[ Home ] [ Up ]

Slippery Elm

  Physical information    

Slippery elm, a deciduous tree of Central and North America and Asia, grows to heights of about fifty feet or more. The inner bark of this small tree, which is used medicinally, is tough and flexible with a fibrous type of texture.

  Horticultural information  

The Slippery Elm is a small tree abundant in various parts of North America. The branches are very rough, the leaves long, unequally toothed, rough with hairs on both sides, the leaf-buds covered with a dense yellow Wool. The flowers are stalkless.

  Distribution  Map

Slippery Elm grows widely throughout North America, and is also known by the names Red Elm, Moose Elm and Indian Elm.  Slippery elm occurs on disturbed sites on mesic soils of lower slopes, stream banks, river bottoms; and on upland disturbed sites where spring soil moisture is adequate. It is less tolerant of inundated soils than is American elm.

Economic uses 

Of minor importance as a timber tree or ornamental.

  Medicinal uses

Native Americans used this herb extensively as both an internal and external remedy. This medicinal herb was used by about a dozen tribes as a demulcent, salve and mild laxative. In addition, the Indians applied this bark in the form of a poultice to wounds and burns. The Ojibwas of North America used the bark to make a tea useful for treating sore throats and coughs.

Most of the effects of this herb can be explained on the basis of the large amount of mucilage containing cells which surround every fiber of the bark. After the bark contacts water, the mucilage cells then swell and produce a lubricating, demulcent, emollient or laxative effect.

This herb may also be used in the treatment of consumption, tuberculosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, gastritis, nephritis, gastric ulcers, scalding urine, croup, inflammation of the bowels, skin eruptions, sores, poison ivy, female problems, tumors and vaginal irritation. It is also high in calcium, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, niacin, riboflavin and thiamine.

The inner bark of this elm tree has long been used as a survival health food. It was said to help keep George Washington's army alive during the terrible winter at Valley Forge. In addition, many pioneer families survived on slippery elm gruel when no other food was available.

 References 

A Handbook of Native American Herbs by Alma R. Hutchens (Boston, Mass.: Shambhala, 1992).
Herbs that Heal by Michael A. Weiner, Ph.D. and Janet Weiner (Mill valley, CA: Quantum Books, 1994).
Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pedersen (Warsaw, IN: Wendell W. Whitman Company, 1994).
"Slippery Elm" by Dr. John R. Christopher in The Herbalist (Vol. 11, No. 3., 1977).
"Slippery Elm" in Nature's Field (May/June 1986).
The Wild Rose Scientific Herbal by Terry Willard, Ph.D. (Calgary, Alberta,Canada: Wild Rose College of Natural Heating Ltd., 1991).
The Yoga of Herbs by Dr. Vasant Lad and David Frawley (Santa Fe, New Mexico: Lotus Press, 1986).

 Other sites of interest

This page written by Sean Mckeown  for Bio 141, Botany, Fall 98