About.....Slippery Elm

  Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), also known as American Elm, Indian Elm, Moose Elm, Red Elm, Rock Elm, Sweet Elm, and Winged Elm, is an American deciduous tree found planted along streets and growing in forests from Quebec to Florida, the Dakotas, and Texas. Growing to a height of 50 feet and more, its stem is covered with dark-brown, rough, furrowed outer bark; the inner bark is whitish and aromatic. Its alternate, obovate-oblong leaves are doubly serrate, very rough on top, and downy underneath. The small flowers grow in dense axillary clusters curing March and April. The part of the tree used medicinally in the inner bark. The common name Slippery Elm includes the species Ulmus fulva (traditional Slippery Elm), which is used interchangeably with Ulmus rubra.

Slippery Elm has been used historically as an anti-inflammatory, antitussive, astringent, demulcent, emollient, expectorant, laxative, nutritive, restorative, vulnerary, and yin tonic. The known active constituents of this plant include mucilage (galactose), starch, tannins, calcium, vanadium, and zinc. The inner bark of slippery Elm is noted primarily for its soothing properties. Internally it is helpful where inflammatory irritation exists, as in sore throat, diarrhea, dysentery, and many urinary problems. Externally it is applied as a poultice to irritated & inflamed skin and to wounds. It has also been used in the past to make rectal and vaginal suppositories, enemas, and a vaginal douche. Other past external applications have included bedsores, boils, burns, diaper rash, eczema, eye inflammation, and splinters.

Slippery Elm never became a truly popular herb until the English settlers noticed its widespread use by the American Indians.19th century midwives used Slippery Elm to lubricate their hands when performing gynecological exams. It was also consumed the last few weeks of pregnancy to facilitate labor. The Indians obtained more mileage from this single herb than practically any other medication. Since then, medical botanists have never given up using Slippery Elm bark for just about any condition involving injured or infected tissue & bone.

Due to its high content and peculiar mucilage content, Slippery Elm is remarkably effective, both internally and externally (in poultices), against sore & inflamed mucous membranes, and is one of the best agents for combating coughs. One early American ethnobotanist described the various uses for this herb that he observed among the Indians, and among the pioneers & settlers of the West, as follows: "urinary and bowel complaints, sore throat, scurvy, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera infantum, to ease childbirth and reduce the pain of labor, and externally for ulcers, swellings, chilblains, toothaches, burns and sores. In all these uses, the demulcent property of this herb was the therapeutic agent."

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Last modified: December 12, 2006