Marshmallow or Mallow
Latin Name: Althaea Officinalis
Other Names: Cheese Flower, Common Mallow, Mauls
Plant Family: Malvaceae
Marshmallow root is one of my personal favorites. I love me a good bitter! This root is native toNorthern Africa, Western Asia, and Europe. It is commonly grown in every country in the kingdom . In the Malvaceae family, this is considered one of the “mucilage herbs. Yeah, you read that right. This is why I love this herb so much, for the consistency it has when ingested. This herb is the base of my “Sore Throat” tea because of the gooey like feeling it has.
Marshmallow can grow up to 2-6 feet and has soft, hairy, velvety stalks and leaves. This plant grows in most of the salt marshes, by the sea, and many other equally damp settings. Hence the name “Marshmallow”. And to think, all this time, I thought it was called “Marshmallow” because of the gooey texture it has that can be quite similar to the gelatinous treat. (Side note: marshmallow treats may also be used for soothing your irritated throat, along with yogurt. So now you have an excuse to eat snacks when you’re sick, if you weren’t already).
Did You Know?
This herb was, in fact, used to create marshmallow treats dating back to 1850 in France. The process consisted of the root being added to corn syrup, egg whites ad hot water and then poured into molds. Hmm.. So I was right! See, I be knowin thangs that I didn’t even know that I knew!… Yeah.
Name Origin
According to Mountain Rose Herbs, “The generic name Althaea, (a name shared with an ancient Greek goddess who was yet another lover of Dionysus) was derived from the Greek word ‘altheo’ meaning to heal or cure, suggesting its beneficial properties. The name of the of genus Malva, and of the Malvaceae at large, is derived from the Latin ‘mollis’, or the Greek ‘malake’ meaning soft, most likely related its softening and beneficial qualities. A. rosea (garden variety hollyhock) is very similar to marshmallow and may be used interchangeably, yet its roots are considered an adulterant to marshmallow root in commerce.”
Properties and Uses
Marshmallow is just one of 1,000 species in the Malvacea family, all of which contain a healing mucilage. This plant is considered a healing herb which is why it’s used in a number of Herban Karma products. The dried leaves also contain the mucilage and can be infused and drunk for inflammation or used externally as an eye compress. Me being a “Root-a-holic” I love using the root for this purpose as I find the mucilage to be thicker even when dried. When used as a tea, it not only treats cough and sore throats, but also diarrhea and insomnia. You can add the root to ointments for burns, add to your soaps for psoriasis. In Persia the root is used for inflammation in teething for babies and can stimulate growth of late teeth. This root can also be used for creating a binding agent in pill manufactures. The leaves are edible, so enjoy in salad or steam them with light oil and vinegar.
This plant is also good for protection, love, and exorcism. It is a feminine plant. It is ruled by Venus and it’s element water
Precautions
This herb and root, when ingested, Should be taken with a minimum of 8oz of liquid. Because of the slow absorption due to mucilage, any OTC drugs should be taken an hour before or several hours after using the herb. Please consult with your healthcare practitioner if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medication. But hey, If ya ask me, shit, if the baby can teeth with it, seems ok to me. but I ain’t ya western doctor.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.
