What is Marshmallow Root?

With cold season comes the ever-increasing demand for cold preventative tea. At Tin Roof, we have a few cold preventative teas, for upper respiratory and sinus (Decongest Decoction), sore throat (5th Chakra), and immune boosters (Superhero Formula). The one herb that ties these teas together is Marshmallow Root.

Marshmallow root is native to Europe, and it thrives in dark and salty marshes. The plant is a perennial which has a height of two to four feet. If has a pink to gray flower that blooms in the fall months. Usually between August and October. The roots of the plant are pale yellow, tapered, lengthy and thick.

The flowers of the marshmallow root are used to make expectorant syrups. They flowers are picked once the plant reaches two years of age. The root is exhumed in the late fall. The root is then cleaned, corked, and desiccated immediately.

The root has been used over the past thousand years as an herbal remedy for cough, sore throat, and other respiratory problems such as bronchitis and whooping cough. This is due to high amounts of mucigenic properties found within the flower and root.

The plant is also used for intestinal issues, such as diarrhea, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Marshmallow root is also known to have anti-inflammatory activity whenever applied to the skin. The root has been helpful in treating cuts, scrapes, and other wounds. It has also been known to treat eczema, psoriasis, and pinkeye.

In the end, there are many known uses for this plant. See you at the shop!

Source: www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/marshmallow-root.html
Source: https://draxe.com/marshmallow-root/