Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) is a small to medium sized tree native to North America. It has uses both as a nutritional food and a herbal medicine.
Slippery elm is a highly nutritious wholesome food product. The bark of the Slippery elm, contains mucilage which is a soothing nutritional food, similar in texture to oatmeal and rich in nutrients. Slippery elm is very easy to digest and can be tolerated when other foods can’t. It is, therefore, an ideal food during times of digestive discomfort and for those recovering from illness and is considered a “survival food”. The Slippery elm powder can be mixed with water to make a highly nutritious and soothing gruel for children and for sick people of any age. It is good for babies as a nutritive and also benefits those babies who are unable to digest milk products. It is one of the few foods that will stay in a cancerous or ulcerated stomach when nothing else will and is also beneficial for those with wasting diseases. The bark's high mucilage content is composed of easily digested, non-toxic, complex carbohydrates. Slippery elm Bark also contains beta-sitosterol, campestrol, tannin, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, beta-carotene and Vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3 and C.
Slippery elm is also an effective herbal remedy which has been used for centuries. The inner bark has important medicinal value and is an official drug of the United States Pharmacopoeia. It has a soothing and healing effect on any part of the body with which it comes into contact. It has many uses and is recommended for:
- Sore throat and coughs
- Respiratory irritation
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Wounds, burns, boils, ulcers and other skin conditions (external)
- As a skin softener
Slippery elm has received recognition from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a safe and effective remedy for soothing throat and respiratory irritation. It is also recommended for coughs and to treat acute bronchitis (swelling and irritation of the windpipe or the airways to the lungs). Slippery elm contains mucilage, which is a substance that swells up and becomes slippery, but does not dissolve when mixed with fluids. It helps soothe a sore throat as it coats the throat and esophagus with a slick residue and soothes the inflamed mucous membranes Herbalists often use it in cough medicines and lozenges for scratchy, raw, sore throats and mouth irritations.
Slippery elm is also widely used for a number of gastrointestinal conditions and the mucilage has a general soothing effect on the digestive tract. Slippery elms helps to alleviate the pain of colic or stomach ulcers, and relieve inflammatory bowel conditions (namely, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, diverticulitis and irritable bowel disease). It soothes the inflamed mucous membranes of the bowel and neutralizes excess acids in the intestines making it an excellent remedy for the entire digestive system. It is said to soothe stomach irritation and the sore feeling that often follows vomiting. It is often also used for constipation. In the gastrointestinal tract, the mucilage in elm absorbs water. However, because the body cannot digest mucilage, the soft mass that it forms moves through the intestines. Additionally, it may prompt muscles in the intestines to contract. Additionally, elm may promote the production of gastrointestinal mucus, further protecting the linings of the stomach and intestines. In children, Slippery elm may be used to treat upset stomach and diarrhoea (loose bowel movements).
Slippery elm may also be used externally to relieve and help heal minor injuries such as wounds, cuts, burns, cold sores, boils, spots, abscesses, razor burn, scrapes, sunburn and other general skin problems as well as vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina, usually caused by infection) and haemorrhoids. It works with the body to draw out impurities and toxins and traditionally has been used as a skin softener and smoother. Slippery elm can be made into a paste and applied topically to the skin surface or added to boiling water and made into a poultice (simply soak a cloth with the slippery elm water mixture and apply to the skin).
Slippery elm is also used in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. As with all herbal remedies, do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding without consulting a medical practitioner.
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by the Food and Drug Administration. This information or product
is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease
