Welcome to my blog. Today’s topic is on the weird, home remedy that is floating around social media lately and creating quite a following. I don’t think the Stay Puft Marshmallow man is going to come to your house and relieve your cough symptoms anytime soon! ………No seriously that would be pretty cool though.
So, what’s with this weird home remedy about eating a marshmallow before bedtime to relieve a nighttime cough? Is it true? Why would we think this? And does it really work? Well, stay tuned my friends because I am about to explain it to you. Let’s dive right into this gooey truth about this remedy and get you back on your feet or marshmallow boots.
Why would marshmallows help with a cough?
Well, marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is a perennial herb that has been used as a medicinal remedy for thousands of years. Treatments included a variety of conditions such as ulcers, sore throat, common colds, reduced inflammation, and some bowel diseases. It’s native to Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. The leaves and roots of the plant are used to form a protective layer on the skin and lining of the digestive system and contains the chemical compound mucilage. When this mucilage is combined with water it forms a gel that coats the skin and lining of the stomach.
Does It Work?
“In a German survey, 822 participants took marshmallow root extract lozenges or syrup for seven days to treat an irritated throat or dry cough. Most people reported marshmallow root—in either form—helped relieve symptoms within 10 minutes.”- https://www.health.com/marshmallow-root-benefits-8385277
In some products, marshmallow root is added to creams and salves to help promote healthy skin and also help heal damaged skin by retaining the moisture. Researchers believe the root’s antioxidants and plant compounds have an anti-inflammatory response that stimulates cells and reduces irritation and inflammation.
Marshmallow root topical skin products are sometimes used to help treat boils, eczema, and skin inflammation. A research review reported that 20% marshmallow root extract ointment helped reduce skin irritation caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.- https://www.health.com/marshmallow-root-benefits-8385277
In a study of children with mild to moderate eczema, applying 1% marshmallow root ointment helped reduce skin dryness and irritation more than 1% hydrocortisone ointments. However, the study only included 22 children.- https://www.health.com/marshmallow-root-benefits-8385277
Is The Social Media Remedy True?
No! Sorry to burst your marshmallow all to pieces. But what is going around social media about eating a marshmallow before bedtime to help with a cough, is not the same thing and will not help you. Here are the reasons; One, because of the expense, most, if not all, commercial marshmallows do not contain the actual marshmallow root. Therefore, it will not have the mucilage to coat your throat and relieve your symptoms. Two, the commercial marshmallows have so much sugar and corn syrup that it may make your symptoms worse because the sugar content promotes inflammation so you will feel worse or will take longer to heal.
According to everydayhealth.com, “Marshmallows contain gelatin, an ingredient that TikTokers claim coats your throat and stops your cough so you can sleep. One person has racked up 2.6 million views for a December 30 post about the #marshmallow #homeremedy her doctor recommended for an awful, lingering cough that made it impossible for her to breathe easily or get much sleep. The doctor’s orders were simple: “Eat a jumbo marshmallow before bed,” the user said in her post. She said the doctor told her, but it’s what I do. The gelatin helps coat your throat even better than honey.”
I would like to know who her doctor is because obviously he didn’t do the research he should have or is not informed with nutrition and herbal medicine. I have another blog post about trusting people and resources on social media if you want to check it out.
In conclusion, I hope this helps in two ways. One, don’t trust anything on TikTok ever! And two, do some research yourself to determine if these so-called home remedies actually help. Some do and they are very effective, but there are some that don’t work. Anyway, I really hope this helps put things in perspective and if you do want to try marshmallow root just search it and buy the purest form to use for a variety of illnesses. My thoughts are if it has been used for thousands of years, is it a bad thing? There probably is a very good reason why!
Until next time.
Take care,
Darren
Harmony Shift 