Marshmallow can be good for you

This is the flower from a marshmallow plant, yep you read it right, a marshmallow plant!. I didn't know there was such a thing. Unfortunately it doesn't grow little square parcels of soft spongy sugary delights that you can pop in your hot chocolate or toast on an open fire. Would be good though wouldn't it? No this plant is a herb and has many medicinal purposes. An extract from the plant is sometimes added to creams to treat dermatitis and eczema. Marshmallow has been used to treat certain digestive disorders, including heartburn, indigestion, ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcers and Crohn's disease. It can also be used to ease sore throats and coughs which is how we got to learn about it. My mum wanted some cough medicine and had been recommended this particular one containing marshmallow.. 

Amazing isn't it? I love the fact we can turn to plants for medicine. Do they work? Some people are skeptical and think it is a load of rubbish but I like to keep an open mind. There are so many prescription medicines today that come along with quite harsh side effects. I would rather give a plant ago first and have something natural going through my system than chemical rubbish. There has been a lot of discussion as to whether cannabis can help with pain relief and research is going into how mistletoe can help as a cancer treatment. Obviously cannabis is a little controversial but I just feel its it helps take away peoples pain then we need to look into it and find a way of using it safely and realistically. 

I suppose that's why I love my herbal teas so much, I got fed up with the hot drinks available for cold relief on the market and find ginger and lemon tea far better., or lemon tea with a spoonful of honey thrown in. I never have any luck with cough medicines, warm Ribena works for me and is a lot more tasty. 

I know call me a hippy but if I could have a herbal kitchen and solve everyones ailments I would. I do really love a herbalist, holistic way of helping to cure. I'll have to let you know whether the marshmallow solved my mums coughing problem but hey I've learnt a new thing today, everyday's a school day so they say. 

Thanks for reading, not sure those big mega packs of super sized marshmallows from the pound shop will have the same effect, you could always try, what's the worst that could happen? Sugar fix satisfaction? yum yum. If you have a skin problem you could try rubbing them all over your body, oh heck we''re onto a completely different subject and post there aren't we?? 

Behave and take care.....catch you tomorrow for a Verse for Thursday.