Slippery elm bark benefits

Slippery elm bark is one of the natural remedies that has been known for very long time for its health benefits, especially for its soothing and healing properties.

Slippery elm bark

Slippery elm, also known as Ulmus rubra, red elm and moose elm is a tree from the elm family, found predominantly in the Appalachian mountains in the United States. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree that has an open crown and blooms in the spring, the flowers forming clusters at the end of the branches. The bark is rough, dark and fissured. The inner bark, which is responsible for most of the health benefits, is lighter, mucilaginous and with a characteristic smell.

The bark’s mucilage oozes out when the bark comes in contact with water. The bark is non-toxic, easy to digest and rich in several important nutrients and complex carbohydrates. It contains magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins B1, B2, B3, vitamin C, tannins, beta-sitosterol and campesterol.

The bark is collected from the trees in the spring and then dried and either ground into coarse powder for poultices or into fine powder used for preparing beverages.

Benefits and uses of slippery elm bark

Slippery elm bark has soothing, healing and softening properties and acts as an emollient, demulcent, expectorant and diuretic.

Since it is mucilaginous in nature, slippery elm bark can be used to treat dry cough, cold and other conditions that can benefit from soothing and softening effect of this remedy.

In form of poultices or dressings, it can be used to heal wounds, cuts, ulcers, lesions and burns.

Slippery elm bark is very nutritious and rich in antioxidants, which is why many people include a porridge made from it into their daily diet. It is easy to make and it resembles oatmeal.

Fine powder obtained from slippery elm bark can be used to treat tooth decay and toothache. The use is simple - a small pinch of the powder is placed into or onto the aching tooth and within a few days the pain will subside and the decay will be stopped.

This natural remedy is very helpful for many problems affecting the gastrointestinal tract, mostly because of its ability to form a soft protective barrier along the walls of the gastrointestinal organs. It soothes indigestion, acid reflux, pain from stomach ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, it improves digestion and boosts the adrenal glands.

Beside these medicinal uses, slippery elm bark is also used to make baskets, ropes, chords, furniture, even drums.