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Ulmus rubra, Slippery Elm

Red Elm
Picture
C.S. Sargent, The Silva of North America, (1898)

Picture
F.A. Michaux, The North American sylva, vol. 3 (1819)

Picture
Slippery Elm bark
1, Outer surface of the peeled bark with adhering patches of cork.
2, Fibers showing at the broken ends. 3, The long, coarsely striated inner surface.
(
Squibb's Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919)
 
Botanical name:
Ulmus rubra (syn. U. fulva)
Two different varieties of Slippery Elm were known by early Physicians:
  1. One with hard, tough bark
  2. One with very brtille bark (best)

Parts used:
Peeled bark / Inner bark

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, moist. Sweet

Uses:
1. Nourishes Yin, Benefits Lungs:

-Lung deficiency; Lung dryness with dry Cough, Wheezing
-Breathlessness, Chronic Lung disease with Yin deficiency
-Hemoptysis

2. Clears Heat, Nourishes Stomach Yin:
-Stomach dryness with excess Thirst
-Heartburn, Acid reflux, Hyperacidity
-Ulcers

3. Clears Heat:
-applied to Redness and irritation of the skin, Dermatitis, Eczema
-topically for Burns, Scalds (paste externally)
-topically for Vaginitis and Vaginal infections


Picture
Dose:
Powder: 500mg–2 grams
Fluid Extract (1:1 in 60% alcohol): 3–5 mls., 2–3 times daily.
To make a mucilage, add 1 teaspoonful of the powdered bark with an equal amount of sugar, mixed well. Mix with a little cold water to a paste, then add hot water to form a jelly. Taken in teaspoonful doses for sore throat, stomach irritation etc. If more water is added it can be taken as drink.

Correctives:
1. Ginger; Cinnamon
2. Honey

Substitutes:
1. Marshmallow root

Main Combinations:
1. Chronic Lung Yin deficiency with dry Cough, weak voice, Slippery Elm with Comfrey, Licorice
2. Heartburn:
i. Slippery Elm, Ginger, Fennel seed
ii. Slippery Elm, Red Earth, Licorice
3. Stomach Ulcers:
i. Slippery Elm, Golden Seal, Licorice
ii. Slippery Elm, Marshmallow, Yarrow, Comfrey leaf
4. Topically for Eczema, Slipper Elm, Plantain leaf, Comfrey leaf, Calendula as a wash.
5. Poultice:
i. burns, scalds, old sores, whitlow, Slippery Elm with Ginger
ii. Burns and Scalds, Slippery Elm with Raspberry leaf

Major Formulas:

Cautions:
Generally safe and well tolerated.
1. Not suitable in Cold-Phlegm conditions

Main Preparations used:

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