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Slippery
elm |
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Slippery Elm (English) Ulmus fulva
(Botanical) Ulmaceae (Plant Family) Ulmi rubrae
(Pharmacopeial)
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Overview |
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The inner bark of the slippery elm tree has been used as an herbal remedy in
the United States for centuries. The mucilaginous texture of the bark is
responsible for the medicinal properties of this plant. In fact, the mucilage is
so effective in treating sore throats and coughs that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration has proclaimed slippery elm a safe and effective remedy for
soothing throat and respiratory irritation. Slippery elm is an official drug of
the U.S. Pharmacopoeia.
Native Americans traditionally employed slippery elm in healing salves for
wounds, boils, ulcers, burns, and skin inflammation. Antiseptic poultices made
from the mucilage were applied to gangrenous wounds. Legend has it that a drink
made from the bark was used to treat typhoid fever. And a pinch of the powder
inserted into a painful hollow tooth was said to be effective into preventing
decay and discomfort.
Slippery elm is also considered a wholesome nutritional food. Because the
mucilage does not dissolve but instead swells in water, it can be prepared as a
gruel similar to oatmeal. Consumed three times per day, unsweetened "elm food"
provides a sustaining source of nutrients for infants and invalids. It is gentle
and easily assimilated, and thus well-tolerated by patients with gastritis and
other forms of intestinal inflammation such as gastric catarrh, mucous colitis
(inflammation of the colon), and enteritis (inflammation of the small
intestine).
Today, the popularity of slippery elm continues to soar, dramatically
increasing the demand for it. To further complicate matters, the wood of the
slippery elm tree has no commercial value, and the trees are left to die after
their bark has been harvested. Overutilization of this species has become such a
problem that the National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs
recently launched an effort aimed at promoting sustainable cultivation of
slippery elm. |
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Macro Description |
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Slippery elm is a small- to medium-size tree native to North America. It can
reach a height of 20 m tall and is topped by spreading branches that form an
open crown. The red-brown or orange branches grow in a downward direction, and
the stalkless flowers are arranged in dense, sessile-like clusters. Slippery elm
is characterized by long, obovate to oblong green leaves that darken during the
fall.
The bark has deep fissures, a mucilaginous texture, and a slight but distinct
odor. The inner bark, or bast, is traditionally sold for medicinal purposes in
long flat pieces about 2 to 3 feet long, between 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch in
thickness.
Part Used/Pharmaceutical Designation
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Constituents/Composition |
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Mucilage (polysaccharides) is composed of hexoses, pentoses, methylpentoses,
polyuronides, and one hexosan; after hydrolysis the mucilage yields galactose,
glucose, galacturonic acid, l-rhamnose, d-galactose, trace amount
of fructose. It also contains 3.0% to 6.5% tannins (unspecified), starch,
minerals, phytosterols, sesquiterpenes, calcium oxalate, cholesterol.
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Commercial
Preparations |
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Commercial preparations are made from the inner bark and wood of slippery
elm. Both finely powdered bark for mucilaginous drinks (infusions and
decoctions) and coarsely powdered bark for poultices are available. Bark should
be about 10 years old to ensure optimal medicinal benefits.
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Medicinal
Uses/Indications |
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Traditional uses: inflammation and ulcerations of gastrointestinal tract,
demulcent (soother) of alimentary canal and other inflamed areas, emollient
(skin softener and soother), nutrient, antitussive (cough preventative), and
dumulcent
Internal uses: gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, colitis, diarrhea,
esophagitis, diverticulitis, dysentery, enteritis, inflammation of the mouth and
throat, diarrhea (simultaneously soothes and astringes), convalescent or
digestive food
External uses: poultice to treat wounds, burns, abscesses, boils, scalds,
carbuncles (boil-like clusters), inflamed wounds, abrasions, ulcers, and other
skin conditions; vaginitis, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, varicose ulcers
Clinical applications: inflammation and ulcerations of gastrointestinal
tract; convalescence |
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Pharmacology |
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Only a small amount of scientific information has been published on the
pharmacology of slippery elm. The demulcent and emollient properties of this
plant presumably derive from mucilages, the main constituent of the bark.
Mucilages are known to have beneficial effects on burns, wounds, ulcers,
external and internal inflammations and irritations, diarrhea, and dysentery
effects. Laboratory research has shown that mucilaginous medicinal plants are
capable of decreasing local irritation in acute gastritis. In addition,
mucilages from plants suppress coughing by providing a protective coating on the
respiratory mucosa. |
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Dosage Ranges and Duration of
Administration |
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Internal use:
- Decoction (1:8) made from powdered bark, 4 to 16 ml tid; or 5 to 20 ml
(1:10) taken as often as needed (can be added to juice or oatmeal)
- Capsules: 2 to 4 g tid in 500 mg capsules
- Infusions: 4 g powdered bark in 500 ml boiling water tid as
nutritional supplement
External use:
Coarse powdered bark (with adequate mucilage for viscosity, or mass
consistency) is mixed with boiling water for poultices. |
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Side
Effects/Toxicology |
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There is inadequate information to determine the potential toxicity of
slippery elm. There are no reports of toxicity and slippery elm is considered by
most to be nontoxic, since none of its main constituents are known to produce
adverse side effects. Although the Council of Europe lists this plant as a
natural food flavoring, the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee (FACC)
recommends that it not be used as a food additive. |
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Warnings/Contraindications/Precautions |
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No known side effects or health hazards have been reported for slippery elm
when it is properly administered in recommended therapeutic doses.
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Interactions |
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No clinically significant interactions between slippery elm and conventional
medications are known to have been reported in the literature to
date. |
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Regulatory and Compendial
Status |
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The powdered bark is listed as a licensed product in Schedule 1, Table A in
the General Sale List (GSL) in the UK. Unpowdered or whole bark has restricted
regulatory status for pharmacy use only. Slippery elm is an official entry in
the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, and the U.S. FDA states that slippery elm is a safe and
effective throat and respiratory soother. |
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References |
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Beveridge RJ, Szarek WA, Jones JK. Isolation of three oligosaccharides from
the mucilage from the bark of Ulmus fulva (slippery elm mucilage).
Synthesis of O-(3-)-Methyl-B-D-galactopyranosyl) (1-4)-L-rhamnose. Carbohydr
Res. 1971;19:107-116.
Beveridge RJ, Stoddart JP, Szarek WA, Jones JK. Some structural features of
the mucilage from the bark of Ulmus fulva (slippery elm mucilage).
Carbohydr Res. 1969;9:429-439.
Blakley T. Slippery elm: Comparative study of the effects of plant spacing on
plant development and yield. Research Farm Proposal No. 6088. Collaborating
Team, The National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs. Project
Period 1998–2008. Available at:
www.ncpmh.org/6088.html.
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. 4th ed. Great Britain:Biddles Ltd,
Guildford and King's Lynn; 1996.
Duke JA. The Green Pharmacy. New York: St Martin's Press; 1977: 170,
209, 490 1997
Duke JA. Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Ulmus rubra
MUHLENB. (Ulmaceae)—Red Elm, Slippery Elm. Dr. Duke's
Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Agricultural Research Service (ARS),
Phytochemical Database, USDA - ARS - NGRL, Beltsville Agricultural Research
Center, Beltsville, Maryland. Available at:
www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/farmacy2.pl.
Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Vol. II. New York, NY: Dover; 1971.
Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines.
Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 1998.
Gysling E. Leitfaden zur Pharmakotherpie. Vienna: Huber, Bern
Stuttgart; 1976:86.
Hahn HL. 1987 Husten: Mechanismen, pathophysiologie und therapie. Disch
Apoth A 127. 1987;(suppl 5): 3-26.
Hoffman D. Slippery elm, 1995. Available at:
www.healthy.net/hwlibrarybooks/hoffman/materiamedica/slippery.htm.
Kurz H. 1989 Antitussiva und Expektoranzien. Wissenschaftliche.
Verlagsgesellschaft Stuggart; 1989.
Morton JF. Mucilaginous plants and their uses in medicine. Biol Pharm
Bull. 1993;16:735-739. |
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Copyright © 2000 Integrative Medicine
Communications This publication contains
information relating to general principles
of medical care that should not in any event be construed as specific
instructions for individual patients. The publisher does not accept any
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The reader is advised to check product information (including package inserts)
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interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or
supplement discussed herein. | |