Why does this help?

[Sheila6830]

Out of desperation, I have tried the marshmallow root and it seems to help the inflammation in my bladder. I don't really understand how it helps or why?

Does anyone know why marshmallow seems to help?

[ICNDonna]

It's a mild diuretic, which can make it easier to urinate.

Donna

[ICsmiles]

Hi Sheila,
I know other IC'ers who love marshmallow root and use it in tea or tincture form. I am trying it but don't know yet if it is working for me. I know it is a mucilate, which means it is a slippery substance and the idea is that it helps the healing of the lining of our bladders.
Here is what I found with a quick online search:
the root and the leaf of the marshmallow plant contain a substance known as mucilate, a mucusy substance that does not dissolve in water. It is this substance that causes marshmallow to swell up and become slippery when wet. This attribute of the marshmallow plant gives it the ability to soothe irritation of the mouth, throat and stomach, as well as to relieve coughing.
Marshmallow is also believed to have a limited ability to fight infection and boost the immune system.

Hope that is helpful!

Out of desperation, I have tried the marshmallow root and it seems to help the inflammation in my bladder. I don't really understand how it helps or why?

Does anyone know why marshmallow seems to help?

[Sheila6830]

Thanks, ICsmiles, I'd read that marshamallow was a mucilate, but I didn't know what that meant or how it helped. It took about 4 days of using marshmallow before I noticed a difference.

But I still have IC. Marshmallow has not been a cure for me, but it has helped a lot. Sometimes I eat things I shouldn't because I feel so much better and I then I hurt. So the marshmallow isn't a "free pass" to eat and drink everything I want.

[ICsmiles]

Thank you for mentioning it took four days.
What kind of marshmallow root are you using? Is it a tea, or a tincture, or????
I would like to find a good tea. (at a local hole-in-the-wall herb shop they have marshmallow root just loose in a bin and it just looks too old and weird for me to feel comfortable with it)
I am trying it again so I will see if I feel better soon. Of course, I have to really be careful with the rest of my diet. I have learned, finally, not to celebrate feeling better with foods that are no-nos. It always hurts after. Sometimes it is hard because everyone around me can drink and eat everything without a thought, but we all go through those feelings. It helps to talk to other IC'ers who have to be as careful as me and can't ever touch things like coffee, chocolate (my favorites, I grieve them all the time)

But after too many awful flares every time I tried something "iffy" - I am starting to be grateful when I get my symptoms down to a livable level.
Sharon

[purpleviolet]

From my herbal class it may not be that the slippery stuff makes it to the bladder - long chains of polysaccharides are possibly broken up by your digestion. There may be other components that are anti-inflammatory. Herbs have many chemicals so that is why we all act differently. Marshmallow is considered extremely safe as it was given to children for sore throats long ago. It grows like a weed in my garden and if I want any I dig up the root and clean it and dry it and grind it up. IT is best soaked in cool water and then it can be warmed as a tea. You need to remove some bark to get to the slimy stuff else it never would have survived soil and water. The leaves can be used too. If you feel them when the plant is fully grown they are extremely soft and soaking them will release some slime, too, but there may be tannins or other components you may not like. Good luck with it.