The Slippery Elm is a native tree to North America. The inner bark is made into an extract for medicinal preparations. According to MD Idea, it has the approval of the Food and Drug Administration as a nonprescription soothing agent that can be used internally or externally. Slippery elm gets its name from the slippery substance formed when the active ingredient of the bark, mucilage, combines with water. This mucilage is used internally for soothing sore throats, coughs and digestive upsets, and externally for wounds and skin inflammations.
Extract
Slippery elm is available in a liquid extract used in lozenges and in a dry extract used in capsules. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that a liquid extract is concentrated as a 1:1 concentration, meaning that one part of the herb is made with one part of liquid. A dry extract is the most concentrated form of an herbal product, typically 2:1 to 8:1, and is sold as a tablet, capsule or lozenge. Wright State University states that it is better to buy a commercial preparation of slippery elm extract, as it will provide a sustained release of the mucilage.
Digestion
Slippery elm coats and soothes the stomach and intestines and contains anti-oxidants that help relieve inflammatory bowel, per the University of Maryland Medical Center. It causes reflex stimulation of nerve endings in the intestinal tract, which then increases mucous production, aiding to protect against ulcers. Botanical online comments that slippery elm is one of the best remedies for constipation, as it acts a stimulant and also helps pass mucous through the intestines.
Skin
According to Botanical online, slippery elm is often used in herbal medicine as a poultice for wounds, burns, and sores, because it soothes, heals and reduces pain and inflammation. It is also a main ingredient in marshmallow ointment, a principle healing ointment used in holistic medicine. Drugs Online cites that slippery elm extract has been used to treat cold sores, abscesses, and toothaches; and has also been employed to draw out toxins, boils and splinters. Per Virginia Tech, salves containing slippery elm extract have been used to treat skin ailments.
Throat
The University of Maryland Medical Center states that slippery elm coats and soothes the mouth and throat, and relieves tonsillitis and coughing. Virginia Tech adds that almost all throat lozenges contain some variant of slippery elm, either in dry or extract form. A lozenge made with slippery elm extract acts as a demulcent, which is defined by Drugs Online as an agent that soothes and relieves irritation, especially of the mucous surfaces. It also claims that slippery elm lozenges treat cough, bronchitis and relieve thirst.
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