Slippery elm
Scientific names: Ulmus rubra, Ulmus fulva
Family: Ulmaceae
Alternate names: Indian Elm, Moose Elm, Olmo Americano, Orme, Orme Gras, Orme Rouge, Orme Roux, Red Elm, Sweet Elm
Actions: Astringent, Demulcent, Dermatologic
Background
Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) is a tree that is native to North America. Its inner bark feels slippery when chewed and may be effective for soothing sore throat.
Only the inner bark of slippery elm, not the whole bark, is used as medicine. The inner bark contains chemicals that can increase mucous secretion, which might be helpful for stomach and intestinal problems.
People use slippery elm for sore throat, constipation, stomach ulcers, skin disorders, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Only the inner bark of slippery elm, not the whole bark, is used as medicine. The inner bark contains chemicals that can increase mucous secretion, which might be helpful for stomach and intestinal problems.
People use slippery elm for sore throat, constipation, stomach ulcers, skin disorders, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Slippery elm is possibly safe for most people.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if slippery elm is safe when applied to the skin. In some people, slippery elm can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation when applied to the skin.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if slippery elm is safe when applied to the skin. In some people, slippery elm can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation when applied to the skin.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Folklore says that slippery elm bark can cause a miscarriage when it's inserted into the cervix during pregnancy. Over the years, slippery elm got the reputation for causing an abortion even when taken by mouth. Although there's no reliable information to confirm this claim, stay on the safe side and avoid slippery elm if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using slippery elm for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of slippery elm might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications taken by mouth (Oral drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Slippery elm contains a type of soft fiber called mucilage. Mucilage can decrease how much medicine the body absorbs. Taking slippery elm at the same time you take medications by mouth can decrease the effectiveness of your medication. To prevent this interaction, take slippery elm at least one hour after medications you take by mouth.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per 8 g:
- Ulmus rubra (Slippery elm) ext. 125 mg
- Glutamine 2 g
- Zinc carnosine (Polaprezinc) 74.41 mg equiv. zinc 16 mg
- Pectin 1 g
- Uncaria tomentosa ext. 200 mg
- Quercetin 100 mg
- Dimethyl sulfone (MSM) 100 mg
- Glycyrrhiza glabra ext. 50 mg
- Matricaria chamomilla ext. 20 mg
- Aloe barbadensis ext. 2.5 mg
- Althaea officinalis ext. 5 mg
- Hibiscus esculentus ext. 25 mg
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Per 6 g (Orange Mango):
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Per 5 g:
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Per 5 g:
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Per 5 g (Pear):
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Per 5 g (Vanilla):
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Per tablet:
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Per 0.35 g:
- Ulmus rubra (Slippery elm) (bark inner) powder
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus casei
- Lactobacillus acidophilus (DDS-1)
- Larix occidentalis (arabinogalactan) (Larch)
- Cichorium intybus (root) (Chicory)
- Lactobacillus fermentum
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Pediococcus acidilactici
- Bifidobacterium infantis
- Streptococcus thermophilus
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus bulgaricus
- Lactobacillus salivarius
- Entero-coccus faecium
- Bacillus subtilis
- Apple pectin
- Lactobacillus gasseri
- Lactobacillus sporogenes
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Per 5 g:
- Ulmus rubra (Slippery elm) (bark) powder
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Marine collagen peptides 250 mg
- Lepidium meyenii (root) powder
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR-32)
- Bifidobacterium longum (BL-05)
- Zinc
- Cannabis sativa powder 520 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 370 mg
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) flour (Flaxseed) 250 mg
- Wheatgrass powder
- Sunflower lecithin
- Citrus limon (juice) (Lemon)
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato)
- Apple pectin
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon)
- Fragaria ananassa (juice) powder (Strawberry)
- Garcinia mangostana (fruit) powder
- Punica granatum juice dry
- Carica papaya (fruit) powder
- Vaccinium macrocarpon (fruit) powder
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Lycium barbarum (fruit)
- Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui berry)
- Silybum marianum powder
- Astragalus membranaceus (root) powder
- Equisetum arvense (herb) powder
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Camellia sinensis powder
- Withania somnifera (root) powder
- Eleutherococcus senticosus (root) powder
- Echinacea purpurea (root) powder
- Melissa officinalis powder
- Taraxacum officinale (leaf) powder
- Zingiber officinale (root) powder
- Rosa canina powder
- Vaccinium myrtillus (fruit) powder
- Mushroom powder
- Kakadu plum powder
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Panax ginseng powder
- Curcuma longa (root) powder
- Backhousia citriodora (leaf)
- Thaumatin
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain)
- Protease
- Phyllanthus emblica (fruit) powder
- Morindae officinalis (fruit) powder
- Marine algae
- Malpighia glabra (fruit) powder
- Medicago sativa 200 mg
- Sambucus nigra (fruit)
- Vaccinium corymbosum (fruit) powder
- Hordeum vulgare powder 200 mg
- Salvia hispanica (seed) powder
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Per 10 g:
- Ulmus rubra (Slippery elm) (bark inner) powder
- Pea protein isolate
- Malus (Apple)
- Apple pectin
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed)
- Sunflower lecithin
- Marine algae
- Wheatgrass powder
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Zingiber officinale
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Cynara scolymus
- Ribes nigrum
- Vitis vinifera
- Malpighia glabra
- Vaccinium myrtillus
- Camellia sinensis
- Rosa canina
- Centella asiatica
- Silybum marianum
- Rhodiola rosea
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Withania somnifera
- Taraxacum officinale
- Lycium chinese (berry)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid
- Beta glucan
- Ubiquinol-10 (Coenzyme Q10)
- Dunaliella salina
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Potassium phosphate dibasic
- Magnesium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Natural pineapple flavour
- Zinc citrate
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenomethionine
- D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Retinyl palmitate
- Cholecalciferol
- Copper gluconate
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Folate
- Chromium picolinate
- Panax ginseng
- Fucus vesiculosus
- Stevia rebaubiana (leaf)
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1)
- Biotin
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Lentinula edodes (fruiting body)
- Hordeum vulgare
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Theobroma cacao
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Astragalus membranaceus
- Manganese gluconate
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2)
- Fallopia japonica
- Amylase enzyme
- Protease
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Bacopa monnieri
- Salvia officinalis
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
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This monograph was last reviewed on 16/01/2025 11:00:00. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
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