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Marshmallow
The similarity in name between the herb marshmallow and the sweet treat is
more than a coincidence, although the modern sugar puff ball no longer bears
much relationship to the old-fashioned candy flavored with marshmallow herb.
Besides inspiring makers of campfire food, the marshmallow has also been used
medicinally since ancient Greece. Hippocrates spoke of it as a treatment for
bruises and blood loss, and subsequent Roman physicians recommended marshmallow
for toothaches, insect bites, chilblains, and irritated skin. In medieval
Europe, herbalists used marshmallow to soothe toothaches, coughs, sore throats,
chapped skin, indigestion, and diarrhea.
What Is Marshmallow Used for Today?
Marshmallow contains contains large sugar molecules called mucilage, which are thought to exert a soothing effect on mucous membranes, and this is the basis of most proposed uses of the herb. However, only
double-blind, placebo-controlled studies
can prove a treatment effective, and no such studies of marshmallow have been reported at this time. (For information on why double-blind studies are so important, see
Why Does This Database Rely on Double-blind Studies?
)
On the basis of its supposed soothing properties, tea or lozenges containing marshmallow tea are often recommended for
asthma
,
cough
,
colds
, and sore throat. Marshmallow taken as tea or in capsules is sometimes recommended for
Crohn's disease
or
ulcers
, on the theory that mucilage might sooth the lining of the digestive tract. Finally, marshmallow ointment is sometimes recommended for irritated skin.
Dosage
Marshmallow can be made into a soothing tea by steeping roots overnight in
water and diluting to taste. This tea can be drunk as desired for symptomatic
relief. Alternatively, you can take marshmallow in capsules (5 to 6 g daily) or
in tincture according to label directions.
Marshmallow ointments can be applied directly to soothe inflamed or irritated
skin.
Safety Issues
Marshmallow is believed to be entirely safe. It is approved for use in foods,
and its chemical makeup does not suggest any but benign effects.
1
However, detailed safety studies have not been performed. One study suggests
that marshmallow can slightly lower blood sugar levels.
2
For this
reason, people with diabetes should use caution when taking marshmallow. Safety
in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or
kidney disease has not been established.
References
1
Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD.
Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals
. London, England: Pharmaceutical Press; 1996:188.
2
Tomoda M, Shimizu N, Oshima Y, et al. Hypoglycemic activity of twenty plant mucilages and three modified products.
Planta Med
.1987;53:8–12.