Slippery Elm
Ulmus rubra — also: Red elm
A gentle soothing bark with long traditional use; minimal modern trial evidence.
A North American Indigenous and settler remedy; inner-bark gruel for sore throats, coughs, and digestive upset.
Demulcent for throat, cough, and gut irritation (e.g., in some IBS/reflux folk protocols).
Mucilage soothes mucous membranes; primarily traditional and preclinical support.
- Soothing for throat, cough, and gut irritation
Traditional demulcent use; sparse human trials.
- Little modern evidence
- Sustainability concerns
- May delay drug absorption
- People treating serious GI disease with it alone
Low; like marshmallow, may slow absorption of co-administered drugs.
Separate from other oral medications by a couple of hours.
Limited pregnancy data; ensure sustainably/ethically sourced bark (overharvesting concerns).
Buy from sustainable suppliers (wild trees are over-harvested); powdered inner bark mixes to a gruel.
A close cousin to marshmallow root — soothing and gentle; mind sustainability and drug timing.