Demulcent Herbs:



Demulcent herbs provide a protective coating and soothe irritated body tissues. Many herbs with this property are both demulcent (soothing on the mucus membranes on the inside) and emollient (soothing to inflamed skin on the outside). These plants are much valued in herbal healing to soothe and protect all the way down from the mouth and throat to the urinary tract.


  • Herb Properties
  • Herbs Alphabetical by Common Name


    • See List Herbs by Botanical Name
  • Acacia Acacia , Acacia senegal : Gum Arabic, Cassie flower, Catechu, Egyptian thorn
    Shrub : Herbalists use acacia gum to bind pills and lozenges and to stabilize emulsions. It is also used in aromatherapy for applying essential oils...
  • Chickweed Chickweed, Stellaria media : Starweed
    Annual/Perennial Herb : Chickweed is best known for it's ability to cool inflammation and speed healing as a poultice or ointment for skin irritations, skin abscesses and boils...
  • Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum morifolium, C. sinense : Mums, Ju Hua, Chu Hua,Florist's Chrysanthemum
    herbaceous perennial : We value the chrysanthemum for their burst of fall color that signals the approach of winter, but like many ornamental plants, chrysanthemums have an ancient reputation in the East as a medicinal plant. ...
  • Colt's Foot Colt's Foot, Tussilago farfara : Coughwort
    Perennial herb : Since the days of ancient Greece and Rome, coltsfoot has been used to relieve asthma, coughs and bronchial congestion. It remains one of the most effective herbal cough medicines today...
  • Comfrey Leaf and root Comfrey Leaf and root, Symphytum officinale :
    Perennial Herb : Comfrey salves, ointments and teas are best known for the topical treatment of burns and just about any skin irritation....
  • Copaiba Balsam Copaiba Balsam, Copaifera Officinalis : balsam, copaiva, Jesuit's balsam, copal, palo de aceite, capivi
    tropical tree : Copaiba is used topically to relieve inflammation and help heal athlete's foot, eczema and psoriasis, and heals damaged skin with minimal scarring. ...
  • Couch grass Couch grass, Agropyron repens : Twitch grass, witchgrass, dog's grass, scutch, quackgrass
    Perennial Grass : Couch grass it valued by herbalists for its mucilage rich rhizome....
  • Datura Datura, Datura spp : Jimsonweed, metel nut, Thorn Apple
    herbaceous : Datura are potent members of the Solanaceae family, relatives of other well known narcotic plants such as henbane and mandrake....
  • Elm, Slippery Elm, Slippery, Ulmus fulva : Red Elm, Moose Elm, Indian Elm
    Deciduous Tree : In herbal medicine a slippery elm bark powder is considered one of the best possible poultices for wounds, boils, ulcers, burns and reducing pain and inflammation....
  • Holy Basil Holy Basil, Ocimum sanctum : Tulsi, Tulasi, Indian Basil
    Herb : Holy Basil has been used for thousands of years in the traditional medicinal of India, Ayurveda. Known to Hindus as Tulsi ...
  • Horehound Horehound, Marrubium vulgare L. : White horehound, marrubio
    Perennial Herb : Horehound contains the bitter principal marrubiin ,a potent pain reliever and nervous system stimulant. This mint relative is a cough and cold remedy, and a bitter tonic ...
  • Linden Linden, Tilia spp : Lime tree, Basswood
    Deciduous tree : Herbalists recommend linden as a mild tonic for nervousness, insomnia as well as colds and fever. You will find linden often combined with yarrow flowers and sage in cold remedies....
  • Lotus Lotus, Nelumbo nucifera : Indian lotus, sacred lotus
    Perennial dicot : The lotus is one of the worlds most sacred plants and has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years....
  • Marsh Mallow Root Marsh Mallow Root, Althaea officinalis L. : Marshmallow, Wymote
    Perennial Herb : Marshmallow is a soothing and healing plant mainly due to it's high mucilage content. Marshmallow is added to cough and cold formulations for the treatment of harsh coughs, it acts as a mild expectorant and helps coat sore throats. Marshmallow's tannins ...
  • Mullein Mullein, Verbascum spp. : Flannel Leaf, Mullein Dock, Aaron's Rod
    Biennial : The ancient reputation that mullein enjoyed in both in Europe and Asia of having the power to exorcise evil spirits may be attributed to the magic mullein oil can perform on a ear ache....
  • Psyllium Psyllium, Plantago psyllium, Plantago ovata : Flea Seed
    Perennial Herb : The seeds of the Plantago ovata contain copious amounts of mucilage that are able to treat diarrhea, constipation and act as a safe and effective weight loss aid....
  • Pumpkin Seed Pumpkin Seed, Cucurbita pepo :
    Gourd : Pumpkin seed oil is a nutritious source of vitamins and minerals and well as both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Pumpkin seed may be best known as a natural approach to treating prostate problems....
  • Red Poppy Flowers Red Poppy Flowers, Papaver rhoeas : corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy
    Perennial wildflower : Red poppies have some folklore medicinal uses as a cough remedy, mild sedative, and non-addictive sleep aid, though not nearly as potent as the related opium poppy, Papaver somniferum....
  • Sea Buckthorn Oil Sea Buckthorn Oil, Hippophae rhamnoides : Sallow Thorn, Yellow Spine
    deciduous shrub : Sea Buckthorn oil is used in healing skin injuries, burns, wounds, eczema, lesions, sun damaged skin, and abrasions. ...