Slippery elm is a demulcent, emollient, expectorant, and diuretic. Demulcent means that it is soothing, softening, buffering, and has poison-drawing qualities. This herb has a number of health benefits. It helps to neutralise stomach acids, boost the adrenal glands, draw out impurities, and heal all parts of the body. The mucilage coats the mouth, oesophagus, and gastrointestinal tract with a slick residue. It soothes the inflammation of ulcers in the stomach and duodenum and helps to provide a barrier between the ulcer and stomach acid. It soothes irritations or ulcerations in the stomach and intestines and is good for helping with gastrointestinal conditions.
Slippery elm can help to soothe a sore throat, alleviate the pain of colic or stomach ulcers, and relieve inflammatory bowel conditions. Slippery elm helps with digestion and cleanses the colon. It is particularly helpful for easing a cough and soothing a sore throat as it coats the area and reduces irritation. Slippery elm is a tonic that benefits the adrenal glands, respiratory system, and the gastrointestinal tract. Used topically, slippery elm can relieve minor injuries such as burns, cold sores, razor burns, scrapes, and sunburn.
Other things that slippery elm can help with include:
Have you ever been through a period where the stress level is so high that your intestines give up trying to make any sense of things and go to one extreme or the other - becoming too loose or way too tight? Taking a heaping teaspoon of Slippery Elm powder every two to five hours can soothe the worst digestive inflammation of nervous diarrhea. Slippery Elm can re-establish harmony in inflamed intestines within the day, and I have personally seen it do even more marvelous and seemingly miraculous things than that. These are some of the reasons, among many others, that I have included Slippery Elm among my Ten Essentials. And besides, it tastes good too. Most people enjoy the taste, finding it somewhat nutty.
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~ life is what happens while you're busy making other plans ~ Peace ~ Sunshine
Sounds like a good tonic to have handy! Is it liquid form? Is it able to be purchased from chemist or health shop without a prescription? Just lately I could do with something like this. Don't sleep much at nights lately with a stomach that hates me trying to rest. Needless to say very difficult to get up 6am each morning for work as still working till June when I retire this year. I am waiting for some major surgery for Bladder & Bowel prolapse whic is not too pleasant at the moment either. Bloody (excuse the blaspheeming) public health system I have been going to specialists here in Brisbane for 18 months now. Probably still won't have the op done by time I retire and wlll have to come back for the op after we leave for our trip around Oz (permanent) I digress-sorry. Slippery elm I will get some asap, further info would be appreciated. Cheers Dawn
Don't know if you can get it in liquid form Dawn. I just used to buy the powder at the Healthfood shop. If you Google it, you'll probably get all the info you need. Cheers, xina.
No you don't have to just sit there and suffer, calling it "ageing". While we're all ageing we can make every effort to make it as comfortable and healthy as possible. If there's a way to do that then let's do it. Alternate therapies are great preventatives, but ultimately the medical profession has the big fix if the condition gets out of control, and threatens your future wellbeing. I have been given about 80% of my health back after having a faulty adrenal gland removed just prior to Christmas 09. No alternate medicine would have saved my bacon, and I couldn't risk trying anything other than copious quantities of potassium, just to keep me within a safe range, and my blood pressure close to a safe level. Too much potassium is more deadly than too little, but it affects life expectancy and plays a very important part in many of your body's function. Preventative is great if you don't already have the condition. Then the medical fraternity can be your best friend.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I have heard that Slippery Elm (powder) is very good, but please, please people, if you are having digestive problems, see your doctor to first get it checked out. I had indigestion for about 6 years, and Mylanta liquid and tablets had a permanent place in my fridge and handbag. A couple of months ago, the indigestion became really bad, and it seemed that anything and everything I ate caused the most burning indigestion.
I eventually bowed under worry and the pressure of family and friends and I went to see my GP. She sent me to see a specialist, and one endoscopy and colonoscopy later, it was discovered that I have ulcers in the lower 5 cms of my oesophagus and top of my stomach. I am now on lifetime medication to reduce the production of stomach acids and help heal the ulcers. I have also had to adjust my diet somewhat. I'm one of the lucky ones, as it could so easily have been something sinister causing the indigestion, so please get it checked out first.
By the way, I am now feeling great, and have no indigestion whatsoever.
-- Edited by Romy5152 on Monday 2nd of May 2011 08:24:43 PM