressure, and dissolving in fifteen parts of the liquid twenty-four parts of sugar. It is of a yellowish color and has a mild agreeable odor. – The National Dispensatory 1879
Syrup is the best form for young children and infants. – Grieves

Misc:

Marshmallow Water (Grieves)
Soak one ounces of marshmallow roots in a little cold water for half an hour; peel off the bark or skin, cut up the roots into small shavings, and put them into a jug to stand for a coupe of hours. The decoction must be drunk tepid and may be sweetened with honey or sugar-candy, and flavored with orange-flower water, or with orange-juice. Marshmallow water may be used with good effect in all cases of inveterate coughs and catarrhs.
For Gravel (Grieves)
Put the flower and plant (all but the root) of Marsh mallows in a jug, pour boiling water, cover with a cloth, let it stand three hours to make strong. If used for gravel or irritation of the kidney, take ½ pint as a tea daily for four days, then stop a few days, then go on again. A teaspoon of gin may be added when there is no tendency to inflammation.
The leaves and/or root are used as a fomentation for treating all forms of swelling, pain, abscesses, and festering sores.
Cosmetically: Can be applied in lotions and creams for blemishes or sore skin, and in bath or facial steams.
The Root, boiled in a broth with parsley or fennel roots, do help to open the body, and are very convenient in hot agues, or other distempers of the body – Culpepper 1826
Apply the boiled leaves warm to the belly. Easeth the pains and torments of the belly coming thereby, and are therefore used in all clysters conducing to those purposes – Culpepper 1826
The decoction of the seed of any of the common mallows made in milk or wine, doth marvellously help excoriation, the phthisic, pleurisy, and other diseases of the chest and lungs, that proceed of hot causes, if it be continued taking for some time together – Culpepper 1826

Pharmacological Research

The results of an in vitro study suggest that the adhesive effects of certain plant-derived polysaccharides to mucous membranes may account, in part, for the therapeutic effects of mucilage-containing plants in treating irritated buccal membranes. Polysaccharides from marshmallow root demonstrated moderate bio-adhesion to epithelial tissue.
Cold macerate of marshmallow root inhibited esophageal mucociliary transport in vitro.
In an experimental model, oral administration of an extract of marshmallow root or the polysaccharide fraction demonstrated significant antitussive activity, depressing the cough resulting from both laryngopharyngeal and tracheobronchial stimulation. This study provides indirect evidence that a soothing action on the upper gastrointestinal mucosa causes reflex soothing of the respiratory tract, leading to bronchodilation and reduced tendency to cough.
Extracts of marshmallow root demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in vitro, but lack of anti-inflammatory activity was observed after oral administration of marshmallow root in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. The in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of an ointment containing both marshmallow root extract and dexamethasone was superior to that of the individual ingredients.
In Germany, the Commission E supports using marshmallow root and leaf to treat irritation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa and associated dry cough and marshmallow root tea to treat mild inflammation of the gastric mucosa.
ESCOP recommends marshmallow root for treating dry cough and irritations of the oral, pharyngeal, or gastric mucosa.

Safety Concerns and Contraindications

Not to be used in states with profuse catarrh or congestion of mucous membranes in respiratory conditions since its mucilage serves to exaggerate the effect of mucosal discharge (Empirical evidence only).
The absorption of oral drugs taken simultaneously may be delayed due to its mucilaginous coating effect (Speculative only). It is best to take 2 to 4 hours away from prescription medications due to potential absorption issues.

References

Medicinal Herbs Quick Reference Guide – Revision 7 by Julieta Criollo DNM, CHT – Self Published 2017
Jeanne Rose Herbal Body Book by Jeanne Rose – Frog Ltd. Berkeley California 2000
Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions Third Edition by Francis Brinker ND – Eclectic Medical Publications Sandy Oregon 2001
The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition – By Michael T. Murray ND and Joseph Pizzorno ND – Atria Publishing, New York, London, Toronto, Sydney, New Delhi 2012
Hildegard Von Bingen’s Physica – The Complete English Translation of Her Classic Work on Health and Healing – Translated from Latin by Priscilla Throop – Healing Arts Press Rochester VT 1998
A Modern Herbal by MRS. M. Grieve – Dover Publication NY 1971
The Earthwise Herbal A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants by Matthew Wood- North Atlantic Books Berkeley, California 2008
The US National Dispensatory – Yale Iowa 1879
Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram – Robinson Publishing, London UK 1998
The Male Herbal Health Care for Men & Boys by James Green, Herbalist – The Crossing Press, Freedom California 1995
The Natural Guide to Medicinal Herbs and Plants by Frantisek Stary – Tiger Books International Twickerham, UK 1991
A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs by Kerry Bone – Chuchill Livingstone (Elsevier) St. Louis Missouri 2003
The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman – Element Press Shaftsbury, Dorset 1990
Herbs for Health and Healing by Kathi Keville – Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, Pennsylvania 1996
Culpeppers’ Complete Herbal and English Physician – Mr. Nicholas Culpepper – J. Gleave and Son Deansgate Manchester – 1826
Medical Herbalism, The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine by David Hoffman – Healing Arts Press Rochester, Vermont 2003

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