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Althaea officinalis, better known as marshmallow root, is a plant whose roots and leaves contain a gel-like fibre that coats and soothes the lining of the mouth and throat. Most people look at it for cough, and studies found symptoms eased within minutes and stayed better over a week, though the evidence is limited. Much of that came from observational surveys, and the evidence in children and in a small placebo comparison is very limited, partly because the preparations were poorly described.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 3 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 3
- Outcomes
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 0012
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
Dry Cough
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cough Symptom Relief Symptom relief within 10 minutes; sustained over 7-day treatment (observational surveys) | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 822 people |
Dry Cough Pediatric
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cough Reduction Cough reduction in children 3mo-12yrs, but studies had limitations | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 900 people |
Ace Inhibitor Cough
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cough Frequency Reduced cough vs placebo, but preparation not well-described | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 60 people |
Key findings
- Cough Symptom ReliefImproves (the measure goes down)
- Cough ReductionImproves (the measure goes down)
- Cough FrequencyImproves (the measure goes down)
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Third-party tested Althaea Officinalis products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.
- Grade C
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Studies cited
3 studies from PubMed
- Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis L.) and Its Potency in the Treatment of Cough
- Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Effects of Phytohustil and Root Extract of Althaea officinalis L. on Macrophages in vitro
- Marshmallow Root Extract for the Treatment of Irritative Cough: Two Surveys on Users' View on Effectiveness and Tolerability