Marshmallow Isn't Just for Roasting, Marshmallow is Also a Terrific Herbal Remedy

IMPORTANT NOTE: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE LABEL TO MAKE SURE THE MEDICINAL HERBAL PRODUCT DOES NOT CONTAIN SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY BE ALLERGIC TO AND WON'T MIX WELL WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS YOU'RE TAKING.

Little known facts

Marshmallows you get at the store today were originally made with this plant in its extract form. It was intended to be a gelling agent.

Marshmallow's generic name is Althaea. This word comes from the Greek word, altho (means, "to cure"). There exists up to 12 species of perennial herb plants in this family.

Hollyhocks were once part of this genus.

Marshmallow or altheae can be found in Europe and western Asia.

Marshmallow's family name of Malvaceae is also derived from the Greek word, "malake", meaning soft. This comes from the soft and mucilaginous character of the herb.

Hypocrites, the Greek physician used marshmallow for healing wounds.

Marshmallow's leaves have been used as poultices and fomentations.

It is even written in the Bible that marshmallow or "mallow" plants were eaten at the time of famine.

Marshmallow contains 286,000 units of vitamin A per pound.

True effects

Marshmallow is great for healing wounds.

Marshmallow is great for drawing out poisons.

Marshmallow can be used externally for varicose veins and skin abscesses.

Marshmallow has non-absorbable polysaccharides that coat mucous membranes of the digestive tract and absorb toxins.

Treat any soreness or irritation from diarrhea with marshmallow.

Ease the passage of kidney stones with marshmallow.

Marshmallow can help regulate bowel activity and increase colonic flora.

Marshmallow is great for treating inflammation on different parts of the body.

Disorders, irritations, ailments, and bodily systems treated by Marshmallow

Allergies - An allergy is a sensitivity to certain substances. You can be allergic to everything, from pollen to drugs.

Asthma - This should be self-explanatory. But in case it isn't, in case you don't know what it is exactly, I'll tell you. Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system that constricts a person's airway. Common symptoms of asthma are wheezing, and coughing.

Bedwetting

Bladder - This elastic organ that collects urine from the kidneys can be host to any number of illnesses and deficiencies; such as, bladder sphincter dyssynergia or the condition that can lead to incontinent urination, Cystitis or the inflammation of the bladder, and Hematuria or the presence of blood in your urine.

Urinary bleeding

Boils - Simply put, a boil is a swelling or infection of a hair follicle or sweat gland.

Bowels - Your bowels or intestines are extremely long canals in your belly that can be host to any number of diseases; such as, Gastroenteritis or inflammation of the intestines, Ileus or blockage of the intestines, Ileitis or inflammation of the ileum and of course, Colitis.

Increases and enriches breast milk

Bronchial infections - Living microorganisms that invade the body are infections. You can have a clinical infection in which the infection is so severe that the body starts showing signs and symptoms of diseases. Focial infections are when those little bastard bugs are confined to one area. Inapparent infections are infections that show no signs or symptoms - also known as subclinical. Latent infections are when those little microorganisms can't even be detected by modern methods - the infection can flare up from time to time under certain conditions. And finally, there is terminal infections in which the infection strikes at the end of a disease, typically resulting in death.

Acid or fire burns - This should be self-explanatory. But in case it isn't, let me elaborate. Burns are simply injuries by fire, intense heat or certain chemicals. There are several different kinds of burn, including a brush burn, chemical burn, radiation burn, second or third degree burns, and flash burns.

Catarrh - Catarrh is a swelling of the mucous membrane that can lead to discharges from the nose.

Constipation - If you're having trouble going poop, if and when you do poop you're stool is as hard as a rock, you know you've been constipated.

Dry coughs - This should be self-explanatory. A cough is simply when you have a strong and abrupt discharge of air from the lungs.

Cystitis - Simply put, cystitis is an inflammation of your urinary bladder.

Diabetes - A disorder in which the body can no longer metabolize insulin, carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Severe conditions require frequent shots of insulin.

Soothing diarrhea - Do we have to describe this ailment? Okay, if we must, we must. Diarrhea is the softening and liquefying of bowel movements. For infants, this ailment can be very dangerous.

Dysentery - If you have blood in your stool, you've got dysentery. I bet you wanted to know that one, huh?

Emphysema - This is when you have air in tissues and cavities where it shouldn't be. This is usually categorized as a condition of the lungs, like pulmonary emphysema.

Enteritis - While an inflammation of the large intestine is colitis, enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine.

Inflammation of the eyes

Gangrene

Gonorrhea - A common contagious disease transmitted through sexual intercourse, leading to painful urination, and a purulent discharge.

Gravel - Numerous concretions of uric acid, calcium oxalate and phosphates forming inside the kidney and bladder.

Inflammation - Inflammation can be either acute or chronic. The body is trying to heal a wound or abrasion, causing redness, swelling and bruising. This is usually done by sending in plasma and leukocytes.

Kidney problems - Kidneys are the bean-shaped organs used to regulate acid-based concentrations and water balances in the tissues. But this significant organ can be host to any number of diseases or disorders. Problems include scarred kidney tissue, degeneration, abnormally placed kidneys, floating kidneys, stones, and blood deficient kidneys.

Kidney stones

Lactation - A woman's production of milk from her breast.

Lungs - The pair-shaped organs in your chest are a necessity for breathing, but they can be host to any number of deficiencies and diseases. You can get black lung or coal miner's, you can get lung cancer, a rheumatoid in your lung, fluid in a lung (pulmonary edema), and lungs marked by honeycomb-shaped cysts.

Gargle for mouth infections

Mucous membranes - It's tough to describe, but mucous membranes are linings for various body cavities, including most of the respiratory system.

Nervous conditions

Pneumonia - This is a dangerous bug, caused by an inflammation of the lungs. This inflammation can be caused by any number of things, including viruses and bacteria. You can even get pneumonia by inhaling certain poisonous gases. Not that I'd ever advise you to inhale said gases.

Septicemia - Simply put, septicemia is a systemic disease caused by the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the body.

Sore throat - This should be self-explanatory. But I think we should describe a sore throat. Maybe I just like to share everything I learn with my readers. A sore throat is a condition leading to discomfort in the throat, especially when you swallow food. It can be irritated and made worse by coughing.

Stomach problems

Teething

Inflammation of the urinary tract

Painful urination - You don't want to experience any pain when passing urine. Urination is also called micturition.

Irritated vagina

Voice loss

Whooping cough - Also called, Pertussis, whooping cough is when you've got a severely hacking cough and you let out a "whoop" when you take another breath.

Infected wounds - Technically, a wound is an injury or trauma to any tissue. You can have a confused wound in which you can not see a break of the skin.

Herbal First Aide

No home should be without this recipe for an herbal first aide kit.

You must have Aloe Vera. The gel from the plant's leaves will help in relieving pain, and healing burns and cuts. Believe me, I know this works.

Also, you should have Arnica. Another healing gel that will take the blue out of bruises.

Take Calendula. When taken as a tea, this dry leaf will help clean cuts.

For indigestion, anxiety and insomnia, take some Chamomile in tea form.

You should most definitely take Echinachea if you want to treat the flu or the common cold.

Gingerroot is great for relaxing the stomach, killing nausea, and putting an end to motion sickness.

Keep a bottle of Witch Hazel handy to stop infections, and heal minor burns and rashes.

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Herbal Resources

The Herb Book by John Lust
The Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis Balch
Back to Eden, 2nd Revised Edition by Jethro Kloss & Promise K. Moffet
Children's Herbal Health by Deanne Tenney
Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook by James Duke, Ph.D
Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine by Michael Nurray, N.D.
Herbally Yours by Penny C. Royal
A Modern Herbal by Mrs. Grieve
Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine by Steven Foster and Rebecca L. Johnson