Marshmallow's originally came from the plant aptly named Marsh Mallow.
People would dry and powder the root, which has a substance that thickens in water. They would mix the powder with water and sugar, heat it and create a soothing paste.
Today's marshmallow's share only sugar in common with the original marshmallow.
Marsh mallow is a member of the Malvacceae family, of which there are over 1,000 species, all with healing sap.
The leaf can be added to nosegays, eaten in salads, steamed as a vegetable, boiled and used to relieve dry hands, sunburn, and dry hair.
The dried leaves can be infused and used for internal inflammation and externally as an eye compress.
The flower can be tossed on salads.
The root can be steeped in cold water for 8 hours to release the sap, and used for dry hands, sunburn, and dry hair. It can also be used as a tea for coughs and insomnia. |