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2006.
Awaiting revision 2007
Slippery Elm - Ulmus Fulva
Slippery Elm is a member of the Elm (Ulmus)
family. Native to Canada and the US, it can be found growing in
the Appalachian Mountains. The inner bark is collected from
trees which are at least 10 years old, and is mainly powdered
for therapeutic use.
Slippery Elm was traditionally used by Native Americans
as a poultice for boils, ulcers and for wounds in general.
Internally, it was commonly used for colds or fevers and to soothe
an irritated digestive system - one of its main uses today.
Uses Today
The major use for
Slippery Elm today is to soothe the bowel in
condition of inflammation - especially colitis
and irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS). It is also similarly helpful in other
inflammatory bowel conditions such as
diverticulitis and
diverticulosis.
Slippery Elm is such a specific
remedy for helping these conditions that it is almost a
crime that doctors and hospital don't make more
use of it. It will often soothe the pain of patients suffering
these ailments within a couple of hours. This is not a case of
the slippery elm hiding the pain; by soothing
the inflamed area, the pain - a signal from the body that
something is wrong - simply goes away because there is no need
for it.
Now, of course, the cause of
the condition must still be dealt with - may be it's a congested
colon; maybe it's a constitution which is easily stressed; but the
slippery elm is a great herbal 'tool' to help deal with the
symptoms, while the cause is being sorted out. Appropriate
practitioners might be need to help sort out the causes.
How To Use The Slippery Elm
For inflammatory bowel
conditions like this, the Slippery Elm is made into a thin type of 'porridge' type
of drink. It is sometimes called 'gruel' - which sounds pretty
awful; and sometimes called 'tea' - which sounds as if it is thin;
but it is not - it's quite glutinous.
But this is
the benefit of slippery elm - its glutinous nature helps it
adhere to the inside stomach/intestine walls, and do its job
of nourishing and soothing.
Slippery Elm is a very safe herb, so the risk of using
it is almost zero. However, you must treat the
cause of the problem, as indicated above, or the
symptoms will just keep recurring.
You can take slippery elm in
capsules - but much better to take it in the drink form if you can.
Just avoid any preparations with any additives - such as sugar. It
simply needs no additives at all.
The 'Slippery' part of
Slippery Elm refers to the texture of the herb. This is because of
the large mucilage content of Slippery Elm, which is also responsible for its
wonderful healing and soothing action. In most herbal literature
this is termed a 'demulcent' or an 'emollient' agent, which means
it is a soothing substance.
It not only soothes and heals all that it comes into contact with,
but is highly nutritious. Slippery Elm is a wholesome food for the
weak and convalescent, from infants to the elderly.
Listed below are some of the most common uses for Slippery Elm.
Externally *
Slippery Elm makes a wonderful poultice, applied
locally,
for drawing out toxins, especially those
associated with
boils, spots or abscesses and can assist the
removal of
splinters.
* Applied to wounds, burns and inflammation of any
kind,
Slippery Elm will help to soothe, heal and
reduce swelling
and pain.
<Tip> 'A Modern Herbal' by Mrs Grieves, written in the
1930's, gives different preparations and combinations of Slippery
Elm for poultices and ointments. Go to www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/e/elmsli09.html
to find the online version of Mrs Grieves' text on Slippery Elm and
its uses.
Because of the mucilage content of Slippery Elm, it can be just as
valuable internally as externally.
[Next: Use of Slippery Elm
Internally]
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