Slippery Elm

The elm family includes red, grey or soft elm. They grow commonly in the moist climates of New England and the Great Lakes region of the US and in Canada. Elm trees can be 50 feet tall and live as long as 200 years! Their bark has deep grooves. The inner bark is dried and powdered and may be taken as a tea, extract, capsule or a powder mixed into liquid. According to lore, General George Washington’s troops survived for many days on a gruel of slippery elm during the harsh winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge, Pa. The red elm tree was used by many Native American tribes for building materials, and for making ropes and cords. The Iroquois scraped the bark off and used it topically. The Dakota and other tribes boiled the fresh inner bark and drank it as a natural laxative. When mixed with water, the inner bark creates a lubricating gel that coats and soothes internal and external tissues. Natives shared their discoveries with settlers who adopted the tree and its amazing health benefits.

Dosage (adults): Take two capsules three times daily. Take with water and maintain adequate fluid intake. Take two hours before or after taking other medications or health products.