Started by Arika Rapson (Island Herbal Consults)
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
1
Work with Marshmallow Plants as Food & Medicine
Jul 29, 2025
Marshmallow plants thrive in the sun this time of year here on Lopez Island and throughout the Pacific Northwest, although they are not native. I have found them incredibly easy and delightful to grow-they get about as tall as my valerian, which is maybe 8 ft tall or so. When there's a good wind going, it looks like they're waving hello to you.
Marshmallow (althea officinalis) is one of our best cooling demulcent plants, and that means that it restores moisture and lubrication to the body. Most plants tend to be drying, some more so than others, and so a bit of marshmallow in a formula can balance out a blend that could otherwise exacerbate symptoms of dryness in the body, which can show up as dry skin, constipation, dry eyes, vaginal dryness, hot and inflamed mucous membranes, or with conditions like heartburn.
The most demulcent part of the plant are the roots, but it takes a good 3 years for a plant to reach maturity. These days, because the demand for marshmallow has grown so high (in part because people have been using it instead of slippery elm since slippery elm is endangered), some folks have been harvesting it too early and it doesn’t get as ‘goopy.’ I am still finding high quality marshmallow root from Mt. Rose Herbs, but you may find if you buy it elsewhere that it isn’t as moistening as you had hoped.
To get the most out of your marshmallow root, pour 1 cup water over 1 TBS of the root (you don’t have to heat the water). Wait at least 4 hours, or overnight. If you run really dry, you could drink a quart of this a day, and add things like cinnamon or linden to vary the flavor (it’s very mild).
*Note: If you are taking medications, you may want to separate your marshmallow decoction by 2 hours as there is a theoretical risk that it could interfere with absorption of meds.
If you have a hard time with goopy textures, you could also take capsules, but keep in mind that won’t be as soothing to a raw, sore throat or for heartburn because the herb won’t get directly on the affected tissue. You will still get some systemic moistening action though.
The leaves and flowers are also demulcent, although less so. And you can harvest those at any point the plant is flowering. Add the flowers to salads and either dry the leaves for tea or try them out in wraps.
This is my new favorite thing this summer-marshamallow leaves get very big, and you can stuff them with yummy food and then eat it as a sort of wrap or soft taco.
Pictured here (with the hydrangea in the background) is my dill chicken with avo mayo inside a marshmallow leaf. Next time I’m going to do more of a soft taco version with Lopez ground pork and Chicaoji sauce (thank goodness you can get it at the Farmer’s Market again!), fresh cilantro, radishes and avo. So fresh and delicious-the leaves are very soft and mild and can blend with so many different flavors. A real summer treat!
Marshmallow (althea officinalis) is one of our best cooling demulcent plants, and that means that it restores moisture and lubrication to the body. Most plants tend to be drying, some more so than others, and so a bit of marshmallow in a formula can balance out a blend that could otherwise exacerbate symptoms of dryness in the body, which can show up as dry skin, constipation, dry eyes, vaginal dryness, hot and inflamed mucous membranes, or with conditions like heartburn.
The most demulcent part of the plant are the roots, but it takes a good 3 years for a plant to reach maturity. These days, because the demand for marshmallow has grown so high (in part because people have been using it instead of slippery elm since slippery elm is endangered), some folks have been harvesting it too early and it doesn’t get as ‘goopy.’ I am still finding high quality marshmallow root from Mt. Rose Herbs, but you may find if you buy it elsewhere that it isn’t as moistening as you had hoped.
To get the most out of your marshmallow root, pour 1 cup water over 1 TBS of the root (you don’t have to heat the water). Wait at least 4 hours, or overnight. If you run really dry, you could drink a quart of this a day, and add things like cinnamon or linden to vary the flavor (it’s very mild).
*Note: If you are taking medications, you may want to separate your marshmallow decoction by 2 hours as there is a theoretical risk that it could interfere with absorption of meds.
If you have a hard time with goopy textures, you could also take capsules, but keep in mind that won’t be as soothing to a raw, sore throat or for heartburn because the herb won’t get directly on the affected tissue. You will still get some systemic moistening action though.
The leaves and flowers are also demulcent, although less so. And you can harvest those at any point the plant is flowering. Add the flowers to salads and either dry the leaves for tea or try them out in wraps.
This is my new favorite thing this summer-marshamallow leaves get very big, and you can stuff them with yummy food and then eat it as a sort of wrap or soft taco.
Pictured here (with the hydrangea in the background) is my dill chicken with avo mayo inside a marshmallow leaf. Next time I’m going to do more of a soft taco version with Lopez ground pork and Chicaoji sauce (thank goodness you can get it at the Farmer’s Market again!), fresh cilantro, radishes and avo. So fresh and delicious-the leaves are very soft and mild and can blend with so many different flavors. A real summer treat!
