Slippery Elm(Ulmus fulva) has been used as an herbal remedy in North America for centuries. Native Americans used it in healing salves for
- wounds
- boils
- ulcers
- burns
- and skin inflammation.
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. Slippery elm also causes reflux stimulation of nerve endings in the gastrointestinal tract leading to increased mucus secretion which may protect the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity. So it is thought that slippery elm is useful in relieving:
- sore throat
- Coughs
- Gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD)
- Crohn’s disease
- ulcerative colitis
- Diarrhea
- wounds
- burns
- boils
- psoriasis
- and other skin conditions (external).
Slippery elm is a tree. The inner bark (not the whole bark) is used as medicine. People take slippery elm for
- colic
- constipation
- hemorrhoids
- bladder and urinary tract infections
- syphilis
- herpes
- and for expelling tapeworms.
It is also used for
- protecting against stomach and duodenal ulcers
- for colitis
- diverticulitis
- GI inflammation
- and too much stomach acid.
Slippery elm is applied to the skin for
- wounds
- burns
- gout
- rheumatism
- cold sores
- boils
- abscesses
- ulcers
- toothaches
- sore throat
- and as a lubricant to ease labor.
In manufacturing, slippery elm is used in some baby foods and adult nutritionals, and in some oral lozenges used for soothing throat pain.