Marshmallow or Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis) is a perennial flowering plant with roundish leaves, soft and velvety stems, lilac-pink or white flowers, and thick roots which are yellowish on the outside and white inside. All parts of the Marshmallow plant have been used in herbal medicine for centuries.

Marshmallow root is used for treating coughs, digestive problems, and skin irritations because it contains a very valuable sap-like or gummy substance, called the mucilage.

This plant can be found growing in most areas of the Carpathian basin, and prefers moist, slightly saline meadows. In Hungary, the ideal conditions are provided by the floodplains of the Danube and the Tisza, the two main rivers of the region.

The mucilage content of the Marshmallow plant root makes it a very popular natural ingredient for skin care products since it has anti-inflammatory, hydrating, and anti-irritant properties. Not surprisingly, it was used by the ancient Greek physicians as a healing agent and for treating wounds.