Marshmallow - Althaea officinalis

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

Description

    • 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 tall

 

Actions, Affinities, and Notable Constituents

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

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

  • Notable Constituents - Arabinogalactans, asparagine, flavonoids, mucilage (root 5 –35%, leaf 6 –16%), 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 salt or sunlight

    • 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.

Historical Medicinal Applications

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

  • Arabs - Anti-inflammatory

  • Romans - Laxative, insomnia, burns

More info can be found in the subscriber section of the site - coming soon…

 
Kayla Ellis