Slippery Elm Tea
5 Important Facts about Slippery Elm Tea
Slippery elm tea is made from powdered slippery elm bark and is thought to be the easiest way to get the benefits from this medicinal plant.
Slippery elm is believed to be soothing to anything it touches or comes in contact with and this is because of the slippery mucilage that gives it the tree its name. The bark seems to acquire a slippery and soapy feel when it comes in touch with water and this is because of the complex carbohydrates that are on the surface of the tree. This carbohydrate has been tested and it is non-toxic and easy to digest.
The inside bark of the slippery elm tree also offers a long list of nutrients such as beta-sitosterol, tannin, campestrol, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, beta-carotene and zinc. It also has vitamins C, B1, B2 and B3.
Herbalists and those who believe in natural medicine use the dried bark of the slippery elm to get the health benefits that this plant offers. The slippery elm bark of the large branches is collected in spring and then this is dried. The dried bark is tough and yet it is flexible because of its fibrous quality. Its smell is compared to that of the fenugreek and it is said to have no distinctive flavor but its texture is described as mucilaginous.
The mucilage makes the powder of the slippery elm bark expand in water rather than dissolve and so you can easily make slippery elm tea from the powdered bark. It’s preferable to use the finely ground powder for making the tea.
The mucilage of the slippery elm is transferred through the tea to internal chambers and it can easily coat the cells of the stomach. This is why it is effective in dealing with gastritis, colitis, diarrhea, duodenal ulcers, IBS, heartburn and hemorrhoids.
The slippery elm tea has been used by generations of Cherokees as a health drink. It is thought to reduce pain and soothe. It is easily digested and so the tea can be drunk often. Other than the nutrition that has been mentioned earlier, slippery elm tea also offers antioxidants. This is part of the reason it is used as part of Essiac that is used in cancer treatment. The fact that the tea does not have an intrusive flavor makes it easy to get used to and you do not have to worry about drinking an unpleasant concoction.
A pint of the slippery elm tea is also considered an effective cure for heart-related illnesses.
Slippery elm tea if drunk regularly is supposed to have a beneficial effect on the menstrual cycle. For long this bark, and concoctions made with it, has also been used to trigger abortions of unwanted fetuses and this has led to the banning of the bark processing in some regions.
The tea of the slippery elm is said to help fight mouth diseases such as gum trouble and it is supposed to slow down teeth decay. The tea also helps with the digestive processes and is a part of natural remedy treatments for diarrhea. Slippery elm tea can help with respiratory illnesses and can provide your body much needed boost when fighting infections.
Like all holistic medicine, slippery elm tea should be part of a balanced meal and balanced lifestyle. Although it offers many benefits, none of this is likely to be useful or effective for a person who does not have a moderate diet and a certain amount of physical activity. The tea should be seen as a component of a balanced life style rather than a pill that can be swallowed multiple times a day to be treated as a supplement.