What is slippery elm bark good for?
The slippery elm tree, also known as the red elm or Indian elm, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to North America. It is known for its dark reddish bark, which Native Americans have used for medicinal purposes for centuries.
Use in traditional medicine
Specifically, they would mix the bark with water and use the resulting sticky paste as a soothing therapeutic agent, taking advantage of the mixture's mucoprotective properties. Later on, American soldiers adopted this practice to help heal gunshot wounds during the American Revolution.
Benefits for the digestive & urinary tracts
When used internally, slippery elm bark is known for being able to soothe the stomach lining and the intestines, reducing irritation, making it useful for protecting the stomach lining while recovering from peptic ulcers, for example.
Modern research shows that slippery elm bark can actually help treat inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Slippery elm bark is also sometimes recommended to people who suffer from inflammation of the urinary tract, via the same soothing mechanism.
Benefits for the respiratory tract
It is thought that slippery elm bark can help alleviate issues in the respiratory tract by reducing throat inflammation and also reducing the severity of coughs. One study looked at people who suffered from laryngitis or throat inflammation, and found that slippery elm bark demonstrated potential soothing effects and a reduction of symptoms.
When should I take slippery elm bark?
Slippery elm bark is best taken between meals, on an empty stomach, although it also depends on what exactly you are taking it for.
For example, if you are taking slippery elm bark mainly for intestinal support, it is most effective when taken a couple of hours before a meal, to prime and protect the intestinal tract. Conversely, if you are taking slippery elm bark mainly for digestive support and treating stomach ulcers or acid reflux, it is best taken shortly after a meal.
If you are otherwise taking it for soothing the throat, then the timing any meal is less relevant, so you can take it whenever you feel the need for alleviating throat symptoms.
One interesting thing to take into account with slippery elm bark is that it actually causes a substantial percentage your gastrointestinal tract to be coated with mucilage, which means that it can inhibit the absorption of nutrients, as well as supplements or even medication. For this reason, it is recommended to take slippery elm bark by itself, without any other supplements or medications, if possible.
Slippery Elm Bark data sources & further reading
Last updated by Asklepios on 30th January, 2025