Description of Marshmallow  The Marshmallow is an invaluable plant, and is much more useful than the confectionary bearing its name. Although the original marshmallow candies were made from the roots of the plant, Marshmallow today has further uses, both for medicinal and healing purposes, as well as its use as a food, or even a drink. The Marshmallow is a truly versatile herb that can be harnessed for a myriad of purposes, and has been used for thousands of years for its interesting and diverse properties. Whether it's to flavour a meal, as a sweet snack, or to help sooth oral infection, the Marshmallow, or Althaea officinalis, is an important and useful plant. Part of the Mallow family, Marshmallow is native to Central and Eastern Europe, although it can also be found further North, in Denmark and Great Britain in calmer, damper climates. Marshmallow Appearance It can be characterised by its silky hairs and is a soft perennial, flowering in summer and early autumn in damp, marshy conditions. Its leaves take on a triangular shape, and can also be toothed and ridged. It is also possible to find heart-shaped leaves, although the general appearance of the marshmallow is fairly distinctive. What is Marshmallow used for? Its botanical name Althaea officinalis is particularly appropriate for the Marshmallow. 'Althaea' is derived from the Greek meaning 'to cure', whilst 'officinalis' is used to denote its lengthy usage as a medicinal herb. As any fishwife will tell you, Marshmallow can be a great treatment to help with mouth and throat infections. Feeling the discomfort of an ulcer? Don't worry – marshmallow has been used since the beginning of time for its calming and soothing properties, and those in the know swear by its effectiveness. Additionally, Marshmallow has been used as a method of calming and healing gastric ulcers and upsets, and is used as a general soothing agent. Marshmallow isn't just for medicinal use – you can also eat it as a vegetable with meat or fish. Try boiling or frying the roots for a sweet, juicy side portion. Alternatively, why not relive your childhood by eating the marshmallow roots? Taste the authentic mallow candy, rather than the modern-day synthetic replacements. A word of advice though: if you're giving marshmallow to your kids, you better warn them beforehand – marshmallow roots taste different to the sweets they may have in mind, and this can be somewhat of an acquired taste. Unless you've got adventurous kids, chances are they might not like the taste of this herbal marshmallow first time round. Whatever its purpose, Marshmallow is a really useful herb. It can be put to great use in the home, or added to salads for something a bit different. However you choose to use marshmallow, remember to keep it in mind for the next time you catch a throat infection! How do I take Marshmallow? The best way to prepare Marshmallow for treatment is to brew the roots in a cup of water for around 30-40 minutes. It can be used as a gargle, or warmed and drank 3 times a day for stomach and intestinal complaints.
|
