Slippery Elm and Its Herbal Healing Uses

Latin name: Ulmus fulva

Common names: Indian Elm, Moose Elm, Red Elm, Rock Elm

The Native Americans were the first to use Slippery Elm for healing. They used a salve made from the wet inner bark of the Slippery Elm. Once the inner bark becomes wet the surrounding fibers turn into a gummy mucilaginous substance which is a very soothing ointment. They used it to treat ailments like burns, chapped lips and wounds.

Slippery Elm is a medium to large tree that has a broad crown, oblong dark green pointed leaves that are toothed with downy shoots. The leaves are long with rough upper surfaces and paler downy undersides to them. It blooms small inconspicuous flower in the early summer which are followed by winged fruits that are reddish brown in color and are long and consist of a single seed.

Slippery Elm can be found from South Canada to Central America. Slippery Elm is a laxative, mucilaginous herb that has a fenugreek like odor which is sweet. Slippery Elm draws out toxins, promotes healing and soothes and lubricates tissues of the body. It can be used abscesses, acid digestion, boils, bronchial infections, burns, chilblains, colitis, coughs, digestive problems in infants, diverticulitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric infections, irritable bowel syndrome and wounds according to ‘Indian Herbalogy of North America’ by Alma R. Hutchens..

Slippery Elm combines well with Althaea also commonly known as marshmallow. Slippery Elm is an astringent, demulcent, digestive, emollient, expectorant, mucilant, nutritive tonic, pectoral and vulnerary. The part of the tree that is used in herbal healing is the inner bark.

During the days at Valley Forge George Washington’s Army survived the bitter winter by eating the inner bark of the Slippery Elm to keep them alive. Also during the days that settlers were moving west they often found themselves without food to eat so they would eat the inner bark of the Slippery Elm to survive according to ‘Using Plants for Healing’ by Nelson Coon.

Slippery Elm can be used to neutralize stomach acids and absorb gases when the stomach is upset. Slippery Elm can also be used to aid people who cannot keep food down. It can also be used to treat irritated kidneys and inflamed lungs.

Slippery Elm helps the body to produce the hormone cortin which stimulates the entire body by feeding the adrenal glands. It also helps to protect the mucous membranes from irritation and inflammation. Slippery Elm can be used to treat many ailments which include the following:

Abscesses, appendicitis, asthma, bladder problems, boils, bronchitis, burns, cancer, catarrhal infection, colitis, colon, constipation, coughs, cramps, cystitis, diabetes, diaper rash, diarrhea, digestive disorders, diverticulitis, dysentery, eczema, eyes, female problems, fevers, flu, fractures, gangrenous wounds, gas, hay fever, hemorrhage, herpes, hoarseness, hemorrhoids, internal inflammation, jaundice, kidney disorders, lungs, nutrition, pain, perspiration, phlegm, pneumonia, skin diseases, sore throat, stomach problems, syphilis, tonsillitis, tuberculosis, ulcers, urinary tract infections, vaginal discharge, venereal disease, warts, worms and wounds.


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