Marvellous marshmallow...

Following on from my previous blog - marshmallow, like mullein is another soft furry friend. It has recently come into flower at work, and it has become another favourite herb of mine.

I have been a herbal gardener for a year now, and it has been a gratifying process watching the seasons change, and seeing their effects on the variety of herb growth cycles.
In winter we chop marshmallow right down, their stems become almost woody and hollow, and they look very sad indeed.
In spring the new stems start to come out again forming little green stumps, and in summer it seems all of a sudden they shoot up high, and their beautiful white and purple flowers burst open. The bees love it!

Marshmallow avenue - these sway gently in the breeze and are lovely to walk through

Marshmallow overview & medicinal uses...

Name: Althea officinalis
Family: Malvacae
Parts used: Leaves, root, and flower (edible)

Random facts:

• The herb was indeed the original inspiration for today's confectionary. The root was powdered, added to water, and heated with sugar to create a sweet, soothing paste.
  
• The dried root can be used can be used as a toothbrush, and can be chewed by teething children - helping to ease the pain
  
• Fibre from the stem and roots is still used in paper making
  
• A paste can be made from boiling and straining leaves, and this is used in glue!
  

Habitat and cultivation:
Marshmallow loves full sun and is not suitable for growing indoors. The flowers once bloomed form seed pods which can be collected and sown the following spring. The plant can also be dug up in autumn and root cuttings can be taken and divided.

Like mullein, it is best to harvest from its 2nd year - particularly the roots. Scrub off all mud, chop up into thin discs, and leave to dry until you can no longer make an indent with your thumb nail.

If harvesting the leaves, do so just before it flowers for them to be at their best. Peel off the individual leaves, you do not need to cut the stem, and use whilst still fresh to make a tincture (see below); or dry them, chop up and store for a tea infusion.

Medicinal actions: Demulcent (Soothing on the mucous membranes - e.g. within the respiratory, digestive and urinary tracts), emollient (Soothes, softens, cools skin)

Medicinal uses: Marshmallow is a go to herb whenever there are inflammatory conditions. It contains mucilage, which is a polysaccharide substance extracted from plants as a viscous or gelatinous solution - basically it becomes gloopy!
Because of this, it is cooling, soothing, and calming both internally and externally.

• Respiratory: Bronchitis, coughs, respiratory catarrh
  
• Digestive: Gastritis, peptic ulcers, enteritis, ulcerative colitis
  
• Urinary: Cystitis, urethritis, urinary calculus
  
• Externally - A poultice of soaked leaves can be used for: abscesses, boils, ulcers
  

Nutritional content: Marshmallow is high in vitamin A. It also contains vitamin B complex, calcium, zinc, iron & iodine.

How to make a basic tincture using marshmallow leaves...

Below is what is known as 'The wise woman' or 'folk' method:

• Use a glass sterile screw top jar (see my mullein post on how)
• Get the best quality vodka you can - at least 40%
• Always use fresh herbs - they already contain a water content that will become part of the tincture when released
• Gather on a dry day so there is no extra water from dew or rain that could affect water content, and that could encourage mould.
• Chop up leaves as much as you can to increase the surface area in contact with alcohol; this allows greater permeation and more medicinal properties to be drawn out.
• Pack the jar with the chopped leaves, and add the vodka, filling it to the top, and completely covering herb. The herb should be packed, but able to move.
• Screw the lid tight and shake the jar gently until you see no more air pocket bubbles.
• Label and date the jar.
• Shake jar several times a week, and check alcohol levels haven't dropped. If so, top up. If the herb is exposed to air, it can allow bacteria and mould to your tinture.
• Store out of sunlight for 6 weeks (hence the importance of dating the jar), in a cool, dark place
• Strain and squeeze the herb using muslin cloth or fine sieve over a funnel, into a dark glass bottle, making sure to label and date that too.
• Use within 12 months for it to be most effective

DOSE: 1 x teaspoon or 5 mls 3 x daily when symptoms are present.
TAKE AT LEAST 1 HOUR AFTER ANY MEDICATION TO AVOID INTERACTION. *It may delay their absorption*

* I should add that this method does not allow for the extraction of constituents which need higher percentages of alcohol. It also is unmeasured so strength will vary every time it is made. This means that if referring to general pharmacopoeia dosage ranges, they will not apply.

However there is a lot to be said for using fresh herb - where it is believed the energy and vitality of the plant is present. It is also a good start to get to know the herbs you are harvesting, and be introduced to home remedies.

MARSHMALLOW IS GENERALLY DEEMED SAFE - HOWEVER IF EXPERIMENTING WITH OTHER HERBS - PLEASE CONSULT WITH A HERBALIST, PARTICULARLY IF ON MEDICATION. HERBS MAY BE NATURAL, BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE ALL SAFE!