« Back to products list Common Name: Slippery Elm
Botanical Name: Ulmus fulva, Ulmus rubra
Growing Area: North America

General Info:
Slippery Elm is a medium-sized, deciduous tree with long, green leaves and reddish-brown or orange branches. It grows 50 feet or more in height and is native to the eastern parts of North America. In early spring, the tiny, bell-shaped Slippery Elm flowers can be found growing in dense clusters on branch tips.

The inner part of Slippery Elm's bark is harvested and dried in springtime, then powdered for medicinal purposes. It is often used in the form of tablets, capsules, or teas, and in direct application as a poultice.

Nutrients & Applications:
The most remarkable property of Slippery Elm is the mucilage contained in its inner bark. When mixed with water, it produces a very thick, slippery gel that is helpful and soothing to the body in so many ways.

This mucilage in Slippery Elm has a soothing quality that helps by coating the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines with a protective barrier. Slippery Elm may also stimulate healthy mucus secretion in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus it can provide support for the entire digestive system, as well as the urinary tract and bladder.

The tannins present in Slippery Elm possess astringent actions. Slippery Elm may also contain antioxidants, which are known to support the cells and bodily systems. Overall, Slippery Elm is very nutritious, and makes an excellent first food for babies, as well as providing soothing and wholesome sustenance for invalids.

Slippery Elm has also traditionally been used to encourage strong and healthy teeth and to support the body during allergy season. *