MARSHMALLOW Leaf (Althea officinalis)

Benefits of Marshmallow Leaf for Horses

If the root is the gut’s best friend, marshmallow leaf is the lungs’ loyal ally - coating, calming, and cooling irritated airways with its soothing mucilage.

Please note this is a nutritional, functional horse food supplement and not veterinary medicine. For more on this, see Dr Kellon's Horse Sense - Nutrition is not 'Alternative' Therapy .

Find Marshmallow Leaf in the EquiNatural range

Here’s where you’ll also find Marshmallow Leaf in our supplement support for horses:

• BreathePlus - powerful organic support for chronic equine respiratory / allergy resilience
• KoffTonic - natural Support for the cough reflex and airway comfort

Feed Guide

💧Organic Marshmallow Leaf Tincture

Our human-grade, certified organic tinctures give you a ready-to-absorb potent source of phytonutrients at the highest-strength available, for immediate absorption straight into the bloodstream and to the body’s cells.

• Althea officinalis Herba
• Herb
• Infused 1:3 25%
• Organically grown

~ Feed Guide - marshmallow leaf tincture for horses

• 6ml/100kg bodyweight, daily in feed.
• ♻️ Our tinctures come in a heat-sealed, twin-neck, child-resistant HDPE plastic dosing bottle, complete with dosing chamber. *HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) plastic is 100% recyclable, and energy-efficient to produce. Safe for food/water storage, it reduces waste and emissions while resisting wear. A top sustainable choice to match the EquiNatural ethos.

🌿Organic Dried Marshmallow Leaf

Grown, harvested and dried without the use of agri-chemicals, non-irradiated and GMO free - see our Quality page for Quality Management & Certification Documents.

• Althea officinalis
• Leaf
• Wild Harvested
• Origin Poland

~ Feed Guide - dried marshmallow leaf for horses

• 5g/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 25g for a 500kg horse.
• Want a scoop? You can add a scoop to your basket during checkout.
• ♻️Supplied in a 100% fully recylable, resealable, food-grade foil pouch for freshness.

Footnotes

• Laboratory tested for identification and compliance to the British and European Pharmacopoeia standards.
• Human grade.
• Please be aware that if you're purchasing our dried botanicals for human use, our dried range is cut to appropriate sizes for feeding to horses.
• ♻️ Eco Note: Our packaging is recyclable and refillable.
• 🧊 Storage Tip: Keep cool and dry.

Functional Nutritional Value

Constituents: Flavonoids, scopoletin, polyphenols.

Safety

• Always seek veterinary advice for pregnant/nursing mares before feeding.
• Marshmallow's high mucilage levels may inhibit absorption of pharma drugs taken simultaneously.

Marshmallow Leaf in History & Tradition

Unlike the root (famed for gut soothing), the leaf earned its reputation for respiratory comfort, making it a kitchen staple long before cough syrups.

Everyone knows the marshmallow plant has a reputation for softness - from its velvety leaves and delicate flowers to the slippery-smooth mucilage it releases. But while the root is more famous for gut support, the leaf has carved out its own niche as a trusted ally for the lungs and airways.

Traditionally used since the times of Pliny and Theophrastus, marshmallow leaf has been brewed into teas and infusions to calm coughs, sore throats, and irritated lungs. Culpeper praised its ability to help with “all hot and sharp diseases,” which today we’d interpret as those burning, inflamed conditions that make breathing or swallowing uncomfortable.

The secret lies in its mucilage - that gooey, soothing gel that coats and protects delicate tissues. In the respiratory tract, this means less irritation, calmer coughs, and an easier time finding breath. Its anti-inflammatory nature also eases tightness, while its gentle expectorant action helps shift lingering congestion.

Modern herbalists often reach for the leaf when there’s dry, hacking, or tickly coughing, or when the chest and throat need a cooling, protective blanket. It’s also valued for its mild diuretic action, giving a subtle nudge to the body’s elimination pathways while helping to ease heat and irritation.

Soft, safe, and endlessly kind, marshmallow leaf is one of those herbs you can always rely on to comfort and protect. If the root is the gut’s best friend, the leaf is like a gentle hand on the chest, whispering “breathe easy.”