Slippery Elm Tea For Acid Reflux

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, as many 15 million Americans suffer from acid reflux on a daily basis, while 60 million suffer from it at least once a month. Whether you suffer from acid reflux every day or just on an occasional basis, you can treat it naturally with slippery elm tea.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux occurs when the digestive acids in the stomach back up into the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. When the refluxed fluids come into contact with the inner lining of the esophagus, they irritate and inflame the cell tissue. This in turn causes heartburn, a warm, burning pain in the chest that sometimes radiates upward into the neck and throat. Frequent bouts of acid reflux can cause damage to the esophageal tissue.

Slippery Elm

Slippery elm is a deciduous tree species that is native to the eastern regions of North America. Also known as red elm, slippery elm is named for its moist, sticky, reddish inner bark, which is used for medicinal purposes. This bark is collected from the trunk and branches of the tree in the spring time. It is then dried and ground into a powder for use in brewing slippery elm tea, a soothing herbal tea for acid reflux.

History

Slippery elm was used as an herbal remedy by North American Indians and pioneer settlers. They used the inner bark of the tree both as a soothing, medicinal drink and as a poultice. Slippery elm was officially recognized in the United States Pharmacopoeia in the late 19th century.

Demulcent Properties

A primary active constituent in slippery elm bark is mucilage. When powdered slippery elm bark is mixed with water, the mucilage forms into a gummy, gelatinous substance that has soothing, demulcent properties. In the book "Managing Acid Reflux," Kate Gilbert Udall writes that the high content of mucilage in slippery elm soothes and heals the irritated or inflamed mucous membranes of the esophagus. It also helps to protect the esophageal tissue from further acid damage.

Preparation and Dosage

To brew slippery elm tea, bring two cups of water to a boil. Stir 4 grams of powdered slippery elm into the water and then let it steep for 5 minutes. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends drinking this herbal tea three times a day.