Slippery Elm

Ulmus rubra · Ulmus fulva · Slippery elm bark

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Sore throat¹ Minor cough¹ Irritable bowel syndrome² Digestive symptoms (multi-herb formula)³ Esophageal symptoms⁴ Topical skin irritation¹	Pregnancy or nursing⁵

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra, Ulmus fulva) is the inner bark of a North American tree whose mucilage forms a viscous, soothing coat on mucosal surfaces¹. It is used for minor cough and sore throat, for gastrointestinal complaints including irritable bowel syndrome, and topically for skin irritation¹. It is also a popular remedy for heartburn and other esophageal symptoms. The typical patient is someone with throat or upper digestive irritation looking for a non-pharmacologic option.

Human research is limited to about three small trials, all of multi-ingredient products, in irritable bowel syndrome, digestive disorders, and healthy adults taking a detoxification blend. An open-label, uncontrolled pilot study of a slippery elm formula reported better bowel habit and symptoms in constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. For cough and skin use, human data are lacking¹. A 2021 case report described eosinophilic colitis potentially triggered by an Ulmus rubra-rich product⁶. Products listing slippery elm number over 1,200 in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database, mostly powders and capsules; see Form comparison.

LiverTox rates slippery elm as an unlikely cause of clinically apparent liver injury⁷. A US product label asks that medications be taken an hour before the product, and many labels direct pregnant or nursing users to consult a physician⁵.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

28 sources, 11 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
InteractionsThe medicines and supplements it interacts with, the effect of each, and what labeling says to watch.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Word of mouthWhat patients and practitioners report online, kept separate from the clinical evidence.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources