Slippery Elm is a species of elm tree native to eastern North America from North Dakota east to southern Quebec and south to northernmost Florida and eastern Texas. Slippery elm inner bark is very rich in mucilage, a complex mixture of polysaccharides that form a gelatinous fiber when water is added.
How is Slippery Elm available over the counter?
Slippery elm bark is available as slippery elm powder, slippery elm
lozenge and slippery elm tea.
Benefit
This herb is used as a demulcent and could be of benefit in treating a sore
throat. It soothes and protects mucosal tissues.
Slippery Elm Bark study
Medical nutrition therapy as a potential complementary treatment for
psoriasis--five case reports.
Altern Med Rev. 2004.
Brown AC, Hairfield M, Richards DG, McMillin DL, Mein EA, Nelson CD.
Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at
Manoa, Honolulu, HI
This research evaluated five case studies of patients with psoriasis following a
dietary regimen. There is no cure for psoriasis and the multiple treatments
currently available only attempt to reduce the severity of symptoms. Treatments
range from topical applications, systemic therapies, and phototherapy; while
some are effective, many are associated with significant adverse effects. There
is a need for effective, affordable therapies with fewer side effects that
address the causes of the disorder. Evaluation consisted of a study group of
five patients diagnosed with chronic plaque psoriasis (two men and three women,
average age 52 years; range 40-68 years) attending a 10-day, live-in program
during which a physician assessed psoriasis symptoms and bowel permeability.
Subjects were then instructed on continuing the therapy protocol at home for six
months. The dietary protocol, based on Edgar Cayce readings, included a diet of
fresh fruits and vegetables, small amounts of protein from fish and fowl, fiber
supplements, olive oil, and avoidance of red meat, processed foods, and refined
carbohydrates. Saffron tea and slippery elm bark water were consumed daily. The
five psoriasis cases, ranging from mild to severe at the study onset, improved
on all measured outcomes over a six-month period when measured by the Psoriasis
Area and Severity Index (PASI) (average pre- and post-test scores were 18.2 and
8.7, respectively), the Psoriasis Severity Scale (PSS) (average pre- and
post-test scores were 14.6 and 5.4, respectively), and the lactulose/mannitol
test of intestinal permeability (average pre- and post-test scores were 0.066 to
0.026, respectively). These results suggest a dietary regimen based on Edgar
Cayce's readings may be an effective medical nutrition therapy for the
complementary treatment of psoriasis; however, further research is warranted to
confirm these results.
Peroxynitrite scavenging activity of herb extracts.
Phytother Res. 2002.
Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) is a cytotoxicant with strong oxidizing properties
toward various cellular constituents, including sulphydryls, lipids, amino acids
and nucleotides and can cause cell death, lipid peroxidation, carcinogenesis and
aging. The aim of this study was to characterize ONOO(-) scavenging constituents
from herbs. The potency of scavenging activity following the addition of
authentic ONOO(-) was in the following order: witch hazel bark > rosemary >
jasmine tea > sage > slippery elm > black walnut leaf > Queen Anne's lace >
Linden flower. The extracts exhibited dose-dependent ONOO(-) scavenging
activities. We found that witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) bark showed the
strongest effect for scavenging ONOO(-) of the 28 herbs. Hamamelitannin, the
major active component of witch hazel bark, was shown to have a strong ability
to scavenge ONOO(-). It is suggested that hamamelitannin might be developed as
an effective peroxynitrite scavenger for the prevention of ONOO(-) involved
diseases. Slippery elm powder and tree.
Essiac for cancer?
Treatmentupdate. 1998.
AIDS: An analysis of a mixture of herbs in Essiac, an alternative-medicine
anti-cancer therapy, has shown it contains a variety of compounds which have
antioxidant activity as well as the ability to block cell growth. The Essiac
mixture contains burdock
root, Indian rhubarb, sheep sorrel, inner bark of slippery elm, watercress,
blessed thistle, red clover, and kelp. A review of patients taking Essiac shows
that there was no obvious toxicity. Clinical trials are recommended to determine
Essiac's efficacy.
Essiac.
Notes Undergr. 1995.
Essiac, an herbal formulation from the Ojibway Indians in Canada, is
composed of four herbs: burdock root, sheep sorrel, turkey rhubarb root,
and slippery elm bark. After her discovery of Essiac in 1922, Rene Caisse
reported treating and "curing" hundreds of people with cancer and other
chronic diseases. The rights to the "original" Essiac now belong to Elaine
Alexander of Vancouver, who is currently working with an unnamed health
products company to research, test, manufacture, and distribute Essiac.
However, there are a variety of sources for Essiac in the United States.
According to former chiropractor Gary Glum, sheep's sorrel destroys cancer
cells; the other three herbs are blood purifiers. In addition, Dr. Jim
Chan, naturopathic physician, says burdock root contains inulin, a
powerful immune modulator. However, there has been no basic research done
with these herbs to demonstrate their true mechanisms of action. In
addition, only anecdotal reports provide information about results. Only
laboratory and clinical studies will confirm the anti-tumor and
immune-modulating effects of Essiac. Slippery elm herb.
Phytochem Anal. 2009. Characterisation of phenolics in Flor-Essence--a compound herbal product and its contributing herbs. Commercially available herbal mixture FE, a proprietary natural health product manufactured by Flora Manufacturing and Distributing Ltd (Flora), is a unique North American traditional herbal product. FE is a chemically complex mixture of eight herbs and has not been subjected to phytochemical analysis. To develop analytical methods to undertake detailed phytochemical analyses of FE, and its eight contributing herbs, including burdock (Arctium lappa), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), Turkish rhubarb (Rheum palmatum), slippery elm Muhl. (Ulmus rubra), watercress (Nasturtium officinale), red clover Trifolium pratense, blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) and kelp (Laminaria digitata).
Traditional use
For centuries Native Americans have used slippery elm as a traditional medicine.
Singers and public speakers use slippery elm as a throat-soothing lozenge. In
fact, during the American Revolution, even gunshot wounds were routinely treated
with a poultice of this herb.
Additional pages of interest
5-htp for relaxation and
appetite control;
ahcc
for immune influence;
coq10 for metabolism;
Graviola has
anti-tumor properties as found in lab studies;
impotence can be helped
naturally;
Mangosteen
is a tropical fruit;
serrapeptase
is a potent enzyme;
saw palmetto is used for
prostate help;
sexual enhancement is
quite easily possible with herbs.