Sle5.5

Slippery Elm Research

8 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 5.5/10

Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) and Natural Remedies for Treatment of the Common Cold and Flu

Shahrajabian MH et al. • Reviews on recent clinical trials (2024)

Medicinal plants and herbs, which are included in many traditional systems, have significant and promising bioactive components in organic life.Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.

The most important expectorant medicinal plants for cold and flu are snake root, tulsi, licorice root, slippery elm, clove, and sage leaf.
Recommended immunostimulant medicinal plants for cold and flu are eucalyptus, Echinacea root, ginseng, garlic, slippery elm, marshmallow, Usnea lichen, Isatis root, ginger root, and myrrh resin.
Medicinal plants and herbs, which are included in many traditional systems, have significant and promising bioactive components in organic life.Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.

Systematic Review

DOI

Herbal Medicines for Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

Hawrelak JA et al. • Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2020)

Demulcent herbs including slippery elm provided mucosal protection and symptomatic relief in IBS and IBD.

Slippery elm bark mucilage forms protective coating on inflamed GI mucosa
Improved IBS symptom scores when included in multi-herb formulations
Prebiotic activity of mucilage polysaccharides supports beneficial gut bacteria

Systematic Reviewn=280

DOI

Popular Remedies for Esophageal Symptoms: a Critical Appraisal

Ahuja A et al. • Current gastroenterology reports (2019)

This landscape of popular treatments nevertheless raises several interesting mechanistic hypotheses and compelling opportunities for future research.

Systematic review examining Slippery Elm efficacy
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Review

DOI

Herbal formula improves upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms and gut health in Australian adults with digestive disorders

Ried K et al. • Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) (2020)

All participants with normal stool, 90% with hard stool, and 66% with soft stool recovered from intestinal permeability, evident by normal lactulose to mannitol ratios.

All participants with normal stool, 90% with hard stool, and 66% with soft stool recovered from intestinal permeability, evident by normal lactulose to mannitol ratios.

RCTn=43

DOI

A Purported Detoxification Supplement Does Not Improve Body Composition, Waist Circumference, Blood Markers, or Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Healthy Adult Females

Tinsley G et al. • Journal of dietary supplements (2019)

These results indicate that consuming a commercially available dietary supplement that purportedly provides detoxification and body composition benefits is apparently safe in healthy young adult females but does not provide any beneficial effects for body composition or gastrointestinal symptoms.

Body composition, waist circumferences, symptoms of gastrointestinal distress, and blood safety markers were evaluated before and after supplementation.
Twenty-two participants completed the study, and data were analyzed via two-way mixed ANOVA and t tests.
These results indicate that consuming a commercially available dietary supplement that purportedly provides detoxification and body composition benefits is apparently safe in healthy young adult females but does not provide any beneficial effects for body composition or gastrointestinal symptoms.

RCTn=22

DOI

Effects of two natural medicine formulations on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a pilot study

Hawrelak JA et al. • Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) (2010)

The DA-IBS formula was not effective in improving bowel habit in individuals with diarrhea-predominant or alternating bowel habit IBS, although it did significantly improve a number of IBS symptoms.

Ingestion of the DA-IBS formula was associated with a small, but significant increase in bowel movement frequency (p = 0.027).
Subjects in the DA-IBS group also experienced reductions in straining (p = 0.004), abdominal pain (p = 0.006), bloating (p < 0.0001), flatulence (p = 0.0001), and global IBS symptoms (p = 0.002) during the treatment phase of the trial.
The DA-IBS formula was not effective in improving bowel habit in individuals with diarrhea-predominant or alternating bowel habit IBS, although it did significantly improve a number of IBS symptoms.

RCTn=31

DOI

Trial of Essiac to ascertain its effect in women with breast cancer (TEA-BC)

Zick SM et al. • Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) (2006)

Essiac does not appear to improve HR-QOL or mood states.

This might be attributed to the fact that the group of users comprised younger women with more advanced stages of breast cancer, and both of these subgroups of patients have been shown to be at a significantly increased risk for negative mood states and/or a decreased sense of well-being.
Essiac does not appear to improve HR-QOL or mood states.
Future studies are needed to determine whether other clinical outcomes, such as cancer reoccurrence, are affected by Essiac.

Observationaln=510

DOI

Antioxidant activity of slippery elm

Langmead L et al. • Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2002)

Slippery elm showed antioxidant effects relevant to IBD.

Antioxidant activity confirmed
Potential for IBD
In vitro evidence

In Vitro

DOI

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