Marshmallow Health Dictionary

Schloss tea. Guimauve tea. Althaea officinalis L. German: Malve. French: Guimauve. Spanish: Malvavisco. Italian: Malvavisce. Iranian and Indian: Gul-Khairu. Chinese: K’uei. Dried peeled root.

Keynote: anti-mortification.

Constituents: mucilage, flavonoids, tannins, scopoletin.

Action. Soothing demulcent, emollient, nutrient, alterative, antilithic, antitussive, vulnerary, diuretic. Old European remedy of over 2,000 years.

Uses: Inflammation of the alimentary canal, kidneys, bladder. Ulceration of stomach and duodenum, hiatus hernia, catarrh of respiratory organs and stomach, dry cough, open wounds – to cleanse and heal, cystitis, diarrhoea, septic conditions of moderate severity. Plant supplies an abundance of mucilage for protection of mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and urinary tract in the presence of stone. A poultice or ointment is applied topically to boils, abscesses, ulcers and old wounds to draw effete matter to the surface before expulsion from the body.

Combinations. With Comfrey and Cranesbill (American) for peptic ulceration. With White Horehound, Liquorice and Coltsfoot for pulmonary disease.

Preparations: Average dose, 2-5 grams dried root. Thrice daily. For best results plant should not be boiled.

Cold decoction. Half-1 teaspoon shredded root or powder to each cup cold water; stand overnight. Dose, half-1 cup. Also used externally as a douche for inflamed eyes.

Liquid Extract BHP (1983). 1:1 in 25 per cent alcohol. Dose, 2-5ml.

Tincture. 1 part root to 5 parts alcohol (25 per cent). Dose: 5-15ml.

Traditional ‘Drawing’ ointment: Marshmallow and Slippery Elm.

Ointment (home): 5 per cent powdered root in an ointment base. See: OINTMENTS.

Poultice. Bring powdered root to the boil in milk; add a little Slippery Elm, apply. 

Althea officinalis. N.O. Malvaceae.

Synonym: Guimauve, Mallards, Schloss Tea.

Habitat: Marshes near the sea.

Features ? This erect plant grows to a height of three feet, and is distinguishable from the Common Mallow by the velvety down covering the stem and leaves. Stems are round, the soft leaves being five-lobed below and three-lobed above. The pinkish- blue flowers appear in luxuriant axillar panicles between July and September. Roots are thick and fleshy, resembling those of the parsnip, and greyish-white outside, white and fibrous internally. The taste is mucilaginous and unpleasant, with only a very slight odour. The roots should be stored in a very dry place, or a yellowish matter of disagreeable smell will form.

Part used ? Root and leaves.

Action: The root is preferred, as the demulcent, emollient, diuretic and expectorant properties are present here in greater strength.

Marshmallow, usually in combination with other remedies, is taken

internally for coughs, colds and bronchitis. Its diuretic and emollient qualities adapt it to urinary complaints and, as there is no astringent action (indeed, there appears to be some relaxing effect) it is particularly suitable in the treatment of nephritis, cystitis and gravel.

The powdered or crushed fresh roots make a first-rate poultice, and the leaves also are used as a fomentation in inflammation. The addition of Slippery Elm powder improves the poultice, and the two remedies are frequently made up into an ointment for skin diseases, boils and ulcers.

The leaves are taken as an infusion of 1 ounce to 1 pint of boiling water frequently, in wineglass doses.

Culpeper relates a personal story about this herb:

"You may remember that not long since there was a raging disease called the bloody flux ; the College of Physicians not knowing what to make of it, called it The Plague in the Guts, for their wits were at ne plus ultra about it. My son was taken with the same disease ; myself being in the country, was sent for ; the only thing I gave him was Mallow bruised and boiled both in milk and drink ; in two days it cured him, and I have here to shew my thankfulness to God in communicating it to his creatures, leaving it to posterity."