Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
- Aunt Plantsy
- Dec 2, 2022
- 2 min read
Marshmallow has been easy for me to grow in a pot for the last two years. I amend the soil each year with some fresh compost and worm castings and sew in some seeds in the Spring. I’ll do that again next year. But, I did notice when I just dug out the roots, that I had some fresh rhizomes and decided to leave those buried to see if they will grow new plants also.
The plant has pretty pink flowers. The whole plant is usable. See my materia medica below for more information.
It is best to harvest medicinal roots in the fall (or very early spring) because the life energy (sugars and nutrients) flow back down to the roots where the energy is stored for the winter. In the spring, the sap starts to flow back up to create and feed the leaves.
Another tip that I learned in my herbalism class is that if the season is wet, wait until a dry spell. Wet roots are soggy, hard to dry, and not as concentrated in their sap and juices. Also, don’t soak roots to clean them. This will make drying harder and also dilutes the precious nutrients. Use a vegetable scrub brush and a little water to clean away the dirt.
To dry roots, slice thinly into carrot-like pieces. Drying in the full sun is best and usually takes about two to three weeks to completely dry. To test if they are dry, they should crack and not bend.
Admittedly, I waited a little too long to harvest my marshmallow roots. The soil froze and was too hard to dig them out. Luckily, they were in a pot so I brought the pot inside so the soil could thaw and was able to dig out the roots.
Here is my materia medica on Marshmallow:
HABITAT & GROWING CONDITIONS: Zones 3 to 7. Perennial. Habitat is native to Europe. Found in moist places such as salt marshes and damp land close to the sea. Growing conditions are fertile and moist to wet soil with a pH that is neutral, partial shade to full sun.
ACTIONS/PROPERTIES: Alterative. Anti-inflammatory. Anti-irritant for Lungs. Antispasmodic. Demulcent. Mild Diuretic. Emollient. Vulnerary. Mucilaginous.
PARTS USED: Root, leaves, and flowers. A good substitute for slippery elm.
ENERGY AND FLAVORS: Cool, moist, mucilaginous, nutritious, slightly sweet.
USES: Heartburn, improve digestion, sore throat, diarrhea, constipation, bronchitis, topically for irritated skin, bladder infections, colds, coughs, respiratory problems, wounds, helps lower blood sugar levels, soothes mucous membrane irritation in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and urinary tract, topically for burns, ulcers.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Oral drugs or herbs taken at the same time as marshmallow may have delayed absorption due to its mucilage content.
REFERENCES: The Science & Art of Herbology by Rosemary Gladstar. Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health. The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D. The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D. Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth by Dr. Sharol Marie Tilgner. Please visit me online at www.peasbeewithewe.com
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