Slippery Elm Supplement Uses

Slippery elm, a tree native to North America, is harvested for the medicinal properties of the inner bark. This bark can be reduced into a fine powder and taken internally as a supplement for a variety of ailments, such as acid reflux, hemorrhoids and internal ulcers. Slippery elm can be taken as a teaspoon of powder mixed with a tall glass of water or as a capsule of the powder. Slippery elm can also be used externally for skin ulcers, burns, abrasions and boils.

Ulcers

• Slippery elm becomes a protective gel when combined with water.

  Slippery elm is effective in cooling and treating irritated tissues, such as stomach ulcers, intestinal ulcers, diverticulitis and skin ulcers. This medicinal effect is due to the high content of carbohydrates in slippery elm inner bark that form a thick gel called mucilage when they come into contact with water. This mucilage gel is both astringent and soothing and forms a healing coating over inflamed or damaged tissues. In cases of acid reflux, slippery elm can be used to help coat the tissues of the esophagus and to protect from irritation caused by stomach acid.

Digestion

• Slippery elm supports healthy digestion.

  Slippery elm is a good source of dietary fiber and can help to improve conditions such as diarrhea, colitis, hemorrhoids, acid reflux and constipation. More fiber each day will cause stools to increase in their size and stimulate the intestinal tract to push toxins and waste products out faster. Fiber supplements such as slippery elm do not cause dependency or make the intestinal tract less effective. In addition, the soothing qualities of mucilage will coat and cool down inflamed tissues along the digestive tract.

Respiratory Infection

• Slippery elm is used to treat coughs, bronchitis and sore throats.

  Slippery elm has many soothing qualities due to the high mucilage content found in the inner bark and has been used as a traditional North American remedy for several respiratory diseases. Symptoms of respiratory infections can be alleviated by taking slippery elm and according to authors James Balch, M.D., and Mark Stengler, N.D., in their book "Prescription for Natural Cures," slippery elm is recommended as a remedy for coughs, bronchitis and sore throats.

Cancer

• Slippery elm is used in natural anti-cancer remedies.

  Slippery elm is one of the major ingredients found in a medicinal herbal formulation called Essiac, which is taken as a tea. According to a study published in "Anticancer Research" in 2007, researcher Dugald Seely, N.D., and colleagues found Essiac tea significantly increased immune activity, moderately inhibited inflammation and had strong antioxidant activity. These findings may explain the traditional usage of Essiac in cancer treatment.

Warning

• Slippery elm may interfere with some medications.

  Slippery elm may slow down the digestion and absorption of prescription medications. Readers are recommended to consult with their health care professional before taking slippery elm products with prescription medications.