Marshmallow Root
Althaea officinalis — also: Althaea
Time-honored soothing herb for irritated throats and guts; limited modern trials.
An ancient demulcent (its name gave us the candy); used since antiquity for sore throats, cough, and digestive irritation.
Soothing (demulcent) for dry cough, sore throat, and irritated gut lining.
High mucilage content coats and soothes mucous membranes; mostly traditional and preclinical evidence.
- Soothing for dry cough and sore throat
- Gut-lining comfort
Traditional/preclinical demulcent action; few human trials.
- Little modern evidence
- May delay drug absorption
- People relying on it for serious respiratory/GI disease
Very low; may slow absorption of medicines taken at the same time.
Can reduce/delay absorption of other oral drugs — separate dosing by a couple of hours.
Generally gentle; limited pregnancy trial data.
Grown for root; make a cold infusion to preserve mucilage.
The original 'coat-and-soothe' herb — just don't take it at the same hour as your pills.