Slippery Elm

Ulmus fulva

Family: Ulmaceae
Genus : Ulmus
Species: fulva

Synonyms and Common names: red elm, moose elm, American elm, Indian elm, rock elm, sweet elm, winged elm

Description and Habitat: A member of the family Ulmaceae, which includes the Elm tree. Ulmus is a small deciduous tree with rough branches carrying alternate, irregularly serrated long leaves, rough above and downy below, and dense clusters of small flowers. The leaf buds are covered with dense yellow wool. It is a native of eastern and central North America.

The flowers open before the leaves, from February to May, depending on weather and location. Seeds ripen from April to June and are dispersed by wind and water as soon as they are ripe. Dispersal is by gravity and wind. Seedlings become established under a wide variety of conditions. Mineral soil seedbeds are best, but seeds germinate and survive in forest litter or among herbaceous plants. Slippery elm sprouts readily from the stump or root crown. Rhizomes can also produce seedlings. This species of Elm is susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease and as much as 30% of Americas Ulmus fulva has been lost to this disease

Parts used: Inner bark and leaves.

Collection and preparation: The best time to harvest the inner bark of the Slippery Elm is in the spring when the inner bark peels away easily from the outer. The mucilaginous from this flexible inner bark tastes from pleasant to flat. This inner bark produces large mucilage cells surrounding the fibres that do not dissolve in water, but when exposed to the air and water they swell up into thick jelly-like substances. A coarse powder and a fine powder are manufactured from the dried inner bark of the Slippery Elm Tree, the coarse powder more suitable for poultices and the fine powder for ingesting. Leaves are best collected when fresh and green in spring and early summer, dried, cut and used as a tea.

As the Slippery Elm tree is not indigenous to Britain, it is best bought ready powdered.

Constituents: Mucilage, composed of galactose, 3-methyl galactose, rhamnose and galacturonic acid residues.

Actions:  Demulcent, emollient, nutrient, astringent, anti-inflammatory

Indications and Therapeutics: Slippery Elm is indicated in; inflammation or ulceration of stomach or duodenum, convalescence, colitis, diarrhoea; locally as a poultice for boils, abscesses and ulcers.  It is an excellent remedy for Inflammation and ulceration of the gastro-intestinal tract such as oesophagitis, gastritis, colitis, gastric or duodenal ulcers and diarrhoea. It's soothing demulcent and nutritive actions make it especially suitable for sensitive or inflamed mucous membrane linings in the digestive system. It has often been used as a food during convalescence as it is gentle and easily assimilated. In diarrhoea, it soothes and astringes at the same time. Externally, it makes an excellent poultice for use in cases of boils, abscesses, ulcers or burns.

Contraindications: Slippery Elm is an herb with high fibre content, any high fibre products are contraindicated in the case of impacted bowel or bowel blockage of any origin. Slippery Elm is becoming harder to get due to over collection in the past, as a result the outer bark is sometimes substituted for the inner bark, however, the outer bark does not have the same constituents so is inferior, it is also an abortifacient, so take care that you only buy from a reputable supplier and what you buy is definitely the inner bark.

Preparation and dosage
Decoction: 1 part of the fine powdered bark to 8 parts of water, mix the powder in a little water to mix to a paste, then        add the rest of the water and bring it to the boil, simmer gently for around 10 to 15 minutes. Drink half a cup three times a      day.
Poultice: Mix coarse powdered bark with enough boiling water to make a paste. Use as required.A Slippery Elm           compound excellent for coughs is made as follows: Cut obliquely one or more ounces of bark into pieces about the     thickness of a match; add a pinch of Cayenne flavour with a slice of lemon and sweeten, infusing the whole in a pint of         boiling water and letting it stand for 25 minutes. Take this frequently in small doses. It is considered one of the best           remedies that can be given as it combines both demulcent and stimulating properties. Being mucilaginous, it rolls up the         mucous material so troublesome to the patient and passes it down through the intestines.

 n typhoid fever, the Slippery Elm drink, prepared as for coughs, is recommended, serving a threefold purpose, to cleanse,      heal and strengthen, the patient being allowed to drink as much as desired until thirst has abated, and other remedies can be     used. If the patient is not thirsty, a dose of 2 large tablespoonfuls every hour for an adult has been prescribed

Folklore and additional comments: The bark has also been used historically as an abortifacient, first moistened with water and then inserted into the cervix. This practice became thoroughly regulated by "elm stick laws" in several US states, which forbade selling pieces of slippery elm bark longer than a certain length. Selling whole Slippery Elm bark is banned in several countries including Britain because of this.

The fibrous inner bark is a strong and durable fibre, which can be spun into thread, twine or rope. It can be used for bow strings, ropes, jewellery, clothing, snowshoe bindings, woven mats, and even some musical instruments.

The wood is used in America for the hubs of wagon wheels, as it is very shock resistant owing to the wood's interlocking grain.

Once cured, the wood is also excellent for making fires with the bow drill method, as it grinds into a very fine, flammable powder under friction.