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How to use the herb slippery elm for quick, soothing relief from a variety of gastrointestinal complaints such as pain and bloating.
This time of year, tummy aches and stomach bugs seem to run rampant through any group of people where kids are involved! This is a prime situation to make full use of the many benefits of slippery elm.
When someone in my family has a stomach ache or is experiencing any sort of digestive distress (from perhaps eating out or too many sweets at a party), slippery elm is by far my favorite astringent medicinal herb (besides bitters) to use as a soothing tonic.
Slippery elm is an herb native to North America and is derived from the inner bark of the elm tree. It has long been used by traditional cultures in the New World for a variety of ailments, but its use as a digestive aid is probably the most popular.
The benefits of slippery elm for soothing the entire digestive tract are many as it forms a soothing film over any mucous membrane it comes into contact with.
Not that this matters much (to me at least), but the FDA has even approved slippery elm as a safe, demulcent substance, which means that it relieves minor pain and inflammation in mucous membranes such as what lines the digestive system. (1)
The ability to temporarily reduce inflammation and pain makes the benefits of slippery elm especially helpful for conditions such as IBS and colitis. It can also soften and add bulk to stools, so it is useful for both diarrhea and constipation issues.
Its soothing/coating qualities protect the throat and so can be helpful for persistent reflux problems as well. Even folks with ulcers and gastritis can enjoy the benefits of slippery elm.
Benefits of Slippery Elm
I have found that the most effective way to utilize the benefits of slippery elm is as a tincture. You can make the herbal tincture yourself or purchase it locally and online. Alternatively, the herb is available in pill or powder form.
Used as a tincture, it easily coats all mucous membranes from the mouth right through to the rectum as it passes through the body.
It is slightly sweet, so taking it with a swallow or two of water tastes great!
This is a good remedy to take with you when you travel.
It keeps tummy aches at bay from the anxiety that can occur from a disrupted routine and mitigates intestinal problems when the quality of the food is lower than what you would enjoy at home.
Dosage
My kids ask for it anytime they feel the need. It can safely be used up to 3 times per day. Use 28-56 drops in some water each time is what my bottle says. Always follow the directions on whatever brand you buy, of course.
Truthfully, I’ve found that you don’t need anywhere near 28-36 drops per dose. I give myself or my family maybe 10-15 drops in an ounce or so of water and that typically works fine the very first time.  I occasionally need to give another dose a few hours later, but most of the time, one dose works wonders!
How to Choose a Brand
The next time you are at the health food store, pick up a bottle of Slippery Elm tincture (this brand suggested) that is vetted as sustainably grown and harvested.
Keep it in your wellness cabinet with your other herbs and whole food supplements.
Contraindications
Please note that the slippery elm benefits cannot be enjoyed during pregnancy. It has the potential to dilate the cervix and/or stimulate uterine contractions.
Check with your practitioner before using it during breastfeeding. In some situations, it can be used safely.
References
(1) Ulmus rubra
(2) The Long, Hollow Tube: A Primer on the Digestive System
More Information
Rice Water as Gastrointestinal Remedy
The Best Herb for Candida Overgrowth
Best 3 Fertility Herbs
Food Poisoning Remedies
Safe, Nontoxic Gas Remedy for Babies
Are You a Tummy Bug Magnet?
Please visit botanicalplantations.com and see how you can order Cultivated Slippery Elm Bark.
By ordering Cultivated Slippery Elm, you help us save a tree in the wild.
Hello Sara,
My granddaughter was born prematurely at 32 1/2 weeks. She is still in icu and was supposed to come home this past Monday she is now 43 days old. Her digestion and bms were normal until the previous Friday…..we found out on Tuesday they (pediatrician..nurses) were giving her iron…she started having orange colored explosive diarrhea, back arching, screaming, horrible gas…which the nurses attributed to my daughters breast milk and diet…she eats a whole foods Wapf diet. Anyways…long story…i am afraid that her gut flora has been compromised and ecoli thrive on the free form of iron. We are looking for a more bioavailable form right now.
my question…..is the slippery elm tincture safe for babies and as far as dose, would 1/3-1/4 recommended child dose be safe/efficient?
I would use it but I can’t hold onto it. It’s just too slippery.
Anyone have tried and true help for this situation? My hubs has a loose sphincter at the esophagus/stomach that allows stomach acid to damage the delicate tissues there. He never has reflux that he actually feels but his doc, who is strictly of conventional wisdom, wants him to take Prilosec or something similar, daily. I cringe at what that will do to his gut flora and ph of stomach acid. Someone wrote somewhere that slippery elm and melatonin would help the sphincter to “tighten” up. Is this information sounding correct to anyone? Weird thing is, the doc scoped his esoph, stretched it so his food would stop getting stuck occasionally, said the scar tissue from the reflux was causing the “sticking”, yet the sphincter was what was allowing the scarring to continue. So he really wants him to use the pills to prevent further damage. When I asked if the sphincter could just be tightened, you’d think I asked this doc if he was a quack! Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated!!
Sauerkraut juice works amazing for balancing stomach acid! Either make it yourself or buy Bubbles brand. Has to not be pasturized so it has all the good probiotics in it
I have much of the same problems Mary. I (48) have gone every year to have the muscle ballooned to enlarge in my esophagus for about 6 years… Schatzki Ring. I have a hiatal hernia and acid causes major reflux for me. I have had two vocal cord polyp removal surgeries as well. Gerd can cause bad problems if left untreated. There are many things to help and possibly heal reflux to avoid a life long need for a ppi. Cultured foods and kefir are really helping lots of people “cure” themselves. Slippery Elm helps sooth and thus aide in healing. Slippery elm balls along with a few life changes may just be the fix your hubby needs. Check out Susun Weed’s youtube for making slippery elm balls.
Hi Laurie,
Im 48 and similar situation, have you been on PPI’s for your reflux? Ive been on Prilosec for 20yrs and Paxil for the same time, Ive almost weaned myself off of paxil but still on the 20mg dose of Losec, I tried taken apple cider vinegar and HCI seeing as many say to increase acid and this will cure reflux, after a week or so I ended up in hospital with a damaged esophagus, I too have a hiatus hernia and believe that part of healing is losing weight as I have been overweight all this time, now Im on a diet, I was 112k and y ideal weight should be 73kg, now I am 106kg so still have to lose about 30kg, I did lose this 30kg in the year 2000 and was able to come off both meds for about 4 months but then didn’t care of my weight and again had to take meds.
Also found I have gallbladder disease (Cholesterolosis) the wall of the GB is thick and had cholesterol polyps, so have to see the general surgeon if the polyps get bigger or gives me great pain, so I am losing the weight to help that problem as well and lowering my cholesterol load by stopping eggs and eat fish once a week and juicing, take slippery elm with oats, a cooked pear and flax seeds is my breakfast.
I think for the Hiatus Hernia, 1. lose weight (if you are really overweight like myself), 2. massage the hiatus hernia down daily, 3. I was told to do chiropractic adjustments so will start doing that soon, 4. Melotonin could tighten the LES as could other things but I am thinking if the hernia is opening the les, it may not work.
Slippery elm might be the answer for him since it will coat the esophagus lining and help the inflammation to go done which will allow the sphincter to be able to retract and close properly. This will definitely take time as any natural treatment will but much better than prilosec or the like which doesn’t help fix the overall problem. You can also try Ume boshi plum concentrate. It is ph balancing to the body and digestive tract. It will definitely help with the silent acid reflux he is having. My mom has the same thing and the ume tea is what she chooses to help. You can get it from Eden foods or possibly a local health food store. The concentrate is what you want not the paste. You add it to some hot water to make a tea. Or you can get their version of the plum balls that are easy on the go. Ume boshi is used in a macrobiotic diet and is great for positive gut flora. Good luck
What brand is reliable and where do find the product?
Do you have a brand that you can recommend for slippery elm & where to buy it? We have a leaky gut issue and glad to learn about this herb. Thanks!
Mountain Rose Herbs
also find Susun Weed’s youtube for making slippery elm balls.
To anita messenger. I have read that cherry concentrate mixed in some water is good for gout.
Good to know I’m not the only one singing its praises! It was like a miracle for my infant when relieving his tummy issues from his seizure medications. He has the powdered form mixed in his ketogenic diet meals now. I previously mixed with breastmilk and gave with an oral syringe. He started on it at 5 months of age.
What form (tincture, powder, ect…) do you think has the best results for constipation issues? Also, someone mentioned that it works great for diaper rash? How do you use it for that?
Marisa Kiser-Podvin!!! Lol