Marshmallow root
Marshmallow root is taken from the plant thrives in wet areas and grows mainly in marshes. Originally from Europe and various other places like northern Africa, western and central Asia, it has now also been naturalized to grow marshy areas in the United States and Australia. The root and leaves are used for medicinal purposes, however, leaves, roots, & flowers are all edible. (1)
Marshmallow may help with
- coughs and colds
- infections
- skin problems
- It may help reduce inflammation in the gut
What are the Benefits?
1) It may soothe coughs and colds
Marshmallow root is used in many cough medicines because of its demulcent action which means it forms a soothing layer over mucous membranes, which helps with pain and inflammation, it also has mucilage abilities which may help with dry irritable coughs and even dry mouth as research shows it helps to produce saliva in those who struggle to do this on their own. (2)
This may be beneficial to those who have a cough, sore throat, urinary infection, skin infection or stomach ulcers.
2) It may help to fight infections
Marshmallow root may help to fight bacterial infections in cases of a urinary tract infection, It helps speed up the healing process by killing the bacteria that may cause other problems. (3)
3) Helps with skin problems
According to research Marshmallow root may help reduce and combat skin irritations and problems like eczema and dermatitis. (4)
4) It may help reduce inflammation in the gut
Marshmallow root has anti-inflammatory properties in the gastrointestinal tract which may help those with stomach ulcers and other inflammation.
Marshmallow synergy and works well with
- L-Glutamine to help with digestive health
- Manuka Honey for the digestive and respiratory system making it beneficial for a wide variety of symptoms from sore throats to ulcers
- Uva Ursi to support the urinary system
- Slippery elm may help to reduce symptoms of coughs
Some things to consider
According to WebMD, “Marshmallow contains a type of soft fiber called mucilage. Mucilage can decrease how much medicine the body absorbs. Taking marshmallow at the same time you take medications by mouth can decrease the effectiveness of your medication. To prevent this interaction take marshmallow at least one hour after medications you take by mouth.” (5)
Resources
Last accessed online 18/04/2020
- https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/marshmallow-root/profile
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25617026
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418059/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19799989
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-774/marshmallow
