The Consumer Guide to Slippery Elm
In this guide... Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra, U. fulva) Traditional uses Do scientists know how it works? Safety Browse Our Wide Selection Of Slippery Elm Products
Traditional Uses
Modern Uses
Recent findings
Do scientists know how it works?
Types of products
Safety
References
Browse Our Wide Selection of Slippery Elm Products
Slippery elm preparations are derived from the ground and dried reddish inner bark of a fast-growing tree native to North America. Like its larger cousin American elms (U. americana), slippery elms grow east of the Rocky Mountains from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Also like American elms, Dutch elm disease has ravaged slippery elms in recent years. The slippery in the name is a clue to its major medicinal use: slippery elm swells on contact with water and forms a slimy coating over surfaces. In the throat, for example, slippery elm soothes and protects irritated tissues, thus alleviating the pain and discomfort of a sore throat.
The small-leaved elm (U. minor) native to Europe and other elm species have
had minor applications in folk healing since the ancient Greeks. It was Native
Americans, however, who were responsible for developing many of today's popular
uses for slippery elm. They mixed
it with water and spread the resulting spongy paste over injuries, burns, and
minor skin irritations to act as a bandage. Early European settlers called the
tree Indian elm and were quick to embrace Indian uses of the herb. Slippery
elm became extremely popular in 18th and 19th century America as a cough and
cold remedy. Some people also
mixed the ground bark with water or milk to make a nutritious, oatmeal-like
food. Folk healers contended that the slippery
elm gruel was especially helpful to eat while recovering from illness because
it is easily assimilated. The herb was used as a digestive tonic and a cure
for conditions such as dysentery and acid indigestion. Slippery
elm was also touted as a folk remedy for baldness, broken bones, constipation,
syphilis, hemorrhoids, stomach ulcers,
and typhoid fever.
A recent survey estimated that, along with psyllium and laxative herbs such as senna and cascara sagrada, slippery elm is one of the top-selling herbs in U.S. commerce as an ingredient in over-the-counter preparations. Slippery elm is most widely used in lozenges for symptomatic relief of sore throats, coughs, and colds. Other medicinal and food uses of the bark have also survived because of slippery elm's proven ability to soothe and protect irritated mucous membranes. As a digestive remedy it may help relieve diarrhea, constipation, gastritis, and Crohn's disease. In the respiratory system slippery elm can benefit dryness of the lungs and bronchitis. It is also still used topically as a skin moisturizer and to help heal minor wounds, poison ivy, and skin irritations. Slippery elm is one of the herbs included in the traditional cancer treatment known as essiac. Slippery elm may also help prevent or treat:
Recent findings
Slippery elm has not garnered much attention from scientists in recent years. A group of researchers in Korea, however, have begun to investigate a related elm, U. davidiana, native to northern China.
Scientists attribute most of slippery elm's healing powers to its mucilage content. It is the mucilage in slippery elm that allows it to swell in water and then coat tissues and membranes. Even the FDA acknowledges that this property makes slippery elm an "excellent demulcent," or soothing agent. Slippery elm also contains minor amounts of astringent tannins that may improve diarrhea. Its use as a food to promote recovery from illness has some basis due to its content of such nutrients as calcium and potassium.
Slippery elm is available as a dried powder and in capsules, lozenges, liquid extracts, and teas. It is sometimes included in formulas for:
Slippery elm has been consumed as a food for a long time and seems to be totally nontoxic. The FDA considers it a safe and effective over-the-counter demulcent.
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