Slippery Elm Bark
Also known as: Ulmus rubra, Ulmus fulva, red elm bark, slippery elm inner bark
Slippery elm is the inner bark of Ulmus rubra, a North American tree. When mixed with water the bark forms a thick mucilage, which is the basis for its traditional use as a soothing demulcent for the throat and digestive tract. It is used in gut-comfort formulas, throat lozenges, and some fiber blends, often alongside marshmallow root and licorice. Controlled human data are scarce; the available trial evaluated multi-herb formulas that included slippery elm rather than the bark on its own.
Research summary
Mucilage polysaccharides coat mucosal surfaces; systemic mechanisms are not established.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 mg | 400–1,500 mg | — | — |
400 to 1,500 mg of bark powder daily, taken with a full glass of water. Because it forms a gel, separate it from other oral medications by a couple of hours. Range reflects common products, not a validated dose.
Source material: inner bark powder
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Swells in water; powders thicken quickly. Lozenge use is a food format outside this tool.
Formulation notes
Mucilage may slow absorption of other ingredients taken at the same time.
Sources
Related ingredients
Probiotic Blend (Multi-Strain)
ProbioticA generic placeholder for a multi-strain probiotic blend, typically combining several Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species and sometimes Streptococcus thermophilus or a Bacillus spore.
Typical: 10–50 B CFU
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)
ProbioticLGG (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, ATCC 53103) is the single most studied probiotic strain, isolated in 1985 and since reclassified as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus.
Typical: 1–10 B CFU
Bifidobacterium lactis
ProbioticBifidobacterium animalis subsp.
Typical: 1–10 B CFU
Saccharomyces boulardii
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Typical: 5–10 B CFU
L-Glutamine
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Typical: 5–10 g