March 2026

Polysaccharides in herbal medicine

• Week 1: Polysaccharides in herbal medicine
• Week 2: Marshmallow – All The Juicy Details
• Week 3: Astragalus – Building A Whole Body Resilience
• Week 4: Reishi – The Mushroom Of Immortality

Marshmallow – All The Juicy Details

Part used: Roots, leaves, and flowers.

Degree: 2nd degree

Description

 Herbalist M. Graves described Marshmallow in her book A Modern Herbal,

“The stems, which die down in the autumn, are erect, 3 to 4 feet high, simple, or putting out only a few lateral branches.

The leaves, shortly petioled, are roundish, ovate-cordate, 2 to 3 inches long, and about 1 1/4 inches broad, entire or three to five lobed, irregularly toothed at the margin, and thick. They are soft and velvety on both sides, due to a dense covering of stellate hairs.

The flowers are shaped like those of the common Mallow, but are smaller and of a pale colour, and are either axillary, or in panicles, more often the latter. The stamens are united into a tube; the anthers are kidney-shaped and one-celled. The flowers are in bloom during August and September, and are followed, as in other species of this order, by the flat, round fruit popularly called ‘cheeses.”

Growing Marshmallow

 Marshmallows are easy to grow from seed. It likes to grow in wet, marshy areas. You can sow it directly in the garden in early fall or spring, and it will germinate. 

History and lore

 Ancient Egyptians mixed the marshmallow sap with grains, nuts, and honey to make sweet cakes for pharaohs and other nobility. The cakes were definitely off limits for common folk.

The sap was also used to treat a long list of maladies, including gout, joint pain, sore throat, diarrhea, indigestion, and ulcers, as well as coughs, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems.

The leaves were used to make a poultice that relieved skin irritations. Several hundred years later, French cooks discovered that a delectable, moldable treat could be made by mixing the sap with corn syrup and egg whites, creating something similar to the modern marshmallow! Nowadays, sap is no longer used to make marshmallows; it has been replaced by syrup and gelatin. 

Energetic Architecture

Ruling planet

It is not hard to see why marshmallow, with their delicate white flowers and the sweet taste that is nourishing and softening, have an affinity to the feminine, which suggests an association with the moon. 

Elemental Rule

 Marshmallow is associated with the water element. It is a juicy plant with cup shaped flowers that prefers wet soil. The water element in the body manages the mucus membranes and the kidneys, where marshmallow shine. 

Psychological Pattern

Marshmallow is for people who are cut off from the water element in their emotional life. People who are rigid in their thoughts and actions. They can be narrow-minded, hard, and dry. For people that are cut off from their emotions are very serious, lack compassion, and lack a sense of humor. 

Taste 

Sweet. It does not reference sweet like sugar, but more bland and starchy. It is the taste of carbohydrates, such as potatoes. The sweet taste is a combination of the Earth and Water elements. It builds, nurtures, and strengthens the body. But it also softens, soothes, and lubricates dry, hard, rigid tissue. 

Slightly salty. The salt taste operates on the Water element in the body. In the case of Marshmallow, it increases the Water element in the body. 

Energetics

Temperature: Cooling. It is not that Marshmallow is cooling by itself, but that by moistening the dryness, it cools the heat. It is more tempering the heat than really cooling down the entire organism. 

Fluids: Moistening

Tune: Relaxing

Tissue state

Marshmallow is for dry/atrophy tissue. When the tissue is dry, the intercellular fluid cannot transport nutrients from the blood into cells or carry waste products out of cells into the lymph. Cells that are unable to obtain the nutrients they need and remove their waste products become withered, weakened, and lose function.

Althea is also indicated for the heat/excitation tissue state. Specifically, if there is dryness due to the heat. In dry conditions, there is a tendency to heat. The dryness causes an accumulation of waste byproducts in the extracellular space, leading to inflammation. The heat or inflammation is secondary to the dryness, so this condition is called false heat. 

Marshmallow can act on the wind/tense tissue state when tension arises from the dryness. When dry tissue loses its flexibility and becomes rigid and tense. By moistening, Marshmallow can relax the tissue. 

Pharmacology

Polysaccharides  make up to 18-35% of the plant. The polysaccharide molecules are large therefore they can not cross the gut wall and be absorbed by the blood.

In the digestive tract, those sugar compounds act by directly moistening and soothing the gut’s surface. The effects of marshmallow on other parts of the body are mediated by its effects on the mucus membranes, with the assumption that all mucus membranes are somehow connected. 

Starches, pectin (up to 35%) 

Asparagine, which is the compound responsible for the diuretic action of marshmallow. 

Flavonoids, quercetin, phenolic acid, and salicylic acid. which are mostly found in marshmallow’s aerial parts, act as antioxidants.

Actions

Foundational actions are associated with the energetic pattern and can be experienced viscerally in the body.

In marshmallow, we find the embodiment of a  demulcent herb. The other actions attributed to Marshmallow are derived from its demulcent properties.

Primary actions relate to organs, systems, or tissues.

Expectorant – It facilitates the removal of mucus from the respiratory system by making coughs more productive. It is very specific for hot, dry, irritated conditions. 

Diuretic – it increases mucus secretion in the kidneys and bladder. 

Nutritive – the polysaccharides are anabolic and prebiotic

galactagogue – found to support milk production in lactating moms. 

Emollient volnerary – the mucilage forms a soothing, protective gel barrier over damaged tissue, reduces inflammation, and inhibits bacterial growth

Secondary actions imply an end result without specifying energetics or the system affected.

Antioxidant – only when extracted in ethanol

Antibacterial – effects against antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus were observed in vitro and in vivo studies using the marshmallow alcohol extract. 

Anti-inflammatory – reduces oxidative stress and inhibits the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL6 in conditions where macrophages were increased by LPS.

Organ affinity

The mucous membrane that lines all tissues that come into contact with the outside world protects your body from pathogens as well as from friction from food, air and fluids. The primary tissues that are covered in mucus are found in :

• The digestive system 
• The urinary tract
• The respiratory system
• The female reproductive system

Marshmallow has an affinity for the musculoskeletal tissue, lubricating dry, cracky joints. 

Specific indication

Marshmallow is indicated for dryness anywhere in the body. From dry tongue, to constipation, dry lungs, dry eyes, dry skin, and so on. 

Matthew Wood says: “The tongue is red and dry with a glazed, shining surface, with horizontal breaks or cuts in the glaze. That indicates dryness, hardening, and heat.”

Clinical Pattern

Marshmallow is the superpower in the herbalist’s toolkit because of the mucilage it contains, especially in its root. The mucilage moistens irritated tissue when the body’s innate mucus is dry. 

Inflammatory digestive condition

The moistening effect of marshmallow is especially beneficial to the digestive tract, where the mucilage comes into direct contact with the tissue.

Marshmallow is indicated for four types of inflammation in the digestive system: 

• In the mouth
• In the stomach – Gastritis
• Inflammation of the small intestines – Enteritis
• Inflammation of the colon – Colitis 

In the mouth

Mouth ulcers, or canker sores, are small, white or yellowish lesions with a red border, commonly found on the inside of the cheeks, gums, or tongue. They are often painful and can make eating, drinking, and speaking uncomfortable. Mouth ulcers breach the skin’s physical barrier; therefore, they increase the risk of local and systemic infection. 

Diabetic mouth ulcers are a pathological condition of the oral mucosa that increases susceptibility to infection and prolongs wound healing time.

A study that developed sponges that release a combination of marshmallow and clove into the mouths of people with mouth ulcers due to diabetes found that the marshmallow-clove combination enhanced healing, characterized by diminished inflammation, and improved epithelial regeneration. 

GERD & Gastritis

Marshmallow is indicated for GERD when the GERD is caused by a lax esophageal sphincter. When the loweresophageal sphincter is lax, it does not hold the muscle that separates the stomach from the esophagus tightly shut. Acid from the stomach leaks out into the esophagus, causing burns. This causes a very unpleasant burning sensation.

GERD is also the #1 cause of esophageal cancer. The energetic of the condition is heat excitation combined with a lax tissue state. Marshmallow can provide relief from pain and  burning sensations, and protect the tissue until the root cause of GERD is treated. 

Small intestines

The moistening and cooling qualities of marshmallow can be beneficial to gut inflammation caused by leaky gut, food allergies (celiac), or antibiotic trauma. 

Marshmallow is an effective remedy for ulcers, where tissue damage and mucus membrane degeneration lead to inflammation and sharp, burning pain.  One of the most common reasons for ulcers is the prolonged use of NSAIDs. There are a couple of reasons why that happens : 

• NSAIDs inhibit the mucus production in the stomach that protects the stomach from the damage of the stomach acids.
• They inhibit bicarbonate secretion in the small intestine, which helps buffer acidity.

“In its soothing influence upon the intestinal structures, it is of service when there is inflammation of the bowels or irritation from any cause, and it is often administered as an enema in dysentery, and if a few drops of laudanum be added, it will often cause prompt relief from the tenesmus and general distress.”

~Elingwood

The colon

The polysaccharides in marshmallow are large molecules that can not be absorbed by the body. Therefore, they make their way to the colon and are eliminated in the stool. 

As with the small intestines, in the colon, these polysaccharides can help with inflammatory conditions and ulcers. However, in the colon, marshmallow can also play an active role in regulating bowel movements. 

Constipation can occur for a variety of reasons, but if the underlying cause is dryness, Marshmallow can be highly beneficial by lubricating and smoothing the way for stool. 

Marshmallow can be used for diarrhea, too, because the mucilage will absorb some of the fluids. 

Also in the colon, the polysaccharides that you can’t digest and absorb feed your gut bacteria, supporting a healthy, thriving bacterial colony. A healthy bacterial colony produces serotonin that regulates bowel movements, modulates the immune system, produces energy that supports the function of digestive tract cells, and synthesizes vitamins such as vitamin K. 

Respiratory irritation

In the respiratory system, marshmallow works through its effect on the mucus membrane in general, as it does not come in direct contact with the organs of said system. 

Marshmallow is used for dryness in the upper and lower respiratory systems that lead to hot, irritated tissue, such as in dry sinuses, sore throat, whooping cough, bronchitis, and laryngitis. Marshmallow will thin green, boggy, thick mucus that is congealed, help lift it from the tissue, and expel it.

Urinary Tract

People with an irritated urinary tract experience a frequent need to urinate, feeling like they didn’t fully emptied their bladder, urgency, or burn scaldding sensation upon urinating. The urine might be dark and cloudy with a foul smell. 

Like with the respiratory system, marshmallow doesn’t come into direct contact with the kidneys and bladder; however, it has a beneficial effect on urinary tract conditions where infection or inflammation leads to tissue irritation, such as bladder, ureteral, or kidney inflammation, as well as in interstitial cystitis. 

“In conditions where simple irritation is induced either from the presence of uric acid or other precipitated crystalline bodies, a strong infusion of Althaea will greatly enhance the influence of other indicated remedies.”

~ Ellingwood

Skin

The most common conventional treatment for skin conditions is corticosteroid topical creams. However, these creams have side effects. Marshmallow is an emollient herb with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that can be beneficial for skin conditions.

A small pilot study measured the anti-allergenic and anti-inflammatory effects of marshmallow on the skin of 22 children with atopic dermatitis, a chronic, non-contagious skin condition that causes intense itching, redness, and rash. The study found a significant improvement in the skin of children treated with a topical cream containing marshmallow. 

Marshmallow can be used topically for dryness, cracked, and irritated skin. Including cracked nipples in breastfeeding moms, hemorrhoids, psoriasis, and eczema. 

Preparation and dosage

The polysaccharides in marshmallow are damaged by high temperatures and high ethanol levels; therefore, it is best used as a cold-water infusion. 

Marshmallow powder is a good addition to your smoothie, porridge, or applesauce. The powder, mixed with applesauce, honey, and cinnamon, is a great, palatable way to ingest Marshmallow. It is great for soothing a sore throat and for healing the gut, as it comes into direct contact with gut tissue.  Dosage up to 12000 mg daily.

Cold infusion 2-8 ounces 1-4 times daily. The cold infusion is very snotty, so many people find it hard to ingest. 

You can tincture marshmallow by adding alcohol to a cold infusion to preserve it, but you will get a better result by drinking a cold infusion. To tincture marshmallow, add 20%-25% alcohol to a cold infusion to preserve it.  Dosage: 10-60 drops 1-4 times daily.

Safety

Marshmallow is generally a safe herb to use

It is, however, contraindicated for people with SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth). The polysaccharides in Marshmallow will feed the misplaced gut bacteria, further proliferating them. 

Not for people with a wet, damp constitution. 

Recipes For Remedies