An old fashioned remedy that works (Slippery Elm)

Member Name: laramax

Product:	Slippery Elm
Date:	17/04/08 (193 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great for uspet stomachs, easy to take and it works

Disadvantages: None that I have found

Slippery Elm - what a wonderful name for a very old fashioned remedy. "What is it?" - you may wonder. It is a powder derived from the bark of the Slippery Elm Tree. It has been in use for centuries as a remedy for digestive problems and is known as a 'gentle and effective remedy for irritated states of the mucous membranes of the chest, urinary tubules, stomach and intestines'. Its Latin name is 'Ulmus Rubra'.

It has a strange name I know but it is a light coloured pleasant-smelling powdered bark. When added to water, the powdered bark becomes a soothing 'mucilage' which moistens and soothes. In addition the herb's tannins are astringent which makes slippery elm ideal to soothe inflammations, reduce swelling, and heal damaged tissues.

The mucilage is the largest constituent of slippery elm bark, but the tree also contains starch, sugar, calcium, iodine, bromine, amino acids, and traces of manganese and zinc. Some people eat slippery elm to soothe and nourish the body.

What can you use it for?
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It is said that Slippery elm helps heal internal mucosal tissues, such as the stomach, vagina, and esophagus so it is commonly used for upset stomachs. It is suggested it can be used for people who suffer from prolonged flu, stomach upset, chronic indigestion, and resulting malnutrition. Similarly you can use slippery elm to soothe ulcers and stomach inflammation, irritated intestines, vaginal inflammation, sore throat, coughs, and a hoarse voice.

My opinion
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I came across this remedy some time ago when I had a kitten with a bad bout of diarrhoea which I was trying to resolve. I heard about Slippery Elm as a traditional remedy for that sort of problem. I discovered a product manufactured by Dorwest called 'Tree Barks Powder' which contained Slippery Elm amongst its list of ingredients and I tried that. All I needed to do was to add about 1/4 teaspoonful of the powder to the kitten's food and within about 24 hours the upset to the system was resolved.

As often happens with young kittens, and indeed puppies, the problem recurred occasionally (I suspect as the result of an over enthusiastic appetite) and again the remedy worked. I would not advocate using it for a serious problem or when the animal appears generally unwell as the best course of action in that case would be to take the animal to the vet, but for minor tummy upsets it is a good standby to have in the cupboard.

A few weeks later I was chatting to my mother on the phone and she was explaining to me how she was suffering from dreadful stomach upsets following iron transfusions and had been advised that it was just a side effect which she would have to tolerate. Racking my brains for something to suggest I mentioned the Slippery Elm and she remembered that this was something her grandmother used to give her when she was little. A quick trip to Holland & Barrett and she discovered that it was available in a capsule so she bought some. They worked and certainly eased her discomfort so Slippery Elm became her regular standby and she struggled through her treatment.

It is said that you can use it for any irritation of the mucous membranes but to be honest I have never tried it in that context. I do know it works for digestive problems and is effective and gentle - you might want to think about keeping it in your cupboard as a stand by remedy ready for the next time your stomach is upset.

Would I recommend it?
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Yes I would. I always keep a bottle of the capsules in my cupboard because I find it is effective. As you can see from my experiences above it works for humans and for animals and it one of nature's effective remedies for a common problem. I am firm believer that nature has an arsenal of remedies available to us which work and I prefer to use something like this than put money into pharmaceutical companies pockets if I don't need to. That said if you have a serious problem see your doctor, if you have a minor problem try this

Summary: It would seem that my great-grandmother knew best!