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Herb

Marshmallow Root

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Marshmallow Root. Althaea officinalis mucilage for cough.

How it works. Polysaccharide mucilage coats mucosa.

What the research supports. 1 graded claims. Strongest: Soothes cough and GI lining (moderate).

How much to take. Typical dose: 3–5 g.

Side effects and interactions. 1 medication interaction listed. No serious side effects listed at normal doses.

Stacking. Pairs well with Multi-strain probiotic, L-glutamine, Vitamin D3 + K2.

Common forms. Available as Standardized extract capsule, Liquid tincture (alcohol or glycerin), Powdered whole herb, Traditional decoction or tea.

Key studies. 8 studies cited. The strongest are listed with links to PubMed.

Community. Experiences from people who have tried Marshmallow Root. Anecdotes are not medical advice.

Marshmallow Root. Althaea officinalis mucilage for cough.

Key compound: galacturonic acidC6H10O7 · 194.14 g/mol

What it is

Althaea officinalis mucilage for cough.

Food sources

Whole dried plant material (root, leaf, flower, or aerial parts depending on the species)Standardized hydroethanolic or aqueous extract (capsule, tincture, or tea)Powdered traditional preparation used in Ayurvedic, TCM, or Western herbal practice

Goals

Immune Function

How it works

Polysaccharide mucilage coats mucosa.

Pathways

  • Polysaccharide mucilage coats mucosa

Effects

  • +Soothes cough and GI lining supports

What the research supports

Soothes cough and GI liningmoderate

Strong: consistent results across large trials or meta-analyses. Moderate: several trials, mostly positive. Limited: small or mixed studies. Preclinical: animal or cell research only.

Typical dose
3–5 g
TimingConsistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
With foodEither with or without food.
Best formMost evidence is based on the standardized extract capsule form.
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Side effects & interactions

Common side effects

  • GI upset rare

Medication interactions

Prescription medications (general)minor

Always disclose Marshmallow Root use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.

Check any supplement–medication combination with your pharmacist before starting.

Combines with

Pairs well

Common forms

  • Standardized extract capsule
  • Liquid tincture (alcohol or glycerin)
  • Powdered whole herb
  • Traditional decoction or tea

Key studies

8 studies cited in total.

PubMed: Marshmallow Root — Soothes cough and GI lining ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Marshmallow Root and "Soothes cough and GI lining". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Marshmallow Root — randomized controlled trial ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Marshmallow Root and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Marshmallow Root — meta-analysis ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Marshmallow Root and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Discussion

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