Common Marshmallow

(Althaea officinalis)

Other Names:

Marshmallow

Range:

Family:

Malvaceae – Mallow family

Growth Type:

Herbaceous Perennial plant

Height:

3 to 4 feet tall

Leaves:

Leaves are shortly petioled, roundish, ovate-cordate, 2 to 3 in long, and about 1 1⁄4 inch wide, entire or three to five lobed, irregularly toothed at the margin, and thick. They are soft and velvety on both sides, due to a dense covering of stellate hairs.

Stem/Trunk:

Erect, sometimes sparsely branched

Root:

The roots are perennial, thick, long and tapering, very tough and pliant, whitish yellow outside, white and fibrous within.

Flower Season:

Summer through Autumn

Flower Appearance:

Flowers are distinct, regular, funnel shaped, with 5 distinct petals, and 3 - 5 partially united sepals. Often surrounded by several bracts. Flowers can be white to pink or lavender tinged. There are numerous stamens united to form a distinctive column around the pistil.

Seed/Fruit:

The ovary is positioned superior, and is chambered, and is the reason for the common name cheeses, as it resembles a wheel of cheese.

Miscellaneous characteristics:

This plant is very similar to common mallow. All plant parts are mucilaginous (slimy) when crushed between your fingers.

Habitat:

Growing in moist areas

Parts Used:

Entire plant

Culinary Uses:

The flowers and young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. The root of this plant was originally used to make marshmallows. In the middle east it is till used as flavoring for a confection.

Energetics

Taste: Sweet
Thermal: Cooling
Humidity: Moistening

Traditional Medicinal Uses:

UMarshmallow is higher in mucilage than common mallow. It is traditionally used for irritation of mucous membranes, including use as a gargle for mouth and throat ulcers and gastric ulcers. The root can be made into a tea, or chewed to ease sore throats. Treatment of asthma, cystitis, dysentery and irritations of the gastric mucosa.

The leaves, seeds, and flowers of the mallows have a strong affinity for the upper respiratory system, while the roots are soothing and toning to the digestive tract. The roots of marshmallow are higher in mucilage than common mallow. It is traditionally used for irritation of mucous membranes, including use as a gargle for mouth and throat ulcers and gastric ulcers. The root can be made into a tea, or chewed to ease sore throats.

Indications:

Abcesses, Boils, Bronchitis, Boils, Colitis, Coughs, Cystitis, Enteritis, Gastritis, Hyperkalemia, Lacerations, Peptic Ulcers, Pharyngitis, Respiratory Catarrh, Ulcerative Colitis, Ulers, Urethritis, Urinary Calculus, Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Usage Citations

Marshmallow is a plant that has not been extensively studied in clinical situations. The fact that studies concerning all indications listed above have not yet taken place, does not mean these uses are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia prior to the advent of allopathic medicine.

Antifungal: Amini F, Namjooyan F, Zomorodian K, Zareshahrabadi Z, Shojaei K, Jaladat AM, Hashempur MH. The efficacy of complementary treatment with marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L.) on vulvovaginal candidiasis: A randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial. Explore (NY). 2023 Nov-Dec;19(6):813-819. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.04.005. Epub 2023 Apr 17. PMID: 37121836.

Medicinal Actions:

Anti-Inflammatory, Astringent, Demulcent, Emollient, Expectorant, Pectoral, Stomachic, Tonic: Kidney