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Marshmallow Herb - Uses And Side Effects

Dnprocessed marshmallow comes from the dried roots of Althaea officinalls, a perennial herb native to Europe that also grows in the United States. Some herbalists use the flowers and leaves as well as the roots.

Marshmallow found in southern and western Europe, western Asia, and the northeastern region of North America, marshmallow originally grew in salty soils but now thrives in moist, uncultivated ground. Its fleshy, erect stems reach a height of three to four feet. The stems give off simple branches or, at most, a few sideways branches. The pale yellow roots are tapered, long, and thick, with a tough yet flexible exterior. The short-stemmed leaves are round, with irregularly toothed margins and three to five lobes. A soft and velvety down covers the leaves and stem. The flowers have five reddish-white petals. The whole plant, especially the root, is filled with mild mucilage.

Common doses of marshmallow

Marshmallow comes as whole dried root, dried leaves or flowers, capsules containing powdered root, and extracts. Some experts reconunend the following doses:

• As the crude root or aformulation, 6 grams taken orally daily.
• As the leaf, 5 grams taken orally daily.

Uses of marshmallow herb

Professional herbalists may recommend marshmallow for the following health problems based on its long history of use in traditional healing systems, as well as results of laboratory and animal studies.

• As a cough suppressant
• Bronchitis
• Constipation
• Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Minor abrasions
• Peptic ulcer
• Skin inflammation
• Throat irritation

Side effects of marshmallow

Call your health care practitioner if you experience unusual symptoms when using marshmallow.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. If you take other drugs, stagger their administration times with marshmallow's because the herb may slow drug absorption. Also, don't use marshmallow if you take insulin because it may make your blood sugar drop too low.

Important points to remember

• Avoid this herb if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.

What the research shows

Without adequate research showing that marshmallow is effective, medical experts don't recommend it for any condition or disease. They advise people to eat only the amounts normally found in food.

Other names for marshmallow : -

Other names for marshmallow include althaea root, althea, mortification root, and sweetweed.