Slippery Elm, Do you fight with constipation, diarrhea, or other intestinal difficulties? If this is so, it’s well worth attempting slippery elm,
an herbal remedy used in North America since the 19th century that’s been demonstrated to take care of lots of gastrointestinal troubles.
What are the applications for slippery elm (also referred to as red elm)?
What Is Slippery Elm?
It has long been used by Native Americans to make healing salves and tinctures which may help treat several kinds of wounds,
in addition to taken orally to the relief of influenza and cold-like symptoms and sore throats.
The SE tree a medium-sized shrub, which could reach well more than 50 feet in elevation and can be topped by spreading branches that form an open crown.
The tree bark includes profound fissures, a gummy feel, and a slight but distinct aroma.
It is the inner bark that is most often powdered and dried to be utilized for medicinal purposes because it makes a lubricating material when combined with water.
Nowadays, slippery elm bark is usually used in pill and capsule form or used to produce tablets, powders, extracts, and teas.
Benefits of Slippery Elm
Besides mucilage, a study shows that SE includes antioxidants and antimicrobial agents,
which makes it a fantastic cure for wounds, burns, boils, psoriasis as well as other outside skin ailments triggered by inflammation.
As with other high-antioxidant foods, studies indicate that it might also help alleviate inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis,
which explains why it’s suggested for anyone after an IBS diet plan.
1. Helps Improve Digestive Function
Even though it works differently than a few other laxatives, it appears to enhance symptoms of melancholy, IBD, and IBS, such as in both adults and kids.
The brand new inner bark may be utilized in place of or combined with other all-natural laxatives.
In 1 analysis, the effects of two distinct formulations on digestive function have been compared, each of which comprised SE as well as other herbs.
Subjects who obtained formula two underwent a 20 percent increase in bowel movement frequency and considerable reductions in straining, abdominal pain,
bloating, and international IBS symptom severity, in addition to improvements in feces consistency. Finally, both formulas contributed to improvements.
SE has also been demonstrated in some specific studies to treat asthma and diverticulitis. Furthermore,
it can help protect against ailments and excessive acidity in the GI tract since it causes bloated stimulation of nerve endings,
which response contributes to increased nitric oxide. Does this help many folks, but it could give much relief to your dog also.
2. May Aid in Weight Loss (When Combined With a Low-Calorie Diet)
Since SE gets the power to enhance digestion, this can help in weight reduction.
A study conducted in New York Chiropractic College employed ordinary participants from the school, staff, pupils, and community members to take part in a more 21-day weight reduction program.
Nutritional supplements containing digestive enzymes that were meant to facilitate digestion, decrease cholesterol levels,
raise metabolic rate, and mediate inflammatory procedures have been consumed 30 minutes before each meal.
The ellagic acid program comprised daily supplementation using one green beverage,
in addition to a “cleansing supplementation” containing slippery elm along with other vitamins and herbs.
The cleanup mix was taken before every meal during week two of the analysis.
In the close of the study, researchers found that participants experienced clinically significant reductions in weight and also low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
It was reasoned that “Weight reduction and improvements in overall polyunsaturated and cholesterol lipoprotein cholesterol levels happened following a low-energy-density nutritional intervention also regimented supplementation plan ”
3. Can Help Reduce Oxidative Stress
Phenolics are antioxidants that have been proven to elicit cellular reactions that counter anti-inflammatory stress,
which leads to aging and lots of chronic ailments. Plant phenolics also appear to help shield against pathogens because of their natural antifungal results.
4. May Help Prevent Breast Cancer
SE was initially promoted as a choice to help treat prostate cancer, such as DCIS, in the 1920s.
The inner bark of SE has turned into a natural treatment used by a few to help encourage cancer recovery for avoidance,
and for enhancing the quality of life and side effects one of the people undergoing conventional breast cancer therapies.
Even more, studies have to be run, slippery elm — when coupled with specific herbs like burdock root,
Indian rhubarb and sheep sorrel (which collectively form the nutritional supplement named Essiac) — can improve conditions for women with breast cancer and enhance depression, fatigue, and anxiety.
Since it’s immune-boosting advantages and anti-inflammatory effects, it might help alleviate pain associated with prostate cancer.
5. May Reduce the Severity of Symptoms of Psoriasis
SE was proven in some specific studies that assist patients with psoriasis, a state that now has no treatment.
In 1 study, five case studies were assessed of individuals with psoriasis after a particular dietary regimen. They were asked to eat saffron tea and slippery elm bark water every day.
The five psoriasis instances, which range from moderate to acute in the study onset, enhanced on all measured results over a six-month interval,
demonstrating that SE creates a fantastic addition to almost any psoriasis diet therapy.
Though SE trees are plentiful and correlated with several other wood trees, they aren’t essential timber trees; instead, they’ve been utilized mainly for medicinal purposes throughout history.
At the U.S., SE trees are somewhat rare in a lot of the South but increase abundantly from the southern region of the lake countries and at the corn belt of the Midwest.
As explained previously, there are lots of medicinal applications for slippery elm.
Many Native American tribes considered SE could make childbirth easier.
The Iroquois were proven to scratch the bark of the slippery elm tree to deal with ailments, swollen glands, and ailments affecting the eyes.
However, health-related purposes weren’t the sole usage of SE.
The bark provided material for the sides of chilly homes and roofs of the Meskwaki.
Most tribes have used the inner bark by boiling the bark to generate fiber bags,
big storage containers, cords, and ropes, which makes slippery elm among the most flexible trees around Earth.
Slippery Elm Interesting Facts
Slippery elm trees, identified by their “slippery” inner bark, may live to be 200 years old. Sometimes called red elm, gray elm, or soft elm, this tree grows best on moist, fertile soils of lower slopes and flood plains, although it may also grow on dry hillsides with limestone soils.
Although SE trees are abundant and associated with many other hardwood trees, they are not essential lumber trees; instead, they have been used mostly for medicinal purposes throughout history.
In the U.S., SE trees are uncommon in much of the South but grow abundantly in the southern part of the lake states and the corn belt of the Midwest. They can be found growing from Maine west to New York, extreme southern Quebec, southern Ontario, northern Michigan, central Minnesota, and in some other regions.
As described above, there are many medicinal uses for slippery elm. Some Native American tribes believed SE could make childbirth easier. It was also consumed as a tea and was used to treat sore throats. Â The Iroquois were known to scrape the bark of the slippery elm tree to treat infections, swollen glands, and conditions affecting the eyes.
However, health-related purposes were not the only use of SE. The bark supplied material for the sides of winter houses and roofs of the Meskwaki. Many tribes used the inner bark by boiling the bark to make fiber bags, large storage baskets, ropes, and cords, making slippery elm one of the most versatile trees on the planet.
How to Use
SE bark may usually be found at the regional health food shop in many different forms — such as java, tablets, capsules and pills, poultice, and infusion.
If you can, talk to an herbalist or nutritionist for assistance in finding what works for you.
Here are a few of the most Frequent applications and forms:
Diarrhea (in pets and humans ): therapy from ingestion of capsules, tablets, tea, tincture, and extracts
Cough (cats and humans ): therapy from lozenges, tea, tincture, and extracts
Acid reflux: therapy by tea, also extracts
Constipation (pets( particularly cats): remedy by extract or powder additional into food
Topical skin ailments (individuals and pets): remedy by topical or shampoo lotion infused with the infusion.
Dosage Suggestions:
Dosage is usually determined by weight.
When making SE tea in your home (see below), use about 2–3 tsp of powder each one-cup serving. It’s possible to eat the drink –2 times each day.
An overall recommendation in capsule/tablet type is a dose of approximately 1,600 mg daily, taken in 2–3 divided doses.
Since the focus of SE fluctuates dependent on the particular nutritional supplement, always read the item’s dosage recommendations carefully.
Recipes
There are many ways you can incorporate SE into your diet. Here are a few methods to try:
Slippery Elm Tea
INGREDIENTS:
- One tablespoon wet elm bark powder
- 1 cup boiling water
- One teaspoon local honey (optional)
- 3 ounces almond or coconut milk
- 1/2 teaspoon of cacao
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
- Add boiling water to the cup.
- Add the slippery elm bark powder and stir well.
- Then add the honey, almond, or coconut milk.
- Stir again.
- Top of with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Here are a couple of others to try:
Risks and Side Effects
Does slippery elm have side effects? Though SE is usually well-tolerated, some supplements containing this herb may trigger side effects in some people, such as nausea, increased bowel movements, frequent urination, swollen glands, skin blemishes, flu-like symptoms, and slight headaches.
Because it coats the digestive tract, it may slow down the absorption of other drugs or herbs. To prevent drug interactions, it may be best to take slippery elm two hours before or after other herbs or medications you may be taking.
SE should only be given to children under the supervision of a knowledgeable practitioner.
Herbal medicines can trigger allergic reactions, including skin rashes, among people who are sensitive to their effects. Therefore, use caution and check with your health care provider, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or using other medications.
Is it safe to take slippery elm every day? Like other herbs, it’s best to take breaks from using it periodically. Try making it for several weeks, then take several weeks off before starting again if necessary.
Final Thoughts
- Slippery elm is a medium-sized tree native to North America that contains bark that is used to make supplements and medicine.
- The bark contains mucilage, a substance that becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. This mucilage coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines, making it ideal for sore throat, cough, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis and diarrhea.
- It’s even been used to heal wounds, relieve the flu or common cold, treats infected and swollen glands, and wash and improve sore eyes.
- The inner bark is where most of the health benefits reside. This bark is dried and powdered to be used for medicinal purposes and typically found as tablets and capsules, slippery elm lozenges, wet elm powder for making teas or extracts, and coarsely powdered bark for poultices.
