About.....Marshmallow

  Floating in a steaming cup of cocoa or skewered on a sharp stick, Marshmallows seem little more than glorified sugar puffs. It's hard to believe that the sugary confections have a place in medical history-even though the modern kind no longer contain the herb that gives them their name. Real marsh mallow is a plant with a long root that actually does grow in a marsh. Nineteenth century doctors extracted juice from the marsh mallow plant's roots and cooked it with egg whites and sugar, then whipped the mixture into a foamy meringue that later hardened, creating a medicinal candy used to soothe children's sore throats. Eventually, advanced manufacturing processes and improved texturing agents eliminated the need for the gooey root juice altogether. Unfortunately, that eliminated the confection's healing properties as a cough suppressant, immune system booster and wound healer.

Healing with Marsh Mallow:

Although the herb isn't widely available in America, with a little luck, you can find marsh mallow teas or crushed marsh mallow root at health food stores. Make a tea by boiling ½ to 1 teaspoon of crushed root per cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes. You may also find marsh mallow gel, which used externally on cuts and abrasions. This herb is effective at:

• Quieting a cough and soothing sore throats: The flowers, leaves and roots of the marsh mallow plant all contain a thick, gooey substance called mucilage. "This substance soothes irritation in your throat and helps you stop coughing," claimed the late Heinz Rosler, Ph.D., formerly with the department of medicinal chemistry at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore. In fact, when pitted against two other remedies in an Eastern European study of cough suppressants, marsh mallow outperformed both. IN Germany, teas containing marsh mallow are commonly sold for this purpose.

• Soothing a cut: Used externally, marsh mallow gel may help heal minor abrasions like cuts, scrapes and burns.

• Boosting the immune system: In one experiment, marsh mallow enhanced the ability of white blood cells to devour invading germs. This suggests that the plant's traditional use in wound treatment may have a sound scientific basis.

Pick Your Own:

Marsh mallow grows in marshes, bogs, damp meadows and along stream banks. The plant is a 5 foot perennial with a long taproot. The stems, which die back each autumn, are hairy and branching. The roundish, gray-green leaves are also hairy and grow about 1 to 3 inches long. The plant produces pink or white flowers in summer.

Want to grow your own? This plant flourishes in moist soil under full sun. Propagate it from seeds, cuttings or root division in autumn. Thin to 2 feet apart. Harvest roots only from plants over 2 years old. In fall, when the top growth has died back, dig out mature roots and remove the lateral rootlets. Wash, peel and dry them whole or in slices.

Safety Considerations:

There's nothing in medical literature suggesting that marsh mallow is dangerous in any way. Still, it's always best to use medicinal herbs in consultation with your doctor. If marsh mallow causes discomforts such as stomach upset, discontinue use.

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Last modified: December 12, 2006