Marshmallow Root

• Demulcent / mucilage coating: marshmallow root contains abundant mucilage (polysaccharides) that form a protective, lubricating layer on mucous membranes. That coating can reduce irritation, soothe inflamed tissue and may help symptoms such as burning/pain from irritated gut mucosa. European Medicines Agency (EMA) Carahealth
• Anti-inflammatory / antioxidant activity (preclinical): in vitro and animal studies (and some cell-based research) show anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects (for example: reduced inflammatory mediator release from macrophages, gastro-protective effects in animal models). These mechanisms could plausibly reduce mucosal inflammation or help epithelial healing. Frontiers Taylor & Francis Online
• Traditional and long usage for gut discomfort: regulatory herbal assessments (EMA/HMPC) accept its traditional use for mild stomach and gut discomfort — i.e., long use and plausible mechanism give some support, but this falls short of modern clinical proof for a complex disease like Crohn’s. European Medicines Agency (EMA)

Bottom line: mechanism and preclinical data make symptomatic benefit plausible (coating + mild anti-inflammatory effects), but plausible ≠ proven effective for Crohn’s disease. EMA explicitly states clinical evidence is insufficient for firm conclusions. European Medicines Agency (EMA)

There is no single medically-approved Crohn’s protocol for marshmallow root. Common traditional/over-the-counter ways people use it:

A. Herbal tea / cold infusion (to maximize mucilage):

• Cold macerate (recommended for mucilage extraction): put 1–2 teaspoons (≈2–3 g) of dried marshmallow root in ~250–300 ml cold water and leave in the refrigerator or at room temperature 6–8 hours (or overnight). Strain and drink up to 2–3 times daily as needed. (Cold infusion preserves mucilage better than quick boiling.) Organic Facts Fifth Ray

B. Hot infusion (short steep):

• Use the same amount (1–2 tsp / 2–3 g), pour hot (not boiling) water over the root and steep 10–15 minutes, then strain. Note: prolonged boiling can destroy some mucilage, so short hot steeping or cold maceration is often recommended. Organic Facts My Healthopedia

C. Powder / capsules:

• Many herbal suppliers suggest 2–3 g powdered root, 1–3 times daily (encapsulated or mixed with water). Standardization is poor across products. (Dosages found in consumer-facing summaries and product instructions commonly fall in this range.) Biology Insights

D. Liquid extracts / syrups / tinctures:

• Commercial marshmallow syrups and aqueous extracts exist. Ethanol extracts are used but EMA notes ethanol extracts have different age-use limits (e.g., some ethanolic preparations only for adults). Follow the product label; preparations vary in concentration (e.g., drops/mL). European Medicines Agency (EMA) Docslib

E. Topical use: not relevant for Crohn’s but used historically for skin/mouth lesions.

Important practical notes:

• There is no standardized, clinically validated dosing regimen for Crohn’s disease. The amounts above are typical traditional/consumer recommendations, not evidence-based Crohn’s protocols. EMA accepts marshmallow for mild stomach/gut discomfort based on traditional use but stresses insufficient clinical trial evidence for stronger claims. European Medicines Agency (EMA)

What the literature shows

• Regulatory review (EMA HMPC): the EU herbal evaluation (HMPC/EMA) concluded that marshmallow root preparations are acceptable for traditional uses (mouth/throat irritation, mild stomach/gut discomfort) based on long use, but explicitly states “there is insufficient evidence from clinical trials” for firm proof. This is the best high-quality regulatory assessment available. European Medicines Agency (EMA)
• In vitro and animal studies: several laboratory and animal studies show anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, gastroprotective and wound-healing effects of Althaea officinalis extracts (examples: cell studies on macrophages; animal models of gastric injury). These studies support biological plausibility but are not clinical proof for Crohn’s. Frontiers Taylor & Francis Online
• Human clinical data: the HMPC assessed some clinical studies — mainly in cough and throat conditions (and some uncontrolled studies), but no robust randomized controlled trials demonstrating efficacy of marshmallow root in Crohn’s disease were identified by the EMA assessment. Broader literature searches and recent reviews repeat the same: promising preclinical evidence and long traditional use, but sparse or low-quality human trials for GI disease, and none sufficient to claim it treats Crohn’s. European Medicines Agency (EMA) japer.in

Selected references (read these to see the details):

• EMA — Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) — summary for the public (HMPC conclusions; traditional use; insufficient clinical trial evidence). European Medicines Agency (EMA)
• EMA — Final assessment report / EU herbal monograph on Althaea officinalis (radix) (detailed review of literature, posology, safety). DocslibEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA)
• Bonaterra et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology (2020) — in-vitro anti-inflammatory & antioxidant effects of Althaea root extracts on macrophages. (mechanistic evidence). Frontiers
• Pharmacological evaluation (2010) — animal/in vivo inflammation models showing activity of aqueous extracts. Taylor & Francis Online
• Narrative reviews summarizing traditional use and preclinical evidence (various recent review papers). Phyto Journal ScienceDirect

Conclusion about evidence for Crohn’s: despite plausible mechanisms and supportive preclinical work, there are no well-controlled clinical trials that prove marshmallow root is an effective treatment for Crohn’s disease. If you find sources claiming it “treats Crohn’s,” check whether they cite randomized clinical trials — most do not.