A native to eastern North America, Elm trees may be found from Canada to Georgia, from Texas to Minnesota, but especially in the Appalachian Mountain region. The slippery elm is less affected by the Dutch elm disease that wiped out so may trees in the last few decades. It is also called Indian elm, red elm (because of the wood color), moose elm, and sweet elm.
The Slippery Elm grows to a height of 30 to 60 feet. The leaves are about 6 inches long, growing alternately on the branch, and have a rough texture and coarsely double-serrated edges. The flowers appear before the leaves in early spring in clusters of ten to twenty. The fruit is half an inch long containing a single central seed. Slippery Elm may be distinguished from American Elm by the hairiness of the buds and twigs and by the very short-stalked flowers.
Slippery elms have been the object of poachers because of the $23 billion dollar herb industry in the United States. From mid June to early July the bark is slippery and easy to peel. The trees are stripped and left to die while the bark is sold for great profit.
Some believe the bark can induce labor, forcing an abortion. When longer pieces of the bark are moistened and inserted into a pregnant woman's uterus, drugs from the bark are said to cause the woman's baby to abort. This illegal and immoral practice resulted in so called "Elm Stick Laws" limiting the size of the bark sold in many states. Because of its potential abortafaciant capability, pregnant or lactating women should not take slippery elm internally. This is the only known hazard in taking the herb.
Elm was popular to the early colonists for they used it to preserve grease, to make pudding, to thicken jelly, and as a mush for survival during long trips. They also used it as a medicine to treat coughs, skin injuries, intestinal worms, toothaches, gout, arthritis, and stomachaches.
The inner bark was also used to waterproof canoes, baskets, and dwellings. It can be made into a gruel. In times of famine, early American settlers used it as a survival food; George Washington and his troops survived for several days on slippery elm gruel during their bitter winter at Valley Forge.
The inner bark is a durable, strong fiber, which can be spun into thread, or made into twine or rope. This quality makes it useful for bowstrings, jewelry, ropes, snowshoe bindings, clothing, woven mats, and in some musical instruments. The wood was used for the hubs of wagon wheels because of the wood's interlocking grain. This made it a natural shock absorber. When the wood is cured, it is excellent for making matchless fires with the bow drill method. This is because the wood grinds into a very fine, flammable powder under friction.
As an internal medication, slippery elm bark is used to relieve ulcers and other gastrointestinal conditions and respiratory irritations. The bark has healing properties ideal for treating sore throats or suppressing coughing. External uses include treatment of hemorrhoids, skin conditions, and vaginitis. It has been proven effecting in giving smoother, softer skin.
The recommended dosage is three 500 mg capsules daily for adults. Tea can be made with one part slippery elm powder to eight parts water. It can also be added to oatmeal or juice. For a poultice, add coarse powdered bark to boiling water. Apply to the needed area when cool. For children, remember that herbal dosages are generally calculated for a 150 lb adult. If a child weighs 50 lb, the correct dose is 1/3 of the adult dosage.
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