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Herbs: Slippery Elm Bark Powder

Common Names: Slippery elm, red elm, Indian elm, American elm
Latin Name: Ulmus rubra
Origin: USA

Excerpts from The ABC Herbal

This mucilaginous herb helps absorb toxins in the bowel. In fact, Slippery Elm Bark Powder is very soothing to the entire digestive system. It is useful especially for diarrhea, bowel weakness or as a mild nourishing food for sick children. Since the herb is slightly sweet, it is one that children will often take readily if it is mixed in some cereal, applesauce or fruit juice. We have also blended it with fruit juice and used it to make a "mock" chocolate drink by mixing it with hot milk and honey.

Excerpts from The How to Herb Book

Slippery Elm Bark Powder is an amazing, mild-flavored, highly nutritious herb. It is used in many combinations and poultices not only because of its medicinal properties but also because of its cohesive quality that helps bind other herbs together.

• In case of famine, it would be an excellent herb to store and to forage for eating.

• Mucilaginous and expands when mixed with water. Does not mix easily, use a blender, wire whip, fork, or shake in bottle, etc.

• Should be taken with lots of water.

• Contact healer both internally and externally. Coats and relaxes all inflamed tissues including irritated and inflamed mucous membranes of stomach, bowels, and kidneys.

• A gentle herb – one of the best for diarrhea especially for babies. It normalizes the stools, soothes, coats, and heals the entire intestinal tract lining.

• Used in enemas for scalding diarrhea because of soothing and healing qualities. The flavor hints of burnt caramel candy – most babies willingly eat a slippery elm mixture.

• Good for ulcers and delicate stomachs.

• Used for vaginal douches.

Excerpts from Nutritional Herbology

When ground to a fine powder, this bark makes an excellent flour extender and can be used in a variety of recipes. Some writers claim that it has a food value equal to that of oatmeal and have recommended it as a wholesome and nourishing food for invalids and children.

The demulcent, emollient and wound healing properties of slippery elm are due to its mucilage content. The mucilage is viscous fiber that lowers the bowel transit time, absorbs toxins from the bowel, regulates intestinal flora and soothes the lining of the digestive tract.

The demulcent effects are also active when the herb is used externally as a poultice or in an ointment.

The most popular use of slippery elm is as a demulcent expectorant. This property is explained by the ability of tannins to combine with mucous and precipitate it.

Slippery Elm Bark Powder decoctions are consumed hourly to coat the throat and allow the tannins to congeal the mucous build-ups, thus facilitating the expulsion of excess mucous. Beware of respiratory formulas based on slippery elm that are in capsules or tablets to be swallowed as this negates any demulcent action on the throat.

Contains mucilaginous compounds that decrease the thickness while increasing the production of mucosal fluids. These compounds soothe inflamed tissue, decrease bowel transit time and absorb toxins from the bowel. It also contains astringent compounds that shrink inflamed tissues.

Customer Reviews

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Re: What can i use it for?
by Bulk Herb Store on May 13, 2013

I have never tried it personally, but from what I read about it, it does sound like it can be used as a thickening agent. You can read about it here:

http://articles.herballegacy.com/slippery-elm-iii-applications-of-slippery-elm/

Have fun! I am going to try it!

Re: Question
by Bulk Herb Store on Apr 24, 2013

From what I have been reading, it sounds like the inner bark should be safe, but the outer bark may be toxic and could cause a miscarriage so you want to make sure it is the inner bark if you use it! Ours is made from the inner bark.

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