Soothing marshmallow

Marshmallow, Althaea officinalis, is so pretty with it's soft pink flowers and downy leaves. The bumblebees love it and so do I. The baby soft leaves appear in spring and the flowers in summer. The leaves are harvested when the plant is in flower and the roots in autumn. It dies back in winter. It thrives in a damp spot with a bit of sun. When it's a good (as in wet!) season it's grown as high as 2m in my garden.

This is a herb with a long history of use with it being first recorded in 9th Century BC! Despite that it has few current studies for its medicinal uses.

It is also the origin of marshmallows. Maybe something for me to try one year when I dig the roots in autumn.

Marshmallow has an affinity for the respiratory system and lungs and it may soothe when someone is blocked up or irritated. It has high mucilage so when ingested it may soothe the gut. It is known for soothing the urinary tract. Topically, the root has been used traditionally for wounds, abscesses and boils and inflammation of the throat. Soothing is the word for this herb.