Sorry I didn't see this last year, hope you got an answer from elsewhere but if not here is some info from
The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman.
If you want the cliff notes version: don't eat the root and the gel stuff surrounding it, just drink the liquid.
"Marshmallow
Althaea officinalis family Malvaceae
Part used: Root and leaf
Collection: The leaves should be collected in summer after flowering and the root is unearthed in late Autumn. It is cleaned of root fibres and cork and should be dried immediately.
Constituents: Root: 25-35% mucilage; tannins; pectin; asparagine.
Leaf: Mucilage, traces of an essential oil.
Actions: Root: demulcent, diuretic, emollient, vulnerary.
Leaf: demulcent, diuretic,emollient, vulnerary.
Indications: The high mucilage content of Marshmallow makes it an excellent demulcent that can be used wherever such properties are called for. Whilst having broadly similar effects, the root is used primarily for digestive problems and on the skin, whilst the leaf is used for the lungs and the urinary system. In all inflammations of the digestive tract, such as
inflammations of the mouth, gastritis, peptic ulcer, enteritis and
colitis, the root is strongly advised. For
bronchitis, respiratory catarrh and
irritating coughs Marshmallow should be considered. In
urethritis and
urinary gravel, Marshmallow Leaf is very soothing. In fact this herb is very soothing for any mucous membrane irritations anywhere. Externally, the root is indicated in
varicose veins and
ulcers as well as
abscesses and
boils.Combinations: In ulcerative conditions, internal or external, it may be used with Comfrey. For
bronchitis use with Liquorice and White Horehound. It is often mixed with Slippery Elm to make ointments.
Preparation and dosage: Decoction: the root should be made into a decoction by putting a teaspoonful of the chopped herb into a cup of boiling water and boiling it gently for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk 3 times a day.
Infusion: for an infusion of the leaf, pour boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried leaf and let infuse for 10 minutes. This should be drink 3 times a day also.
Compress: a valuable compress or poultice can be made from this herb.
Tincture: take 1-4ml of the tincture three times a day."
I do think u need to have read the book/ studied herbs to find this makes much sense
here are some excerpts that will help a bit.
paraphrased from the chapter "The Actions of Herbs":
demulcent: usually rich in mucilage and can soothe and protect irritated or inflamed internal tissue.
diuretic: increase the secretion and elimination of urine
emollient: applied to skin to soften, soothe or protect it
vulnerary: applied externally to aid in healing wounds and cuts.
Paraphrased from the chapter "The Preparation of Herbs":
infusion: basically tea, doesn't say to strain it, may be sweetend with liquorice root honey (or even brown sugar)
decoction: used for hard woody herbs, powder or break into small pieces, strain whilst hot (if you are storing it never use aluminium only use glass or erthernware)
tincure: usually made from alcohol so no point listing details here, although there is a mention of using apple cider vinegar (120g herb, 500ml ACV, seal tightly, shake 2 times a day, wring out liquid using a cheese cloth, store in a dark bottle and shake before using). Sounds not so tasty.... or rather far too tasty, mix with water to serve.
compress: for external use only.
Hi Gabby,
Thanks so much for your response. If you type as slowly as me, this must have been a lot of work. This is really helpful. Hoffman's book sounds like a strong reference. Have you had success in following David Hoffman's recommendations?
here are some excerpts that will help a bit.