Slippery Elm To Sooth The Digestive Tract

Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra) is a medium-sized tree native to the eastern coast of North America. The bark of the Slippery Elm tree has been used medicinally for centuries by native Americans for upset stomachs, coughs and wounds. Other names for Slippery Elm are Indian Elm, Red Elm, Moose Elm, Gray Elm, Soft Elm and Elm Herb.

It tree can reach well over 50 feet and is topped by rough branches that form a crown. The red-brown or orange branches grow downward, and the stalkless flowers are arranged in clusters. The tree's leaves are long and green, they darkening in color during the fall. The bark has deep fissures, a gummy texture, and a distinct odor.

The bark is collected in spring from the larger branches and dried. The tree is completely stripped of it's bark during harvesting dies. The wood has no commercial value.

The part of the Slippery Elm tree that is used in making Slippery Elmbark herb is the inner, red, heartwood. The inner bark is ground into a powder, which is most often how it is used.

Slippery Elm bark contains sticky, smooth, mucilage that is used medicinally to sooth irritated and inflamed surfaces, such as mucous membranes. Slippery Elm is used for many diseases including ulcers, gastritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel problems, gastrointestinal disorders, skin ulcers, cough, fevers, and inflammation. The high fiber mucilage helps normalize intestinal action, decrease gas, absorb toxins and lower the stomachs acidity, it can be used to relieve both diarrhea and constipation. Slippery Elm is great when used to soothe a sore throat. The primary constituent is mucilage, which accounts for the demulcent effects.

Be careful if you use this herb daily for three weeks or more. This herb is so mucilaginous it can overcoat the digestive tract and temporarily block the assimilation of nutrients. You may want to take a few days off from using it if you use it for more than a few weeks.

Slippery Elm coats the surface the gastrointestinal lining in the digestive tract, this provides soothing properties. This allows substances to pass easily through the digestive system without irritation. The Slippery Elm mucilage swells up and becomes slippery, but does not dissolve when wet. It helps soothe a sore throat as it coats the throat and esophagus with a slick residue and soothes the inflamed mucous membranes.

It can be very soothing to the throat and is often used in cough lozenges for scratchy, sore throats and mouth irritations.

If you are pregnant, do not consume Slippery Elm in any form. No scientific studies have been done to confirm the safety of Slippery Elm during pregnancy. The outer bark of the elm tree may contain substances that could increase the risk of miscarriage. For this reason pregnant women may be advised to avoid this herb.

Slippery Elm Scientific Classification
Kingdom:  Plantae
Division:  Magnoliophyta
Class:  Magnoliopsida
Order:  Rosales
Family:  Ulmaceae
Genus:  Ulmus
Species:  U. rubra 

by Carol Branwen