Thoughts and comments on Slippery Elm please :)

I have tried it and I didn't see any results. I have seen quite a few people here on HW mention having good results with it.

While I was flaring I would use it 3 x  a day, after each meal. I would take it with my VSL #3.

Now that I am in remission, I still take it, but only 1 x a day, still in combo with VSL #3.

 

I am very glad I decided to try slippery elm.
I started trying it in pill form....opening the caps and mixing with water, honey and probiotics at night. It worked Ok as far as decreasing urgency but I did not see the "thickening" that I expected.

Then I ordered Starwest slippery elm organic powder from Vitacost and noticed a big difference in the quality of the product. Now I mix it with some juice (cranberry, grape, etc) and probiotics at night and drink it down. No longer have that urgent feeling...have plenty of warning to get to the bathroom.
Also put a couple of tsp in juice and drink during the day if I eat something that may cause a problem.

FYI: Another UC suffer in the local health food store told me Marshmallow Root worked for her.

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/slippery_elmbark.php

I get slippery elm powder from Mountain Rose Herbs. I love it!

I use 1 TBSP in water; 3 times per day.

Since I have started using the slippery elm, and it did take a few weeks to really notice results, I have been feeling really good.

If you start using it, do use enough. From my research and advice here, you need at least 2 TBSP per day to see any results.
Also, give it a period of time. First you might see looser, or slimey stools, but this also works itself out. -- you need to stay with it. Give yourself a month or so as a test.\
J

Hmm I take two 400mg capsules in the morning and at night. I started taking it the same time as starting a regimen of boswellia, S. Boulardii, and kefir so I can't really identify how big of a role it plays. However, I'm in full remission for the first time in 6 years so there's no way I'd risk stopping.

Something irritates my stomach sometimes and I'm leaning towards the slippery elm, but that I can live with.

Yes, I would still recommend it for continued use through remission.
I am in remission and continue using it.

Iam using it right now and the improvements i found are: down to no/very little blood, formed stools.
However on the negative side iam experiency more gassiness and the urgency hasn't improved.

I'm though, as Q would say, hanging tough and hoping for the best. Now taking 2 teaspoons/d.

Thanks InSoFla & Conquer UC for the input!

ok i have been trying slippery elm ,but i decided to open capsule and add it to water, it didnt thicken,?!? is that bad , i drank it down , i hope thats ok straight out of the capsule ? i have a very sensitve stomach even w/o UC. i have an oregon organic brand , its what i could get. will it still work? its a 1200mg capsule

ok, i think i am a uc oddball.  i tried slippery elm a few times and each time i did the next day i had more blood.  so i stopped using it.

how is it possible that it helps so many of you and makes me worse?

I used now brand powder, mixed it with water and a drop of honey. it geled up, tasted like dirt. I had high hopes.

oh well.

I_love_coffee said...
ok, i think i am a uc oddball. i tried slippery elm a few times and each time i did the next day i had more blood. so i stopped using it.

how is it possible that it helps so many of you and makes me worse?

You are not an oddball, slippery elm doesn't work for me either. Please remember that everyone is different and what works for one may not help another. That applies for meds as well as supplements. The value of the forum is to be aware of the various options out there so you can experiment to find what works for you.

I have read about slippery elm elsewhere but it didn't seem to help. But I first heard about powdered psyllium seed from this forum and that has been a godsend. (Of course it doesn't work for everybody). Don't fall into the trap of one size fits all.