Slippery Elm

I took it for a while several different times and quit every time. I just didn't see where it was helping and if there was any benefit at all it was just too small to be worth the cost. It coats your insides, which supposedly helps your colon but this coating also hurts the absorption of other meds you are taking. My Asacols would just slip through unused. I also take blood pressure medicine which I can't afford to have slip through. They say to time the dosage of your other meds to be several hours before or after taking slippery elm but I never could figure that out because for slippery elm to properly work it would really need to coat your insides 24/7 and if within a couple of hours of taking it your insides are no longer coated, allowing you to take other meds, then what is the point? I think it is probably a good supplement to take if you are not taking any other meds as long as you coat your insides 24/7 but I don't think it works very well if you plan on taking regular meds during the day and take the slippery elm too sporadically to coat your insides 24/7.

Hi UCinNC,

My family is from NC, too--hope you're a tarheel and not a Duke fan! :)

I have taken slippery elm for a while and, in the beginning anyway, it worked wonders! I'm off of it now for the same reasons gary talked about--I take meds basically every two or three hours and can't ensure that they are being absorbed with the elm, but with a once or twice a day med regimen, it can be done IMO. To answer your questions:

1) It very quickly stopped the bleeding almost completely. I went into a bad flare later and the bleeding came back. Oh well, I still attribute the disappearance in the first place to the elm. It also helped a ton with heart burn and it settled my stomach in the mornings.
2) Powder...I suggest the bottled kind you can get at a supplement store for $10/bottle, not the expensive bags they sell at health food stores. Way more money and the texture is horrific.
3) I started on 1tsp in one cup water once a day and gradually increased to 2-3tsp/cup twice a day. I'm not sure if the increase made a difference physically, but it was a mental thing, too.

NC,

I've been using slippery elm powder (organic) for several years now and it's great. IMO it is much better than mesalamines.

It helps eliminate acid reflux and GERD.

It coates the whole intestinal tract.

When I was flaring, I used to take it after every meal.

I would make a "cocktail" of it, in 1-2 oz of room temp filtered water, I would add 1 heaping teaspoon of it, + probiotics, mix it well and drink it down.

Since being in remission, I still take it after dinner.

There are different qualities of it, some poor and some great.

The pills are useless. And I would only recommend the organic slippery elm powder ( it's about $20 per pound, but that pound probably lasts a good 6-9 months depending on usage). Well worth it and pretty cheap for something that works great.

As has already been mentioned, you do need to take it apart from any meds (due to absorption problems) by 2-3 hours.

BTW, you've probably heard of the fiber called psyllium husk or psyllium seed husk powder - well the same is true of it, any meds need to be taken 2-3 hours apart from it too.

Anyway, it's certainly cheap enough that you could try it and see how you do on it, no?

 

As InSoFla mentioned, you might want to look at Organic Psyllium Seed Powder (approx. $15 LB on Amazon). This product has really helped and worked much better for me than slippery elm. I don't like metimucil or some of the other fiber supplements as they tend to be a bit harder on me. It reduced inflammation and is very gentle but very effective.

Best...

protocotek,

But they both serve different purposes; slippery elm powder coates the whole intestinal tract whereas psyllium seed powder is used as a fiber, and bulking agent and for those with regularity issues psyllium seed powder works very well. As it has worked well for you.

And they both carry the same caveat:  they must be taken 2-3 hours away from any meds due to absorption interactions.

 

To all of you interested in using slippery elm. There are many advantages in using this herb for many health problems. In order for it to help the digestive system: It has been recommended to take a spoonful of the herb and make a paste from it by adding a little water. After you have it mixed up smoothly take 8 ozs. of ho***er and add the paste to that and make tea. You can add honey to it or stevia. I wouldn't recommend sugar before its not good to put that in herbs. It takes away the benefits of the herb.

If you are on any medications, take the tea at 2 hours before or 2 hours after your meds. because slippery elm is a mucilage herb and it coats the insides. It is very good for the digestive system, respiratory and the intestines and other parts of the body. You can go on the Maryland Medical University and find information on this herb. Some websites call it "THE MIRACLE HERB" been used for thousands of years like "Aloe Vera" I really think the human family needs to get back to using herbs because that is what God put them here for. So many benefits but, we have to know how to use them properly. I am not an herbalist or nutritionist but, I have read and use some of these things and been around people that have used them over the years. All the best to you all. Hope I have been of some help to you. REMEMBER, at least 2 hrs. before or after meds.