The herbal cough suppressant that masquerades as candy: Home Medicine Cycle 23

My kids love the marshmallow plant in my garden. It is kind of the opposite of "guilt by association." They are convinced that there must be something delightful about this medicinal plant, because of its name and they also love the gorgeous flowers. 

GNU Documentation License - Image by Alberto Salguero

The truth is that marshmallows were originally made from marshmallow root and you can make them at home using either a marshmallow root tea or the powdered root. They taste quite different from synthetic marshmallows and probably far better. (It wouldn't take much in my humble opinion.) 

However, I mostly make teas, tincture, poultices and syrup from the flowers and roots of this plant. Marshmallow, as the name also implies, likes to live in moist marshy places so this plant has to earn it's keep to be included in our herb garden, given that it requires a lot of watering. It does just that though. Here are some of the many uses of marshmallow:

• As an effective and safe cough suppressant to help everyone sleep better, particularly with dry coughs,
• To treat inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the respiratory tract,
• As a poultice for skin ulcers, inflammation or burns, and for other wounds
• To ease inflammation of the lining of the stomach and stomach ulcers,
• To mitigate diarrhea or ease constipation,
• To help with urinary tract inflammation, and stones in the urinary tract.

Herbalists know that marshmallow works as a cough suppressant and for once the reason is fairly simple. The slippery, sticky, almost mucus-like property of the plant and its extracts coat the throat and openings to airways, like a soothing salve would coat chapped skin. Marshmallow tea or syrup is very useful for this. A 2007 study claims that marshmallow is more effective than many pharmaceutical cough suppressants and it is safer for kids and people who need to drive.

The same principle applies to many other uses for marshmallow. It's ability to coat surfaces in the body with a soft protective layer without allowing infection to fester is helpful in many areas. The most essential way that I use marshmallow in my house is that I make a cough syrup out of the flowers and I dig the roots for a poultice to be used on burns and other severely irritated skin. The cough syrup is also quite useful for any kind of stomach problem which is primarily an irritation of the stomach lining rather than infection. 

You can make syrup from dried flowers at this time of year. Steep several large handfuls of flowers in a cup of hot water overnight. Strain well and simmer the water together with an equal amount of honey on a low heat until the syrup thickens to about the consistency of honey. Store in the refrigerator for up to six months and take whenever you have an irritating cough, scratchiness in the throat or stomach pain.

Marshmallow root - Creative Commons image by Victor M. Vicente Selvas

This is the time of year to dig marshmallow roots, because they have a higher mucilage content in the autumn than in the spring.  Don't dig roots if the plant is less than two years old. Dig up mature roots with a spade or by hand and get rid of the lateral rootlets. Wash, peel, chop and dry the large roots. Keep an eye on drying marshmalow roots so that mildew doesn't grow on them or use a drier on a low setting (less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit). 

Other than making cough syrups, poultices, tinctures and teas, here are some other excellent uses for marshmallow root:

Marshmallow Root Hair Detangler

• a recycled spray bottle
• 1 1/2 cups water (distilled if possible or otherwise soft water)
• 3 tablespoons of marshmallow root pieces
• 2 tablespoons leave-in conditioner. You do actually have to use store-bought conditioner for this but you get to use so little of it for a large amount of detangler that you can afford to buy expensive natural conditioner and it can last years.
• 10 to 20 dropps of essential oil for fragrance (This is optional but lavender, mint, lemon balm or other essential oils make a good scent)

Instructions:

1. Boil water in a small pan and add the marshmallow root. Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes
2. Let it cool some but not all the way and strain.
3. Pour the resulting infusion into your spray bottle.
4. Add conditioner and essential oils.
5. Shake to mix it up.
6. Spray this detangler on wet hair as leave-in conditioner. 

Reasonably Healthy marshmallows

I'm told that the "real way" to make herbal marshmallows is to use powdered root that gels all by itself. But powdering the tough root sounds like a challenge and the rest of the process is also a bit more complex. Here is an easy alternative, that still includes the health benefits of marshmallow. Particularly in case of a child with a cough, this is one medicine you shouldn't have to force down.

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp of gelatin powder 
• 1 cup of hot water
• 1 tbsp of dried marshmallow root pieces
• 1 cup of honey
• 1 tsp of flavoring (you can use vanilla extract, mint, lemon juice, cocoa powder or most other similar things you can imagine, plus natural coloring such as a few drops of blackberry juice.) 

Note: An electric mixer is handy for this recipe. 

Instructions

1. Add marshmallow root to the warm water and let sit for an hour (or even overnight in the fridge). Stir and strain. Make sure that the infusion still makes a while cup.
2. Pour ½ cup of the infusion into a large bowl or mixer bowl and add the gelatin powder. Whisk sand let it sit.
3. Pour the other ½ cup of the infusion and the honey into the small pan.
4. Slowly bring the honey mixture to a boil. Keep it boiling and stir constantly for 8 minutes.
5. Slowly pour the honey/water mixture into the bowl with the now-hardened gelatin mix. While pouring, blend the mixture with an electric mixer on medium until all the honey mixture is added.
6. Then turn the mixer to high and beat the mixture for another 10-15 minutes or until it forms a stiff cream the consistency of marshmallow cream and forms gentle peeks.
7. Add any flavorings or dyes for the last 2 minutes of mixing (except cocoa powder which can be added to the honey mix in the saucepan).
8. Grease a baking dish, molds or ice cube trays or line with parchment paper, leaving some on the sides to be able to pull up.
9. When marshmallow mixture is whipped, pour it into the pan and smooth evenly.
10. Let sit at least 4 hours or overnight.
11. Flip it on to a cutting board and cut with a well oiled pizza cutter or knife, if you haven't used small molds.
12. Store in an airtight container in the pantry, NOT the fridge or root cellar. They will melt in a moist environment. Should last about two or three weeks.

I love your comments on these posts. Drop a note below and let me know how you have used herbs in your home. Exchanging information about herbs hearth to hearth is the oldest form of medicine. Share this post with your friends or plan a marshmallow party.