Elm is a tree that is becoming increasingly rare. The bark is used as a traditional remedy.
Occurrence and cultivation of elm
Due to the elm dieback, the elm is becoming increasingly rare in nature, which is considered a great botanical loss. The elm (Ulmus) belongs to the genus of elms and is a member of the elm family (Ulmaceae). The tree also bears the names Effe, Ruste or Rüster. Due to the elm dieback, the elm is becoming increasingly rare in nature, which is considered a great botanical loss. In the Central European latitudes there are three different species of elm. These are the mountain elm (Ulmus glabra), the fluttering elm (Ulmus laevis) and the field elm (Ulmus minor). The bark of the latter can be used for therapeutic purposes. The elm belongs to the deciduous evergreen trees and shrubs. It grows up to 35 meters high and can reach a great age. Over the years, the tree’s smooth bark becomes increasingly cracked. The elm leaves have a pointed, oval shape. They are serrated at their edges. One half of the leaves typically reaches more circumference than the other. The flowers, which occur in clusters, thrive in March and April. Whitish winged fruits emerge from the flowers of elms. A total of 45 elm species are native to the entire northern hemisphere. The elm’s preferred habitats include riverbanks, forest edges, riparian forests, slopes and parks. In Central Europe, however, the tree is threatened with extinction. Especially field elm and mountain elm are in great danger. Infestation with a fungus transmitted by the elm splitting beetle causes the trees to die.
Effect and application
In naturopathy, the bark of the elm is used for medicinal purposes. But also the leaves reach the application. Effective ingredients of the tree are tannins such as phlobaphene and tannic acid, mucilage, flavonoids, bitter substances and resin. Due to the endangerment situation of elm, the bark should not be removed from a tree growing in the wild. It is better to purchase it for use in the trade. The most traditional form of administration is considered to be elm bark tea. To prepare it accordingly, one to two teaspoons of the elm bark are put into a pot and a cup of cold water is poured over it. Then, the user allows this mixture to boil. After straining, the elm bark tea can be drunk once or twice a day. It is also suitable for gargling or as an additive for a bath. Another option is the tincture. It can also be prepared on one’s own by pouring elm bark into a screw-top jar and covering it with spirits of wine or double grain schnapps. After all parts of the bark have been covered with liquid, the sealed mixture is left in the jar, which should be kept in a warm place, for about two to six weeks. The mixture is then strained and transferred to a dark-colored bottle. Three times a day, 10 to 50 drops of the elm bark tincture can be taken. If the concentration is too strong, it is possible to dilute it with water. Elm tea and tincture are also suitable for external use. In this case, the affected areas of the skin are treated with washes, baths or compresses. Elm is also used as an elm in Bach flower therapy. It is considered helpful when a person believes he or she is no longer able to perform his or her duties.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
As a therapeutic agent, elm received appreciation even in ancient times. For example, the Greek physician Pedanios Dioscorides, who lived in the 1st century AD, praised the wound-healing and astringent effects of elm in his book of medicinal plants “Materia medica”. In the Middle Ages, Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) recommended the herbal remedy for gout. The sufferer was supposed to set fire to the wood of the tree and warm himself on it. In addition, Hildegard von Bingen attributed to the elm bark a positive effect against malignancy. In folk medicine, elm is used primarily against abscesses, boils and chronic skin rashes. It can also be used to treat poorly healing wounds by means of poultices or washes. Thus, washing with the elm achieves faster cicatrization. Elm bark is also considered useful against rheumatic diseases.Among the positive effects of elm is that it has anti-inflammatory, diuretic, blood purifying, tonic, wound healing and astringent effect. In addition, elm bark is an effective remedy for the treatment of hemorrhoids. It is used as a bath additive. The medicinal plant is also helpful in the treatment of inflammations of the mouth and throat, as well as against intestinal inflammations. Elm bark can also be used effectively against diarrhea. Even in veterinary medicine, the herbal remedy proves helpful. This is especially true for the treatment of cats. Positive are also the diuretic properties of elm, which in turn affects water retention in the body. Other applications of slippery elm are gastritis and eczema. Side effects are hardly to be feared when using slippery elm. However, elm bark should not be taken at the same time with other medications. Thus, it is possible that the ingredients have an inhibitory effect on the effectiveness of the drugs. Therefore, it is recommended to keep a time interval of at least 60 minutes when taking the medicine. In case of uncertainty, a physician should be consulted.
