Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva, also known as U. rubra) is a Native American plant occurring in eastern and central United States. Its name is derived from the viscous, slimy liquid created when chewing the inner bark, which was commonly used by Native Americans and early pioneers against dehydration and hunger. For medicinal purposes, only the inner bark is used. Slippery elm has been used to treat edema and inflammation. In addition, it is thought to facilitate healing processes and to be effective for bruises, wounds, ulcers, burns, and other skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

 

The most abundant and well-known bioactive compounds of slippery elm are mucilage and tannins. Tannins have been believed to benefit skin conditions. For instance, tannins have been used topically to treat acne, which is thought to be related with its astringent properties. Tannins are also thought to be helpful for wound healing, possibly due to astringent and anti-microbial properties. Additionally, slippery elm is believed to be an emollient, demulcent, and anti-inflammatory agent.