One of my favorite “go-to” medicinal plants that I use for many years is slippery elm bark powder. Slippery elm has a number of amazing benefits particularly for those with digestion issues. It is also a great plant to assist your detox journey.
What is Slippery Elm?
Elm trees are native to the Appalachian Mountains of eastern America. The natives made skin washes and tea by drying elm leaves. They ate the inner bark because it is high in carbohydrates and can be easily digested. Slippery elm bark was later picked up by American soldiers to heal gunshot wounds during the American Revolution. It was used medicinally to treat toothaches, skin injuries, gout, arthritis, stomachaches, intestinal worms, and coughs. Slippery elm is also called red elm or Indian elm. The inner bark is the only part used for therapeutic purposes.
What is it used for?
Slippery elm is great to relieve gastrointestinal conditions, sore throats, ulcers, and respiratory irritations. External uses include treatment of skin conditions, vaginitis, and hemorrhoids. It can be used as a cough medicine or as a skin smoother and softener.
Some of the benefits of using slippery elm bark powder
Blood sugar balancing
Cholesterol lowering
Anti-inflammatory and healing coating to mucous membrane surfaces
Preventing colon cancer
Acts as a prebiotic which feeds probiotics
Helps with constipation and diarrhea
How slippery elm can support your detox journey?
Slippery elm inner bark contains bioflavonoids, calcium, mucilage, starch, tannins and vitamin E. With very high amounts of mucilage, slippery elm helps improve digestion and works with the body to draw out impurities and toxins, assisting with herbal detox. Slippery elm’s tonic, coating action soothes irritated tissues of the intestines, colon, urinary tract, respiratory tract and stomach.
I drink slippery elm tea every morning as part of my daily health routine. It helps to keep my digestion happy.
