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Marshmallow at a Glance
Althaea officinalis is a soft-leaved perennial in the Malvaceae family. Root and leaf are both used in herbal traditions, with the root especially valued for abundant mucilage.
Traditional Use
Marshmallow preparations have long been used as soothing demulcents for throat and digestive comfort and externally for dry or irritated skin. These are traditional supportive uses rather than treatment claims.
Mucilage and Preparation
The polysaccharide-rich mucilage becomes slippery in water. Cold infusions are popular because they extract mucilage well, while warm tea and syrups are also used.
Research
Human clinical evidence is limited, but the physical soothing effect of mucilage is plausible and consistent with traditional use.
Safety
Marshmallow is generally well tolerated. Because mucilage can slow or reduce absorption of oral medicines taken at the same time, separating marshmallow from medications by roughly two hours is a practical precaution. People with diabetes using concentrated products should monitor carefully because limited evidence suggests possible glucose effects. Pregnancy and breastfeeding medicinal-use data are limited.
History
The modern confection called marshmallow traces its name to the plant, although commercial marshmallows no longer usually contain marshmallow root.
Bottom Line
Marshmallow is a classic demulcent herb whose value centers on mucilage and physical soothing rather than dramatic pharmacologic claims. For educational purposes only.