Slippery Elm Bark

Slippery elm, or Ulmus rubra, is a tree native to the central and eastern United States and Ontario, Canada.

The tree is known for its dark brown to reddish brown bark and can reach a height of 60-80 feet. 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 can be used to help treat symptoms like Imflammatory Bowel Diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Soothing a cough and sore throat, Irritation of the urninary tract, Heart Burn and GERD. Slippery Elm Bark can be found in the form of lozenges, powder and pill form.