Ayurvedic Herbs: Marshmallow

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Marshmallow

  • Latin Name: Althea officinalis

  • Plant Family: Malvaceae

  • English Name: Marshmallow

  • Part Used: root

  • Taste (Rasa): sweet

  • Energetics (Virya): cooling

  • Post-Digestive Effect (Vipaka): sweet

  • Dosha: VPK= (may increase Kapha or ama in excess)

  • Tissues (Dhatu): plasma (rasa), blood (rakta), muscle (mamsa), nerve/bone marrow (majja), reproductive tissue (shukra [male]/artava [female])

  • Systems (Srotamsi): digestive (anna vaha srotas), respiratory (prana vaha srotas), nervous (majja vaha srotas), urinary (mukha vaha srotas)

  • Actions: nutritive tonic, rejuvenative, demulcent, expectorant, emollient, diuretic, vulnerary, laxative

  • Precautions: malabsorption

  • Preparations: decoction, milk decoction, powder, paste

References

Frawley D, Lad V. The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press; 2001.