Also Known As:

Althaeae Folium, Althaeae Radi, Herba Malvae.

Scientific Name:

Althaea officinalis.

Family: Malvaceae. 

People Use This For:

Orally, marshmallow leaf and root are used for respiratory tract mucous membrane inflammation, dry cough, inflammation of the gastric mucosa, diarrhea, peptic ulcers, constipation, urinary tract inflammation. 

Safety:

No concerns regarding safety when used in amounts commonly found in foods. Marshmallow root has Generally Recognized As Safe status (GRAS) for use in foods in the US.¹²³ No concerns regarding safety when used orally in medicinal amounts.^124,125 

No concerns regarding safety when used topically.¹²⁴ 

Pregnancy and Lactation: Insufficient reliable information available. Refer to a Medical Herbalist. 

Effectiveness:

There is insufficient scientific information available about the effectiveness of marshmallow.

Mechanism of Action:

The applicable parts of marshmallow are the leaves and the root. Marshmallow leaf and root contain mucilage sugars that can soothe and protect mucous membranes from local irritation by forming a protective layer.^{126,124,127,128,129,130} The mucilage can inhibit mucociliary transport,^126,127,130 stimulate ingestion of breakdown products by the cell,^126,130 suppress cough,^{126,127,131,132} increase the anti-inflammatory effects of topical steroids^126,127,130 and have blood sugar lowering effect.^126,124 The mucilage can also have antimicrobial, anti-spasm, antisecretory, diuretic, and wound-healing effects.^124,127

Adverse Reactions:

None reported.

Interactions with Herbs & Supplements:

None known.

Interactions with Drugs:

The mucilage in marshmallow might impair absorption of oral drugs.^{126,132,125,133} 

Interactions with Foods:

None known.

Dosage/Administration:

Dr Clare’s Blends: 1gm/day.

Oral: For irritation of the mouth or pharynx and associated dry cough, the typical dose of marshmallow is 2-5 grams of the dried leaf, 5 grams of the dried root, or one cup of either leaf or root tea three times daily.¹²⁴ 

Sprecific References: MARSHMALLOW

123. FDA. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Premarket Approval, EAFUS: A food additive database. Available at: vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/eafus.html.

124. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.

125. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.

126. Monographs on the medicinal uses of plant drugs. Exeter, UK: European Scientific Co-op Phytother, 1997.

127. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.

128. Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine. Terry C. Telger, transl. 3rd ed. Berlin, GER: Springer, 1998.

129. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.

130. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

131. Wichtl MW. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Ed. N.M. Bisset. Stuttgart: Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers, 1994.

132. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

133. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.