Benefits and Side Effects of Slippery Elm Bark

Elm trees may be found growing throughout the eastern United States and even into Canada. They are especially found in the Appalachian Mountain region. The Dutch elm disease that ravaged so many of the other species did not affect the slippery elm much. It is also called sweet elm, red elm (because of the wood color), moose elm, and Indian elm.

The Slippery Elm grows to a height of 30 to 60 feet. The leaves are about 6 inches long, growing alternately on the branch, and have a rough texture and coarsely double-serrated edges. The flowers appear before the leaves in early spring in clusters of ten to twenty. The fruit is half an inch long containing a single central seed. Slippery Elm may be distinguished from American Elm by the hairiness of the buds and twigs and by the very short-stalked flowers.

Slippery elms have been the object of poachers because of the $23 billion dollar herb industry in the United States. From mid June to early July the bark is slippery and easy to peel. The trees are stripped and left to die while the bark is sold for great profit.

One illegal and immoral use of the bark is as an abortafaciant. Longer pieces of the bark are moistened with water, then inserted into a pregnant woman?s uterus. Drugs from the bark are said to induce an abortion. This practice resulted in so called ?Elm Stick Laws? in many states limiting the size of the bark sold. Because of this possible effect, pregnant or lactating women should avoid using slippery elm. There are no other documented hazards in taking the herb.

Elm was popular to the early colonists for they used it to preserve grease, to make pudding, to thicken jelly, and as a mush for survival during long trips. They also used it as a medicine to treat coughs, skin injuries, intestinal worms, toothaches, gout, arthritis, and stomachaches.

The inner bark was also used to waterproof baskets, canoes, and dwellings. As mentioned above, in times of famine, early American settlers used it as a survival food. George Washington's troops survived partly on slippery elm gruel during their winter at Valley Forge.

The fibrous inner bark is a strong and durable fiber, which can be spun into thread, twine or rope. Once cured, the wood is ideal for making matchless fires with the bow drill method; the wood grinds into a very fine, flammable powder under friction. Slippery elm bark can also be used for jewelry, bowstrings, ropes, snowshoe bindings, clothing, woven mats, and can be used to make some musical instruments. The interlocking grain of the wood made it a natural shock absorber when used for the hubs of wagon wheels, for it acted as a natural shock absorber.

Taken externally, slippery elm bark has been used to treat vaginitis, skin conditions, and hemorrhoids, or to give softer, smoother skin. Internally, many benefit from its use as a cough medicine or to relieve gastrointestinal conditions, sore throats, ulcers, and respiratory irritations.

The recommended dosage is three 500 mg capsules daily for adults. Tea can be made with one part slippery elm powder to eight parts water. It can also be added to oatmeal or juice. For a poultice, add coarse powdered bark to boiling water. Apply to the needed area when cool. For children, remember that herbal dosages are generally calculated for a 150 lb adult. If a child weighs 50 lb, the correct dose is 1/3 of the adult dosage.