Common Name:
Slippery Elm Bark
Latin Name: Ulmus fulva
 |
| Slippery
Elm
|
Ulmus fulva is only one of the 16 members of the ULMUS or Elm
Tree Family. Other forms of the family are considered much
less effective. These include:
Ulmus alata {Winged Elm}
Ulmus campestris {Cork-Barked Elm}
Ulmus Chinensis
Ulmus glabra {Scotch or Wych Elm}
Ulmus Montana {Scotch or Wych Elm}
Ulmus suberosa
Fremontia Californica {Californian Slippery Elm} is not
related but has some similar medicinal properties.
Slippery elm is one of the valuable remedies in herbal
practice with fantastic strengthening and healing properties.
It contains as much nutrition as is found in oatmeal. Taken at
night it helps to induce sleep.
Occurrence/Location:
The slippery elm occurs in north-eastern United States and southern Quebec. It can grow to 25 metres high and live 125 years.
The slippery elm grows best on fertile soils, along streams. It is also found on rocky ridges.
Description:
The leaves are covered on both sides in a fine whitish hair. They also give off a fragrant odour when dry.
The fruit is a round key with reddish-coloured hairs covering the seedcase. The flowers occur in clusters on the stalks.
Its inner bark is quite particular. Apart from its fragrant
odour, it contains an aromatic substance called coumarin, which is useful for curing inflammatory infections.
 |
 |
 |
| Slippery
Elm Mature Tree
|
Slippery
Elm leaves |
Slippery
Elm Seed Pods
|
Present-day use:
Its wood is hard and strong and resistant to rot. It is used for making poles, musical
instruments and railway ties.
Homeopathic tinctures of slippery elm bark are used for skin
problems and ulcerated conditions.
Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs recommends it use
for gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Slippery Elm has been used for relief of coughs, asthma and
bronchitis. Being rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin A B C
and K it helps to feed and soothe organs, tissues and the
mucus membranes, especially in the lung.
Slippery elm infusion has been injected into the bowel in
serious cases of diarrhea and dysentery where other treatments
have failed.
With typhoid fever it cleanses, heals and strengthens the
patient.
Historical use:
Used by the North American Indians for centuries as a healing
salve and a poultice for burns, wounds, boils, ulcers and
inflammations to help reduce pain and inflammation
It has been used as a heart remedy, cystitis, irritation of
the urinary tract and has a great influence on diseases of the
female organs.
Mixed with Brewers Yeast and milk it has been used to stop
gangrene.
CULPEPER “Bathing in a deconcoction of the leaves, bark or
root heals broken bones. The deconcoction of the bark of the
root mollifies hard tumours and the shrinking of the
sinews.”
Slippery Elm
is a very important component in an ancient native North
American herbal decoction, usually available as either powder
to brew a tea from or as a liquid tonic itself. It is known
variously by many names, but most commonly as Essiac. The
basic Essiac Ingredients are.
1.
Burdock Root (Arctium lappa),
2.
Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
3. Slippery
Elm (Ulmus fulva)
4. Turkey
Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum).
Most
authors consider slippery elm the soothing and digestive
stimulant part of the Rene Caisse Formula. To do this is to
ignore the fact that slippery elm contains polysaccharide, and
beta sitosterol, with their demonstrated anti tumour activity.
Disclaimer:
This article in no way should be taken as “medical
advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor
does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing
any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure
for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a
source of information upon which you may base your decision as
to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral
and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a
“greens” product as a dietary supplement.
If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your
physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a
possible different opinion. The author does not bear any
responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your
actions based upon those decisions.
