How Marshmallow Root Helps with Coughs

Many of us cough now, don’t we?

Maybe you were sick a few weeks ago and are getting better, but the the cough just won’t go away. Maybe you’re using cough drops like it’s your job, or maybe you’ve just accepted that the symptom is your way of life for now. Maybe you Google home treatments in the middle of the night, willing to try just about anything.

There’s one option you probably haven’t tried or wouldn’t have considered: marshmallows. (Well, sort of.) Ahead, doctors give more details about a helpful ingredient, what it does, and other surprising options that may do the trick.

Here’s the deal. Unfortunately, a store-bought marshmallow won’t do the trick, because it doesn’t contain the key ingredient for relieving coughs: marshmallow root extract, or Althaea officinalis, a plant that has been used as medicine for more than 2,000 years.

“The natural marshmallow root or plant has been shown to decrease throat irritation and coughs,” explained Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, a family physician, nationally recognized health equity advocate and TED Talk speaker. “The calming effect comes from the plant’s natural covering, called mucilaginous, which is a sticky gelatinous substance that may help reduce coughing.”

Several studies confirm this: for example, investigations published in Complementary Medicine Research in 2018 justify marshmallow root extract for the symptomatic treatment of dry cough. And a 2020 review in the same publication said it could help with coughs, sore throats, and other respiratory illnesses.

Additionally, a 2021 study published in a German journal found that adding honey to marshmallow root extract helped extend the extract’s coating on the throat. Finally, a 2013 article in the Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences supports lozenges as a form of marshmallow root extract delivery in the treatment of irritated oropharyngeal mucosa (a type of inflammation) and associated dry cough.

You can consume the root in different ways: by drinking several cups of tea, by drinking a glass of water with 30 to 40 drops of tincture, or by swallowing capsules containing the equivalent of 6 grams of powdered root, in divided doses. You can usually purchase these products (and other versions) at local grocery stores or retailers like Amazon or Walmart.

But don’t just buy it immediately; Although the Mount Sinai Medical System states that the root is generally safe, you should be sure to talk to a doctor before using it (or any other medication or supplement) as interactions can occur.

So, is it time to throw away the cough syrup? Not quite, doctors say. Marshmallow root extract is best when a cough or sore throat is minor and not accompanied by other major symptoms.

One of the great advantages of the product is that it works and reduces irritation quite quickly. Curry-Winchell pointed to the 2018 study, which found that most participants felt results in about 10 minutes.. So this can be a great option before heading to a class or meeting, in the hopes of keeping coughing to a minimum.

However, the effect does not last very long. Dr. Michael Chichak, medical director of MEDvidi and a general practitioner with 13 years of experience, estimates between 10 and 20 minutes, although this can vary. If you need to suppress your cough for longer, he said, your best option is to consume it in lozenge or tea form.

And don’t ignore your cough if it persists. “As more complex medical issues arise, more in-depth treatment options become necessary, especially with more severe coughs,” Chichak said.

See a doctor if you have a cough if it lasts more than three weeks, you lose weight for no reason, your immune system is weakened, or you also experience chest pain.

The following may also alleviate this symptom, according to Curry-Winchell and Chichak:

Even if marshmallow root extract, honey, pineapple juice, or other options don’t completely solve your problem, they taste good, don’t they? That counts for something.

The original version of this story was published on HuffPost earlier.