Latin name: Althaea officinalis .

Description :
The generic name, Althaea, comes from the Latin altheo, meaning "I cure". It may be the althea that Hippocrates recommended so highly for healing wounds. The Romans considered it a delicious vegetable, and used it in cooking. In the Renaissance era the herbalists used marsh-mallow to cure sore throats, stomach trouble, and toothache.

Soft, sweet marshmallow candy was originally thickened with the root of marsh-mallow.

.Marsh-Mallow is a hardy perennial. It grows from about 2 to 4' tall. It loves the sun, and enjoys being moist which will make the leaves and roots grow larger. I have mine planted in semi shade, but then I live on the east coast where the sun is quite hot, and the humidity very heavy.

After it flowers in the summer cut back so new growth can start. Sow the seeds in the fall right where you want them to grow or in trays. The trays can winter outside. Because this plant is so hardy you do not need to protect them in the winter. To harvest, pick the leaves for fresh use. They don't seem to preserve well. Dig up the roots of 2 year old plants in autumn, after the flowers and leaves have died back.Its abundance of mucilage makes Marshmallow an excellent demulcent that is indicated wherever such an action is called for. The roots have been used more for the digestive system whilst the leaves are used more for the urinary system and lungs. All inflammatory conditions of the G-I tract will benefit from its use, e.g. inflammations of the mouth, gastritis, peptic ulceration, colitis etc.

The leaves help in cystitis, urethritis and urinary gravel as well as bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, irritating coughs.Externally the herb is often used in drawing ointments for abscesses andboils or as an emollient for varicose veins and ulcers.

Marsh-mallow helps soothe and cure inflammation, ulceration of the stomach, soreness of throat, and pain from cystitis. An infusion of leaves or flowers serves as a soothing gargle, an infusion of the root can be used for cough, diarrhea and insomnia. By pulverizing the root it then can be used as a healing and drawing poultice, which should be applied warm.

Actions: alterative, anticatarrhal, antidiarrheal, antihepatotoxic, antihypercholesterolemic, antihyperglycemic, antitussive, antiulcer, bowel cleanser, cancer preventative, demulcent, detoxifier, diuretic, emmenagogue, emollient, expectorant, galactogogue, lithotriptic, mucilage, vulnerary

Traditional use: asthma, bronchitis, colitis, cough, cystitis, diarrhea, duodenal ulcer, dysuria, edema, emphysema, enteritis, gastric ulcer, gastritis, gastroenteritis, hay fever, headache, hiatal hernia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, laryngitis, lithiasis, nephritis, peptic ulcer, pharyngitis (gargle), sore throat, stomatitis (mouthwash), strangury, ulcerative colitis, urethritis, vaginitis (douche), Topically as a Poultice or Ointment/Cream: Burns, dermatitis, eczema, furunculosis, hemorrhoids, thrombotic ulcer, varicose ulcer, wounds

Combination of three herbs into a syrup used for the treatment of persistent coughs.
Althaea officinalis root 1000mg
Glycyrrhiza glabra 350mg
Oleum foeniculi oil 1.25 mcL
In an alcohol-free base of lemon oil, orange oil, glycerol and water