Herbs and plantsMarshmallow — root mucilage instead of cough syrup?
- Henryk Różański — Prawoślaz lekarski – Althaea officinalis
- Henryk Różański — Symphytum – żywokost
- Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis L.) and Its Potency in the Treatment of Cough. · Complement Med Res 2020
- [Marshmallow Root Extract for the Treatment of Irritative Cough: Two Surveys on Users' View on Effectiveness and Tolerability]. · Complement Med Res 2018
- [Antitussive action of extracts and polysaccharides of marsh mallow (Althea officinalis L., var. robusta)]. · Pharmazie 1992
- The antitussive activity of polysaccharides from Althaea officinalis l., var. Robusta, Arctium lappa L., var. Herkules, and Prunus persica L., Batsch. · Bratisl Lek Listy 2007
- Antitussive activity of Althaea officinalis L. polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan and its changes in guinea pigs with ovalbumine-induced airways inflammation. · Bratisl Lek Listy 2011
- Orthomolecular Medicine News Service — Sodium Ascorbate Treatment of Whooping Cough
Henryk Różański describes marshmallow root as a remedy that soothes acute, dry cough.
- Prepare a cold maceration using 2–3 tablespoons of crushed root and 1–2 cups of cool, boiled water.
- You can make syrup from the maceration by adding honey, raspberry juice, or a saturated sugar solution.
- Marshmallow can replace comfrey in a mixture for dry cough, which should contain several ingredients.
What the authors write
Marshmallow root is an antitussive and soothing medicinal material used to make infusions and macerations.
Prepare a maceration by pouring 1–2 cups of cool, boiled water over 2–3 tablespoons of crushed material; drink it for a cough.
You can make syrup from a maceration of the root or leaves by adding honey; raspberry juice or a saturated sugar solution can be used instead.
Marshmallow soothes acute, dry cough.
Marshmallow root is listed as one of the ingredients that can replace comfrey in treating dry cough, but the author notes that several ingredients are needed.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 5 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 18.
The review indicates that animal and human studies have confirmed the effectiveness of marshmallow extracts for dry cough.
Aim of the study: Althaea officinalis has traditionally been used to manage cough and other respiratory problems. This review article aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in modern research in light of its traditional uses.
Results: Different mechanisms contribute to the expectorant and antitussive effects of A. officinalis in the treatment of cough. Therefore, A. officinalis combined with other plant extracts in various drug formulations could be a good option for cough, sore throat, and other respiratory ailments.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In surveys, users of syrup and lozenges containing an aqueous root extract reported rapid relief from throat irritation and dry cough.
Aim of the study: Cough preparations containing aqueous extracts of marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) have a long history as medicinal products in Germany. The aim of the 2 prospective, non-interventional surveys reported here was to better document users’ impressions of their effectiveness and tolerability, as well as user satisfaction.
Results: This consumer-reported outcome shows that both preparations had a good effect in the symptomatic treatment of irritation of the mouth or throat and associated dry cough, with effects starting very quickly—in most cases within 10 min. Tolerability was very good, with only 3 minor adverse events reported for the syrup. The survey results support the long-established use of both marshmallow preparations for the symptomatic treatment of dry cough.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In cats, a polysaccharide from marshmallow root reduced the number of coughing fits, and its effect was comparable to that of marshmallow syrup.
Aim of the study: The complex extract and the polysaccharide isolated from marshmallow roots were tested for antitussive activity in unanesthetized cats of both sexes. Cough was induced by mechanically stimulating the laryngopharyngeal and tracheobronchial mucous membranes of the respiratory system with a Nylon fibre (diameter 0.35 mm).
Results: It was as effective at inhibiting the cough reflex as Sirupus Althaeae at a dose of 1000 mg/kg b.w. and more effective than prenoxdiazine at a dose of 30 mg/kg b.w. However, the cough-suppressing effect of the polysaccharide was weaker than that of dropropizine. The extract was less effective than the polysaccharide.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In an experiment on cats, plant polysaccharides, especially those from marshmallow, clearly suppressed coughing.
Aim of the study: The treatment of pathological cough presents a serious medical problem. The experiments aimed to investigate the effect of polysaccharides on experimentally induced cough.
Results: The results showed that the tested polysaccharides had statistically significant cough-suppressing activity, noticeably greater than that of the non-narcotic drug used in clinical practice to treat cough. The strongest antitussive activity was observed with the polysaccharide from marshmallow, which contained the highest proportion of uronic acid. Compared with codeine, the tested compounds had a negligible adverse effect on expectoration. The antitussive activity of various plant polysaccharides was confirmed. These results support considering them as potential antitussive agents (Tab. 2, Fig. 6, Ref. 15) Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In guinea pigs, marshmallow polysaccharide inhibited the cough reflex in a dose-dependent manner, although its effect lasted for less time under inflammatory conditions.
Aim of the study: The studies presented aimed to experimentally confirm the antitussive effect of the Althaea officinalis polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan and examine how it changes under conditions of allergic inflammation.
Results: 1) The Althaea officinalis polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan inhibits the cough reflex in unsensitized guinea pigs in a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, the plant polysaccharide shortened the duration of the antitussive effect when tested under inflammatory conditions. 2) Rhamnogalacturonan did not affect airway reactivity in vivo, as measured by specific resistance, in either sensitized or unsensitized groups of animals. 3) Under the same conditions, the antitussive activity of codeine (oral dose of 10 mg.kg(-1) b.w.) was comparable to that of a higher dose of rhamnogalacturonan in unsensitized animals. 4) Histopathological investigations confirmed the characteristic cellular pattern of allergic airway inflammation. Rhamnogalacturonan isolated from Althaea officinalis mucilage has a very strong cough-suppressing effect in guinea pig test systems, but this effect is shorter under conditions of experimentally induced allergic airway inflammation (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref. 25).
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Pisaczek does not judge who is right. It shows what was written and where to read it. Every sentence above has its source.