Do you suffer with acid reflux or indigestion? This easy to make at home gut soothing slippery elm tea could help to soothe your digestive system. Slipper Elm is a mucilaginous herb, known for its soothing properties.

What is Slippery Elm bark?

Slippery elm tea is a traditional medicinal tea that is prepared with the bark of the slippery elm tree. This plant was originally from North America and the bark was widely used by Native American cultures in natural remedies. The herb is traditionally used from the powdered down bark and it can be brewed into a thick and nutrient-packed tea. When it comes to taste however, this powdered bark is essentially tasteless.

Slippery Elm – The Benefits

Slippery elm can help in treating any inflammatory condition of the digestive tract. The unique quality of slippery elm is the consistency; this herb is known to have mucilaginous properties. This means that it takes on a gel-like consistency after coming in contact with water. This may not sound very appealing when it comes to a drink, but it’s this mucilage effect that contains all the calming and healing benefits of Slippery elm.

Anywhere within the body that mucus can be formed Slippery elm can act on, so this includes the respiratory tract as well as the digestive system.

Stomach Issues

This mucilaginous property of Slippery elm coats the inside of the digestive tract soothing the effects of acid reflux if present. The antioxidants and other compounds in the tea can prevent the production of excess acid in the gut.

Slippery elm also increase the mucus within the large intestine making it easier to move the food along, therefore relieving constipation.

Inflammatory Conditions

It also has anti-inflammatory properties, and has been found to reduce inflammation in the bowels making it useful for conditions such as IBD (1).

Immune System

With antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, this tea can support good immune health in all areas of the body.

Slippery Elm Tea Side Effects

Although this tea has many benefits, there are also quite a few side effects, such as complications with pregnancy, toxicity, and interference with medication. As this tea can stimulate menstruation, it can also induce labour in rare cases, so pregnant women should not use this herbal tea. Also, the mucilaginous nature of this tea can block the absorption of medication, so speak with your doctor if you are on prescription medication before using slippery elm tea.

Gut-Soothing Ginger & Slippery Elm Tea Recipe

• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger root
• 1 teaspoon slippery elm powder
• 2 cups purified water

1. Grate the fresh ginger root into your teapot.
2. Pour 2 cups of water into the pot and boil.
3. Strain.
4. Stir in and dissolve slippery elm powder.

Ginger and slippery elm are both anti-inflammatory and healing to your intestinal lining.