How Slippery Elm Bark Improves Your Skin & Helps Weight Loss

Slippery Elm is a native tree found in the US and Canada. 

You can use slippery elm as bark, powder, supplements, and tea.

It has been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years thanks to its wide range of health benefits. 

It gets its name from the inner bark, which is the part used to get all the medicinal properties. 

Inside the tree, you get a slick and mucous substance that can help treat common ailments, improve digestive issues, reduce sore throats, and other possible benefits. 

While there is still more research needed to determine all the properties of this ingredient, current research seems promising. 

Keep reading to learn all the possible benefits you might obtain when consuming slippery elm bark and how you can prepare or add it to your diet. 

6 Benefits of Slippery Elm Bark

The most common use for slipper elm is to improve digestive issues. However, there is more to slippery elm than that. 

Let’s take a closer look at the possible benefits of slippery elm. 

1) Improves Digestive Issues

Slippery elm might help protect the stomach’s lining. Thanks to its mucoprotective agents (demulcent), it can protect the stomach and intestines from irritation. 

As a result, it can help decrease symptoms from inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Chron’s disease and Ulcerative colitis (UC). 

Research also shows that, thanks to its potent antioxidant capacity, it can help decrease inflammation and help manage digestive issues. 

However, most studies use a blend of herbs, meaning it’s difficult to pinpoint the protective benefits solely on slippery elm bark. 

2) Promotes Weight Loss

Since slippery elm is high in fiber, it can help increase fullness levels, making it easier to reach a caloric surplus (eating fewer calories than the body needs). 

In addition, due to its high fiber content, it can also help regulate blood glucose levels, promoting more stable energy levels and less cravings. 

Still, there are not a lot of research papers stating the relationship between weight loss and slippery elm. 

Keep in mind that to lose weight, you need to be in a caloric deficit.

3) Soothes A Sore Throat And A Cold

One of the benefits of slipper elm is that it contains mucilage. The mucilage coats the throat, providing protective agents. 

It’s also possible that slippery elm bark might have anti-coughing agents. 

A study found that slippery elm bark might be a good option to help decrease the risk of upper inflammatory conditions. 

Nonetheless, there are not many studies stating the possible benefits of slippery elm bark in coughing and sore throat. 

4) Reduces Urinary Tract Irritation 

Just like with digestive conditions, slippery elm supplements might soothe the urinary tract lining. As a result, it can help decrease irritation and promote good urinary health. 

In addition, it also seems to have diuretic effects, helping eliminate toxins and waste. 

More research is still needed to determine its benefits in the urinary tract. 

5) Improves Gut Health 

Since slippery elm is high in prebiotic fiber, it can help feed the bacteria in the gut, allowing it to grow strong and healthy. 

It can also help protect the intestinal lining, helping reduce the risk of leaky gut. 

Leaky gut is a condition where the intestinal lining becomes semi-permeable. This allows toxins, bacteria, and other unwanted substances to enter the body. 

Slippery elm can help improve leaky gut conditions and promote overall wellness. Still, more research is needed to determine the link between leaky gut and slippery elm. 

6) Improves Skin Conditions

Finally, it seems that slippery elm might help improve skin conditions. The mucilage in slippery elm can help improve dry skin, and it might have wound-healing properties. 

In addition, it seems that it can help reduce inflammation in the skin, helping reduce skin conditions such as psoriasis. Slippery elm powder seems to help reduce symptoms of redness and itching. 

However, there are not too many human studies stating the benefits of slippery elm on skin conditions. 

Nutritional Facts About Slippery Elm Bark

Currently, there is not a lot of research stating the nutritional facts about slippery elm bark. According to some manufacturers, slippery elm might have the following nutritional information. 

Features	Per 100 grams
Calories	197
Carbs (g)	78.0
Fiber (g)	67.7
Proteins (g)	4.6
Fats (g)	1.6

Keep in mind that the nutritional value might vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and if there are other ingredients available in the blend. 

Still, slippery elm is low in calories, low in carbs, and high in fiber. 

Since slippery elm is a mucilage, it means that it draws water, creating a gel-like substance. That is why it has so many health benefits. 

How Do I Use Slippery Elm Bark?

You can find slippery elm in many different forms. Slippery elm is available in these forms: tablets, fine powder, tea, and lozenges. 

If you get the powder, there are different ways for you to prepare slippery elm bark. 

Slippery Elm Tea

To make slippery elm tea at home, place one tablespoon of slippery elm powder in one cup of boiling water. Let it steep for a couple of minutes. 

Slippery Elm Porridge

You can also add slippery elm powder to your favorite beverage or mix it with some porridge or oatmeal. 

Keep in mind that allowing it to hydrate for several minutes can result in a thicker beverage. 

Also, slippery elm has a distinctive taste, so it might change the flavor of your recipe. 

Safety And Precautions of Slippery Elm Powder

Slippery elm bark is safe and well-tolerated. You can purchase it over-the-counter and can even find it in some common medications (such as cough syrups). 

However, currently, there is not a lot of information stating the safety and possible side effects you might get when taking slippery elm bark. 

Now, while it is safe to take, make sure you consult with your doctor before supplementing, especially if you are taking chronic medications. 

Certain herbs and spices may reduce the effectiveness of certain medications. 

If your doctor gives you a thumbs up, make sure you take slippery elm two hours before and after any medication. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Slipper elm bark is a native tree found in the US and Canada. Slippery elm bark has several health benefits, such as:

• reducing inflammatory disease symptoms
• decreasing inflammation
• improving gut health
• promoting weight loss
• reducing urinary tract symptoms
• soothing skin conditions. 

There are different forms to take slippery elm, such as powders, tablets, and teas. You can also find it as part of different green powder supplements or other herb remedies. 

While slippery elm bark is safe and well-tolerated, it might still increase the risk of digestive issues, and it might cause allergic reactions, especially if you use it to treat skin conditions. 

If you are thinking about adding slippery elm into your daily routine, make sure you consult with a doctor, especially if you are taking chronic illnesses, since it might decrease the efficacy of certain medications.