Slippery Elm Gut Lining Bandaid

You’ve probably heard the term “leaky gut” more than you can count on all fingers and all toes, but what is it really? And the bigger question is, what can you do about it?  In this article, we will dig into the anatomy of the gut lining, what causes it to leak, and how to heal it naturally with what some herbalists would consider the ultimate soothing herb for the GI tract- slippery elm bark. So, I will show you how to make a slippery elm gut lining bandaid.

To understand how slippery elm benefits the gut lining, we must first understand what the gut lining is.

What is the Gut Lining?

The gut lining is part of your gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and rectum. Along this tract, there is a lining made up of mucus secreted by millions of cells that make up the lining of your intestine. These cells unite to form a tight barrier that functions as a security system and controls what enters and exits the bloodstream. That is what is referred to as the lining of your gut. However, this lining can deteriorate in an unhealthy gut, forming “holes” in the barrier. This is what most people refer to as “leaky gut syndrome.”

Even if you’re familiar with the term leaky gut, you may not know just how common this debilitating condition is. In fact, many experts in their field say leaky gut is the root cause of numerous chronic health conditions, including hormonal imbalances, joint pain, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, diabetes, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, and eczema, to name just a few.

Here’s why: when the lining of your gut is doing its job, it absorbs nutrients and keeps large particles out of the bloodstream.

However, because of the overload of unhealthy ingredients in the standard Western diet, toxins in our environment, stress, and overly stressed immune systems, the lining of our intestinal tracts can break apart and allow toxins, microbes, and undigested food particles to get into your bloodstream. Simultaneously, this creates an immune response followed by inflammation and malabsorption of nutrients. For some, this turns into auto-immunity.

Symptoms of Leaky Gut

• Gas, bloating, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Food sensitivities or allergies
• Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, ADD or ADHD
• Depression and anxiety
• Acne, rosacea, or eczema
• Asthma
• Irregular periods, PMS, or PCOS
• Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
• Rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s, lupus, psoriasis, celiac disease, or any other autoimmune condition

These are serious issues that need to be addressed by a physician. Even if you manage your health as holistically as possible, some conditions, like leaky gut, need to be tackled from multiple angles. A functional or integrative doctor or even a nutritionist may use various methods such as good nutrition, herbal supplements, and other therapies to help you get your gut health back on track. So, seeking help is necessary if you have one of these conditions. However, herbs can be very helpful in managing symptoms of a leaky gut. In fact, herbs have been used for thousands of years to help improve the gut lining.

This Balanced/Leaky Gut Tincture contains six anti-inflammatory and soothing herbs (including Slippery Elm) that help repair the intestinal tract and restore healthy gut function.

Benefits of Slippery Elm

Its mucilage properties were well known by Native Americans and often used in salves, teas, and tinctures as a digestive aid and throat soother. Slippery elm also contains powerful antioxidants that can help fight the inflammation that happens when our immune systems are over-firing. And slippery elm has specifically been indicated in fighting inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis.

Identifying the slippery elm tree is easy thanks to its distinctive features. First, look for its medium to large size, with an average height of 40-60 feet. The bark is a key identifier, as it appears rough and dark gray-brown on the lower trunk but becomes lighter and smoother on the upper branches. One of the tree’s most distinguishing traits is the inner bark, which has a slimy, reddish-brown texture and gives it the name “slippery elm.” The leaves are oval-shaped with serrated edges and have a rough texture on top, while the underside is soft and hairy. In spring, the slippery elm produces small, reddish-brown flowers that eventually develop into papery winged seeds.

Other uses for slippery elm:

• Gentle laxative
• Reduces straining
• Helps with bloating
• Relives constipation
• Treats diarrhea and diverticulitis
• Relieves abdominal pain
• Soothes acid reflux

Slippery elm is unique in that it amplifies the mucilage content in your digestive tract, which subsequently helps soothe and repair the gut lining. It does this by stimulating nerve endings to boost secretion, neutralizing acidity, and healing open wounds. These fantastic properties make this powerful gut-healing herb a great addition to your gut-repairing protocol. And adding slippery elm to your daily routine is easy.

I like to use a purchased shaved bark to make a simple tea.  The shaved slippery elm that you purchase looks like you would imagine a tree bark would look like.

⇒ How to Make Bark Bread from a Tree That Grows on Almost Every Street in America (Video)

Slippery Elm Gut Lining Bandaid

To make your own slippery elm gut lining bandaid you will need:

• A good pinch of slippery elm bark or about a teaspoon (dried)
• Enough hot water to fill your cup
• A tea ball or cloth
• A coffee cup
• Honey to sweeten (optional)

Method

Step 1. Heat your water to scalding using a kettle or sauce pan. Meanwhile, gather the rest of your ingredients.

Step 2. Place your slippery elm bark into the tea ball or cloth and place it into the center of the cup.

Step 3. Once your water is hot enough, pour it over your tea ball and let it steep for 5-7 minutes.

Step 4. Add a sweetener like honey or monk fruit (optional).

Enjoy!

Dosage: You can have slippery elm tea up to three times a day, or when needed. It has a kind of a ‘maply’ flavor similar to fenugreek.

Slippery elm is generally considered safe, however, use only half the amount for any child under twelve, and always try a small amount before consuming an entire cup to ensure you won’t have an allergic reaction to it. And, of course, like with all herbs, if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking any medications, consult a healthcare provider before taking slippery elm. Otherwise, enjoy!

The Bottom Line

If you know what a slippery elm looks like and if you live in an area where they are abundant, you can head out, find one and harvest some of the inner bark from branches that have fallen on the ground. But if you’re not a forager, or you don’t live near any slippery elm trees, it’s readily available for purchase online, at a local health food store or herbal shop. Let us know in the comments if this remedy is helpful.

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