Slippery Elm Bark
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Slippery elm bark has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy in North America. Its inner bark is used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Sore throat: The inner bark can be used as a lozenge to soothe a sore throat.
- Gastrointestinal issues: Slippery Elm can be taken as a pill or powder to help with gastrointestinal upset. It can also help with constipation, stomach ulcers, and diarrhea.
- Skin conditions: Slippery Elm can be used as a cream or ointment to treat skin rashes, wounds, boils, and psoriasis.
- Cough: Slippery Elm can be taken orally by mixing it with water or tea to help relieve a cough.
Slippery Elm contains mucilage, a substance that becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. It coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines. It also contains antioxidants that help relieve inflammatory bowel conditions. It promotes detoxification via its natural laxative effect and acts as a mild diuretic helping flush out toxins. When mixed with water, the mucilage becomes a slick gel. Slippery Elm also contains tannins and resins, which also contribute to its effects.
Slippery elm’s mucilage can coat the digestive tract for a few hours. The exact duration depends on the person’s metabolism and digestion.
The side effects of slippery elm can include reduced medication absorption due to its mucilage content, potential allergic reactions, and possible gastrointestinal issues such as nausea or diarrhea.
Native Americans found innumerable medicinal and other uses for this tree. Canoes, baskets, and other household goods were made from the tree and its bark. Slippery elm was also used internally for conditions such as sore throats and diarrhea. As a poultice, it was considered a remedy for many inflammatory skin conditions.
Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) is a broad leafed, medium sized, deciduous tree native to Eastern and Central United States and Canada. The inner bark of slippery elm, when stripped of the outer bark, can be used as a lozenge to treat sore throat, as a pill for gastrointestinal upset, and as a cream or ointment for skin rash and wound healing. Slippery elm resembles the American Elm (Ulmus Americana) but is less stately and less susceptible to Dutch Elm disease.
Also known as red elm, it is called slippery because of the slippery texture of the inner bark when it is chewed or mixed with water. Its medicinal effects appear to be due to stimulation of mucous and saliva, which may alleviate sore or dry throat and coat irritated or ulcered esophageal or gastric mucosa.
Slippery elm preparations were used in Native American traditional medicine for gastrointestinal and urinary tract disorders and topically for skin diseases. The active ingredients appear to be mucilages, but the inner bark is also rich in tannins and resins which are astringents and may account for some of its effects.