BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Also known as: No synonyms listed.
The botanical name, part and preparation must match. A photograph is not enough for identification intended for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
01 · UNDERSTAND
Properties & uses.
Throat and dry cough
Traditional use for irritation of the mouth/throat and the associated dry cough.
Read the sourceMild digestive discomfort
Traditional use; insufficient clinical evidence for general efficacy.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
02 · UNDERSTAND THE ACTION
How does the plant act?
The root is understood primarily as a preparation that soothes mucous membranes on contact, for irritation of the mouth or throat with a dry cough, and mild digestive discomfort. This local action differs from that of an antibiotic or an expectorant. Mucilages suggest an interesting physical mechanism, but depicting a protective film as conclusively demonstrated in humans would be too assertive.
Constituents to know.
Their presence and quantity depend on the plant part and preparation.
- Polysaccharide mucilages
- The root contains hydrophilic polysaccharides. Their composition and proportion vary; aqueous and alcoholic extracts do not necessarily extract them in the same way.Read the reference
Adhesion to mucous membranes
Purified polysaccharides adhered moderately to isolated porcine oral mucosa. This model supports a local hypothesis without exactly reproducing human saliva and mucus.
Read the referenceIrritation and dry cough
The soothing use is traditional. It targets irritation associated with a dry cough, not every cough or its cause.
Read the referenceWhat this means for preparation.
Check that the root is used and identify the type of extract or syrup. The formulation, other ingredients and age specified in the leaflet matter.
03 · EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Examining the protective film concept
- Type of research
- EMA review of experimental and clinical data.
- Preparation concerned
- Root, aqueous extracts and isolated polysaccharides.
- Observed results
- Experimental adhesion provides limited mechanistic support; human evidence does not reach the level required for well-established use.
- Limitations to consider
- A result in isolated tissue measures neither the intensity nor the duration of relief in a person.
What can we take from this?
Marshmallow does not treat a respiratory infection. Contact with mucilage may also warrant checking the interval between taking it and other medicines; the exact preparation must be considered.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
04 · CHOOSE A PREPARATION
One plant, several preparations.
Only forms documented in this profile’s sources are presented.
Water macerationRoot · Route: oral / mouth
Fragmented root prepared according to an appropriate package leaflet.
Please note: Check the preparation and its leaflet; concentrations are not interchangeable.
Read the sourceSyrup or extractRoot · Route: oral
Preparation formulated from the root.
Please note: Alcoholic extracts are not suitable for the same age groups.
Read the source05 · BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
Contraindications
- Do not use in cases of known allergy to this plant.
Medicine interactions
- Separate from other medicines: ANSES recommends at least one hour for the supplements concerned.
Adverse effects
- No adverse effects reported in the EMA summary at the time of its assessment.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Medicinal use is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient data.
Children & adolescents
Certain aqueous forms from 3 years; digestive use generally from 12 years. Alcoholic extracts are for adults only: check the product.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
06 · PUTTING KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE
Preparations & recipes.
A DOCUMENTED PREPARATION
Marshmallow macerate — throat and dry cough
Demulcent reference for mouth or throat irritation with dry cough. Traditional use; robust clinical trials have not established this preparation’s efficacy.
Plant part: Dried, cut root
Ingredients & quantities
- 0.5–3 g dried, cut Althaea officinalis L. root
- 150 ml room-temperature drinking water
Preparation steps
- Weigh the identified, dried, cut plant part supplied for this use; use clean utensils.
- Add 150 ml drinking water at room temperature.
- Macerate for 30 minutes: the EMA glossary’s general reference, as the monograph gives no specific duration. Follow the product leaflet first.
- Strain and use immediately; do not leave to soak overnight.
Use: For adults aged 18+ in this collection. The monograph describes one preparation per dose, several times daily, with a maximum total of 15 g root daily. This ceiling is not a target; follow the leaflet and pharmacist’s advice. Seek advice if symptoms last over one week, worsen, or if fever, breathing difficulty or purulent sputum develops.
Storage: Use immediately after preparation, as required by the monograph. Do not store or make ahead.
Before you start. Contraindicated with marshmallow allergy. Mucilage may delay medicine absorption: as a precaution EMA advises separating it from other medicines by 30 minutes to one hour before or after; ask a pharmacist about the interval for your treatment. Use is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding because data are insufficient.
A DOCUMENTED PREPARATION
Marshmallow macerate — mild digestive discomfort
Demulcent reference for mild gastrointestinal discomfort; this quantity differs from the throat preparation. Traditional use; robust clinical trials have not established this preparation’s efficacy.
Plant part: Dried, cut root
Ingredients & quantities
- 2–5 g dried, cut Althaea officinalis L. root
- 150 ml room-temperature drinking water
Preparation steps
- Weigh the identified, dried, cut plant part supplied for this use; use clean utensils.
- Add 150 ml drinking water at room temperature.
- Macerate for 30 minutes: the EMA glossary’s general reference, as the monograph gives no specific duration. Follow the product leaflet first.
- Strain and use immediately; do not leave to soak overnight.
Use: For adults aged 18+ in this collection. One preparation per dose, 3 times daily; maximum 15 g root daily. Do not add this preparation to the throat macerate. Seek advice if discomfort persists beyond 2 weeks, worsens or becomes painful.
Storage: Use immediately after preparation, as required by the monograph. Do not store or make ahead.
Before you start. Contraindicated with marshmallow allergy. Mucilage may delay medicine absorption: as a precaution EMA advises separating it from other medicines by 30 minutes to one hour before or after; ask a pharmacist about the interval for your treatment. Substantial or unusual abdominal pain needs medical assessment. Use is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding because data are insufficient.
A DOCUMENTED PREPARATION
Marshmallow — throat macerate, ages 6–11
Traditional demulcent use for irritation of the mouth or throat with a dry cough. Mucilage supports the plausibility of this action; this does not establish robust clinical benefit in children.
EMA/HMPC/436679/2015, section 4.2, throat/dry-cough indication: explicit ages 6–11. The protocol changes for adolescents; this card does not apply at age 12.
Read the complete children’s chapterPlant part: Dried cut root
Ingredients & quantities
- 0.5–1.5 g pharmaceutical-quality dried, cut Althaea officinalis L. root
- 150 ml drinking water at room temperature
Preparation steps
- An adult checks the leaflet and weighs the amount agreed with the professional into a clean container. Do not use garden-collected root.
- Pour the 150 ml water over the root. Macerate for about 30 minutes at room temperature unless the leaflet says otherwise: this is the EMA glossary’s general reference; the monograph specifies no plant-specific time.
- Strain with clean equipment. Do not extend maceration overnight.
- Use immediately after preparation. No additional heating is prescribed here: if the product leaflet specifies another method, follow it with the pharmacist.
Use: EMA reference for ages 6–11: one preparation, 3 times daily, totalling 1.5–4.5 g root daily. Consult if cough or irritation lasts over one week; earlier for worsening symptoms, fever or purulent sputum. Difficulty breathing is an emergency.
Storage: Use immediately after preparation, as specified by the monograph. Discard any remainder; neither refrigerated storage nor preparation for the following day is established.
Before you start. Before medicinal use in a child, ask a pharmacist or doctor to confirm the product and dose. Contraindicated with marshmallow allergy. Cold maceration does not reduce microbial load as boiling does: pharmaceutical-quality material, hygiene and immediate use are essential. Other medicines may be absorbed more slowly: EMA specifies a 30–60 minute interval before or after their intake; ask the pharmacist to confirm the schedule. Do not transfer this protocol to digestive discomfort, syrup or extract.
07 · CHECK THE SOURCES
Sources for this profile.
- EMA — Althaeae radix: official dossierAccessed on 09/10/2026
- ANSES — precautions for plants in food supplements, June 2023 summaryAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — Assessment report on Althaea officinalis L. (root)Accessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — Marshmallow — throat macerate, ages 6–11: paediatric sourceAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — Glossary on herbal teas: general preparation method, §4Accessed on 09/10/2026
Illustration: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen · Public domain. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.
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