Also known as: Red Elm, Moose Elm, Indian Elm
Botanical Overview
- Family: Ulmaceae
- Parts Used: Inner bark (dried and powdered)
- Energetics: Cooling, moistening
- Taste: Bland, mucilaginous, slightly sweet
Herbal Actions
- Demulcent (soothing to mucous membranes)
- Emollient
- Vulnerary (wound healing)
- Nutritive
- Mild expectorant
Traditional Uses
North American Indigenous Medicine:
- Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Ojibwe, and Lakota, used slippery elm inner bark extensively.
- Applied as a poultice for wounds, burns, boils, and skin inflammation.
- Taken as a gruel or tea for sore throats, coughs, digestive upset, diarrhea, and urinary irritation.
- Used as a survival food during times of scarcity due to its nutritive, porridge-like properties.
Western Herbalism:
- Recognized by the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from the 1820s to the mid-20th century.
- Traditionally prescribed for:
- Respiratory issues: soothing sore throats, dry coughs, and bronchitis.
- Digestive support: coating irritated mucosa in gastritis, ulcers, colitis, and diarrhea.
- Topical applications: treating wounds, ulcers, and inflamed skin.
- Still widely used today in herbal practice for mucosal healing and nourishment in convalescence.
Folklore and Historical Context
- Survival Food: Called "famine food" or "Indian bread," slippery elm bark was prepared as a gruel during food shortages.
- Frontier Medicine: Pioneers relied on slippery elm as both medicine and food; it was a staple in early American folk medicine.
- Protective Symbol: Among some tribes, the tree was considered protective. The inner bark was carried as a talisman against disease and misfortune.
- Colonial Accounts: Early settlers documented its soothing qualities and adopted it into their pharmacopeia.
Magickal Aspects
- Planetary Correspondence: Saturn
- Element: Water
- Magickal Properties: Protection, healing, grounding, nurturing
Uses in Magick:
- Protection: Carried as bark chips or sprinkled around a home to protect against harm.
- Healing: Incorporated into sachets or charms to aid physical recovery and comfort.
- Grounding & Nourishment: Used in rituals focused on emotional or spiritual restoration.
- Communication: Sometimes burned as incense to help “smooth” difficult conversations, echoing its soothing effect on the throat.
- Dream Magic: Placed near the bed to promote calm and peaceful sleep.
Pharmacological Components
- Mucilage (polysaccharides): Forms a soothing, slippery gel when mixed with water, coating and protecting irritated tissues.
- Tannins: Provide mild astringency, useful in wound healing.
- Nutrients: Contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, and some carbohydrates, contributing to its nutritive qualities.
Precautions
- General Safety: Considered very safe when used appropriately; commonly given even to children and the elderly.
- Drug Interactions: The mucilage may interfere with the absorption of pharmaceuticals—take slippery elm at least 1–2 hours apart from medications.
- Conservation Concerns: Overharvesting has threatened wild populations. Sustainably harvested sources or cultivated bark should be prioritized.
Preparation and Dosage
Traditional Preparations:
- Tea/Infusion: 1-2 tsp powdered bark in hot water, drunk slowly for throat or digestive soothing.
- Gruel/Porridge: Powdered bark mixed with warm water or milk for nutritive support during illness.
- Poultice: Powder mixed with water into a paste, applied directly to wounds, burns, or inflamed skin.
- Lozenges: Modern preparation for sore throat relief.
Typical Dosage:
- Infusion: 1 cup, up to 3 times daily.
- Capsules: 400–500 mg powdered bark, 2–3 times daily.
- Poultice: Applied as needed to affected areas.
Wrap Up
Slippery elm is one of the most soothing and nourishing herbs in North American herbal medicine. Traditionally valued as both food and medicine, it remains a key demulcent and vulnerary for the digestive tract, respiratory system, and skin. Its folklore emphasizes its protective and nurturing qualities, aligning closely with its herbal actions and magical associations. Used with respect and harvested sustainably, slippery elm continues to offer gentle but profound healing support.
Sources Consulted:
- Hoffmann, D. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine
- Mills, S., & Bone, K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy
- Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal
- Moerman, D. Native American Ethnobotany
- Gladstar, R. Herbal Healing for Women
Available at AradiaRose Apothecary
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