College of Natural Diet & Digestion

College of Natural Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Marshmallow Root Powder Herbal Powder (Althaea officinalis)

Relieves irritation by coating inflamed surfaces.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Marshmallow is a soothing agent: demulcent, diuretic, emollient, and vulnerary. Marshmallow leaf relieves irritation by coating inflamed surfaces. Its primary use in modern herbal medicine is to relieve sore throat, but it also relieves perianal inflammation (when taken orally) caused by severe diarrhea.

Marshmallow leaf coats better than marshmallow root, but marshmallow root has greater antibacterial and anti-allergy effects. Marshmallow is an osmotic diuretic - the mucilage prevents reabsorption of water in the nephron while soothing the urinary membranes. It's demulcent action is not only due to mucilage - it is also a reflexive demulcent that stimulates mucus production.

For best results, soak macerated roots overnight in cold water or at least 2-3 hours. Then simmer for 20 minutes. The resultant tea should be thick and slimy.

Precautions

Marshmallow leaf is completely non-toxic. The Romans ate it as a roasted vegetable. Its mucilage can interfere with the absorption of other medicines.

Health Virtues of Marshmallow Root Powder

Personalized medicine systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, hebs, lifestyle choices, indivdual constitutions, and disease.

METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS

Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (vital qualtiies). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

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GOOEY

ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

AYURVEDA BODY TYPES (DOSHAS)

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Marshmallow Root Powder
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Demulcent

STRONG DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Emollient

EMOLLIENT

Soothes & softens the skin. Often a topical demulcent or oil.

SEE ALL 'EMOLLIENT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Vulnerary

VULNERARY

An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).

SEE ALL 'VULNERARY' FOODS / HERBS

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antimicrobial

ANTIMICROBIAL

An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.

SEE ALL 'ANTIMICROBIAL' FOODS / HERBS

,
Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Uterine Tonic

UTERINE-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the uterus. Helpful for menstrual difficulties and fertility. Often herbs that increase ojas, but also circulation to reproductive system.

SEE ALL 'UTERINE-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Marshmallow Root Powder

  • Aloe Vera Juice / Gel

    Aloe Vera Juice / Gel has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Anti-inflammatory, Emollient, Antimicrobial, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Stinging Nettles

    Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common

    Galactagogue, Anti-inflammatory, Immune-calming, Diuretic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Fenugreek

    Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Anti-inflammatory, Galactagogue, Demulcent, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Flax Seed

    Flax Seed has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Anti-inflammatory, Immune-calming, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Burdock Root (Gobo)

    Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Anti-inflammatory, Vulnerary, Antimicrobial

    LEARN MORE

  • Chickweed

    Chickweed has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Vulnerary, Demulcent, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dates (dried)

    Dates (dried) has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Uterine-tonic, Diuretic, Galactagogue

    LEARN MORE

  • Honey

    Honey has these Actions in Common

    Vulnerary, Demulcent, Emollient, Antimicrobial

    LEARN MORE

  • Cranberry

    Cranberry has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Anti-inflammatory, Immune-calming, Antimicrobial

    LEARN MORE

  • Tofu

    Tofu has these Actions in Common

    Galactagogue, Anti-inflammatory, Uterine-tonic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Fennel Seeds

    Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

    Galactagogue, Immune-calming, Diuretic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Marshmallow Root Powder

  • Horsetail

    Horsetail has these Actions in Common

    Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Demulcent, Diuretic, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Shatavari

    Shatavari has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Demulcent, Galactagogue, Uterine-tonic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Galactagogue, Immune-calming, Uterine-tonic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Comfrey Root

    Comfrey Root has these Actions in Common

    Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Demulcent, Emollient

    LEARN MORE

  • Plantain Leaf

    Plantain Leaf has these Actions in Common

    Antimicrobial, Demulcent, Immune-calming, Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory

    LEARN MORE

  • Neem Leaf

    Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Immune-calming, Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial

    LEARN MORE

  • Haritaki

    Haritaki has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Diuretic, Immune-calming, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Yarrow

    Yarrow has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Diuretic, Immune-calming, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Bhringaraj

    Bhringaraj has these Actions in Common

    Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Diuretic, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Licorice Root (Yastimadhu)

    Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common

    Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Demulcent, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1/2tsp in warm water soaked for 1/2 hr or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for herbs

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Marshmallow Root Powder may temper these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Marshmallow Root Powder may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Marshmallow Root Powder. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

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