Mother Nature Medicine - Slippery Elm Bark

Slippery elm, also known as ulmus fulva, red elm, sweet elm or moose elm, is a tree belonging to species of elm and native to Appalachian mountains of eastern North America. It is a medium sized deciduous tree that grows up to a height of 50 feet and possesses spreading branches, forming an open crown. Its foliage is 12 - 18 cm long, having a rough texture, coarsely double serrate margin and an inclined base. The tree blooms flowers in early spring at the tips of the branches in a dense cluster form. It has a dark brown, rough and fissured outer bark while its mucilaginous inner bark which comprises the main health benefits of slippery elm bark is white with a distinctive scent. This was just a brief insight about the slippery elm tree, now let us try to know more about this highly useful bark, followed by slippery elm bark benefits.

Slippery Elm Bark

As said before, the major uses and benefits of slippery elm bark lie in the bark's mucilage, a sticky, viscous substance that oozes from the bark when comes in contact with water. This mucilage is enriched with numerous nutrients and some non-toxic, easy to digest complex carbohydrates. It comprises vitamins and minerals like beta-sitosterol, campesterol, tannin, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, beta-carotene and vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C. In the spring, the bark is collected, dried and converted into either a coarse powder form used as poultices or a fine powder used to prepare a mucilaginous drink.

Slippery Elm Bark Benefits and Uses

Slippery elm bark is well know for its softening and healing effects, hence, it serves as an excellent demulcent, emollient, expectorant and diuretic. Below listed are some of the benefits and uses of slippery elm bark.
For its soothing and softening properties, slippery elm is commonly used as a mucilaginous herb to smooth the mucous membranes which helps curing and soothing cough and sore throat.

For its healing properties, slippery bark is generally used as an effective poultices or medical dressing to reduce pain and inflammation caused by wounds, boils, ulcers, burns and any other type of injury.
Being high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, slippery elm bark is ground and often used as a porridge. It has a taste and consistency just like an oatmeal, and so many people have incorporated slippery elm bark in their routine diet.

Slippery elm bark powder is often used as a home remedy or herbal medicine for tooth decay and pain. All you need to do is to put a pinch of this powder into a hollow tooth and within a couple of days, the pain as well as the decaying will stop.
Slippery elm bark is extremely useful in treating various gastrointestinal problems and imbalances. It neutralizes the stomach acids, boosts the adrenal glands, soothes the irritation or ulceration of the stomach and intestines by forming a protective barrier between the ulcer and the infected or damaged stomach acid.
Slippery elm bark also aids in digestion and helps clean the colon which further helps in relieving the pain or inflammation due to colon or stomach ulcers. Hence, slippery elm benefits in treating numerous intestinal imbalances or disorders including duodenal ulcers, gastritis, diarrhea, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids and heartburn.

Besides these health benefits, the bark is also used to prepare burial caskets, rope, chords, fence posts, furniture, and even some musical instruments like drums.
Apart from these slippery elm bark benefits and uses, this beneficial bark can also be used to treat cancer, heart disease, diseases related to female organs. Another key feature of slippery elm bark is that it possesses no known side effects especially if consumed under a doctor's supervision. Now that you know what are the benefits of slippery elm bark, i am sure you will not forget to incorporate this essential herb in your lifestyle.

Editor's Note: from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/

By Kanika Khara

Published: 6/4/2010