Native Americans would peel its slimy, red inner bark from twigs and branches and use it as a remedy for many common ailments, like fevers, wounds, and sore throats.
They found that when the bark is mixed with water, it generates a sticky material known as mucilage, which is therapeutic and soothing to anything it touches. The Native Americans would also wrap the inner bark of the slippery elm around their meat to keep the meat from going bad. Slippery elm bark was later picked up by American soldiers to heal gunshot wounds during the American Revolution. Slippery elm is also called red elm or Indian elm.
The inner bark is the only part used for therapeutic purposes. Slippery elm bark is a demulcent. This means that it is capable of soothing the lining of the stomach and intestines and reducing irritation. Demulcents are sometimes referred to as mucoprotective agents. One small clinical study found that a mixture containing slippery elm enhanced bowel movements in patients with constipation-predominant IBS; however, the bark was part of a mixture of ingredients, and no study to date has supported these findings.
Again, there are no studies to support or refute these claims. More research is needed. Slippery elm is sometimes recommended to people who experience unexplained inflammation of the urinary tract, like those with interstitial cystitis painful bladder syndrome.
Slippery elm powder is thought to soothe the lining of the urinary tract. Therefore, it might help alleviate the painful irritating symptoms. Again, studies are needed to either support or refute these claims.
Slippery elm may be helpful for treating occasional heartburn, also known as acid reflux. GERD is a chronic disease that occurs when stomach acid flows back into esophagus and irritates the lining. The mucilage of slippery elm coats the esophagus and may help prevent the irritation and inflammation that occurs when stomach acid flows up the esophagus. If you experience heartburn or GERD, check with your doctor.
He may agree to you trying a mix of tablespoons of slippery elm with a glass of water and drinking it after a meal as a natural remedy. For tea, pour 2 cups of boiling water over roughly 2 tablespoons of the powder and steep for a few minutes.
To make a poultice for applying to the skin , mix course powder with boiling water and let cool. However, most evidence of its effectiveness in treating these types of conditions has been anecdotal. Instead, a person wishing to treat an upper respiratory infection can take medication to ease symptoms. These may include:. Learn about home remedies for upper respiratory infections here.
According to a study , slippery elm contains mucilage, which becomes a gel-like substance when mixed with water. Instead, the NIDDK states that a person with acid reflux can take the following steps to ease symptoms:. Learn about which foods can help a person with acid reflux here. When consumed as a tea or tincture, slippery elm may help with a sore throat. This is due to the potential coating effect of mucilage , a gel-like substance.
Learn about how to soothe a sore throat safely here. A person should read the packet of whichever slippery elm product they are using.
They should follow the recommended dosage. However, the lack of studies on slippery elm means that a person should be careful when taking it for the first time. A person should talk to their doctor before taking slippery elm supplements or products, particularly if they:.
Some people believe slippery elm can treat several conditions, including acid reflux and symptoms of IBS. Some scientific studies point to promises when it comes to treating inflammation and symptoms of IBS. However, scientists have called for additional research to understand the correct dosage, effectiveness, and safety of slippery elm.
As well as medication, people can try natural…. Some people take dietary supplements to help reduce high blood pressure. Do these supplements work, and are they safe? The coating may provide short-term relief of pain and inflammation. Slippery elm also contains calcium. The calcium may act as a mild antacid. Unfortunately, research on the effects of slippery elm is limited.
Many of the existing studies are small and dated. Slippery elm should not be confused with American elm U. American elm looks similar but has no medicinal uses. Slippery elm has a long history of use in herbal medicine. It is either taken by mouth or applied topically to the skin. Some of the conditions slippery elm is believed to treat include:. It is also applied topically to the skin to help cuts and burns heal. Some proponents say slippery elm can treat other more serious illnesses, like:.
To date, there is no clinical evidence to support these claims. Here's what is known about a few specific uses. Slippery elm started appearing in commercial medicines in the s when a physician named Henry Thayer used it to make an elixir. Thayer's formula was first sold as an oral suspension, and later as lozenges. As a natural demulcent, slippery elm can soothe a sore throat. It does this by coating the lining of the throat and esophagus.
Thayer's Slippery Elm Lozenges are still being sold today. The company also makes a slippery elm lip balm. Other manufacturers produce slippery elm extracts, tinctures, lotions, and herbal teas. In the s, the Food and Drug Administration classified slippery elm as a botanical drug. It is believed safe for the treatment of minor sore throat pain. The agency did not say whether it was effective, though. Instead, they called it "a demulcent with limited clinical effects.
Slippery elm is believed by some to relieve the symptoms of acid reflux. Unfortunately its action lasts only around 30 minutes. It also does not treat the underlying causes of reflux. Advocates of slippery elm also claim it can ease many of the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease IBD. IBD includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Proponents believe slippery elm forms a temporary protective barrier in the intestines. To date, the evidence of this is mixed. A study found that slippery elm has antioxidant effects on colon tissue samples from people with ulcerative colitis.
The study did not show whether the same effect would occur if slippery elm was taken by mouth. Other scientists have looked into whether slippery elm can control the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome IBS. A study published in looked at two different formulations containing slippery elm.
The study found that all of the IBS-C subjects who took the supplements reported improvement in their symptoms. The results of this small study are promising, but more research is needed. There is some evidence that slippery elm may help certain digestive conditions, but the research is mixed.
Many of the studies are small and dated. More research is needed. Because there isn't much research, the safety of slippery elm hasn't been established. Common side effects include:. Slippery elm may coat the digestive tract. Because of this, it may interfere with the absorption of certain drugs.
If you are taking other medications, take slippery elm at least two hours before or after your other drugs. When you take your regular medications, drink plenty of water unless otherwise indicated.
In folk medicine, the outer bark of the slippery elm tree is sometimes used to induce abortion. There is little evidence that this works.
0コメント