What is Slippery Elm?
Botanists deem slippery elm Ulmus rubra Muhl., named by the Pennsylvania botanist, Henry Ludwig Muhlenberg (1756-1817) in a 1793 publication. The eminent French botanist who spent ten years in America and authored the first floristic work of North America, Andre Michaux (1746-1802) named the tree Ulmus fulva. However, the name Ulmus rubra was published first, therefore it has priority. Unfortunately, many herb books still use the long obsolete name Ulmus fulva. Ulmus is the classical name for elms. The species name rubra meaning red, refers to the rust color of the tree’s buds before the leaves appear in spring. Our common name elm is the ancient name from Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Gothic, and Teutonic dialects, remaining unchanged in modern English. Knowing the current scientific name for a plant can be extremely helpful if you are looking for information or for a tree properly labeled in a botanical garden. I happened to be in the Boston area for the weekend and needed a picture of a slip
Slippery elm or Ulmus fulva is a plant that is used in many forms of alternative and folk medicine. The inner bark of the slippery elm is the portion extracted for use in poultices or ground into a powder that can be ingested to soothe a number of aches and pains. Found in parts of the United States and Canada, processed versions of slippery elm are sold in many herb shops and health food stores around the world. Part of the effectiveness of slippery elm has to do with the range of vitamins and minerals found in the inner bark. Significant amounts of several of the B vitamins are contained in slippery elm, along with moderate amounts of Vitamin A and selenium. Trace amounts of Vitamin E, Vitamin K and magnesium are also present in slippery elm. While many different claims are made for the healing powers of slippery elm, the ability of the plant to help ease inflammation in many parts of the body is the most often cited use. In powder form, the herbal concoction can be combined with liq
The use of slippery elm in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous. Slippery elm is also known as Ulmus fulva, red elm, sweet elm, Indian elm, and moose elm. Slippery elm has been used orally to soothe irritation or ulceration of the stomach and intestines. Topically or locally, it has been used for toothaches, cold sores, abcesses, boils, ulcers, burns, and other skin conditions. Slippery elm has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of slippery elm may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these c
