Harvesting seeds from my Marshmallow plant! The marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis) is a deeply soothing and medicinal herb with a long history of use in herbalism. It’s native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, and nearly every part of the plant—root, leaves, and flowers—offers unique benefits. Here’s a breakdown by part: ⸻ 🌿 Root Benefits Main compound: Mucilage (a slippery, gel-like substance) • Soothes sore throats and coughs: The mucilage coats mucous membranes, easing irritati

Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is a fun one to teach about, and it’s a funny way that herbs have remained in the public vernacular without us even knowing it. Apothecaries in 18th and 19th century France whipped preparations of the root into pâte de guimauve, a soft, sweet lozenge for sore throats and irritated lungs (heyyy a lot like how we use it in herbalism today) Parisian confectioners sold it both as a treat and a medicine, and recipes for “sirop de guimauve” show up in French cand