Evidence supporting the use of: Slippery Elm
For the health condition: Constipation (adults)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) has a long history of traditional use in North American herbal medicine, particularly among Indigenous peoples and later among European settlers. It is primarily valued for its mucilaginous inner bark, which forms a soothing gel when mixed with water. This gel is believed to coat mucous membranes of the digestive tract, providing relief from irritation and acting as a mild bulk-forming laxative. Traditional herbal texts and compendia, such as the United States Pharmacopeia (19th–early 20th century), list slippery elm as a demulcent and mild laxative, and it has been used to ease both constipation and diarrhea due to its soothing, softening effects on stool and the bowel lining.

However, modern scientific studies directly evaluating slippery elm for constipation are lacking. Most of the evidence supporting its use is anecdotal or based on traditional practices rather than controlled clinical trials. Some contemporary herbal reviews and case reports mention its use as part of compound formulas (e.g., with psyllium or other herbs) for bowel regulation, but these do not isolate slippery elm’s specific efficacy. Its gentle, non-irritating action contrasts with stimulant laxatives, which may make it preferable for sensitive individuals. Overall, the tradition-based usage is moderately strong, but scientific validation remains minimal, hence an evidence rating of 2 out of 5.

More about Slippery Elm
More about Constipation (adults)

Other ingredients used for Constipation (adults)

Acacia
Actinidin
Aerva lanata
Agar
Agastache
Alexandrian senna
Algae
Allium tuberosum
Almond fruit
Aloe vera
Aloin
alpinia galangal
Amomum
Amor seco
Angelica
anise
anthraquinone
apple
apple cider vinegar
apricot
arabinoxylan
Ardisia
Asam gelugor
asparagus
aster root
Asteraceae
atractylodes
atractylone
Auricularia
avocado
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacillus coagulans
bacillus subtilis
bacteria
bael
Baliospermum
banana
baobab
barley
basil
Bassia scoparia
bean
bee products
beet
belleric myrobalan
Bidens pilosa
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
bio ecolian (proprietary)
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
bitter principals
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
black salt
black seed
blackberry
Boerhavia diffusa
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
bottle gourd
bran
Brassica
broccoli
Broussonetia
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
Butea monosperma
buttermilk
butternut
butyric acid
bасора
cabbage
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
California chia
cantaloupe
cape aloe
caraway
cardamom
carrot
Carthamus
cascara sagrada
cascaroside
castor oil
cauliflower
cayenne pepper
celery
Celosia
cereal grass
chamomile
chard
Chenopodium
chia seed
chicory
Chinese raisintree
Chinese silkvine
chirata
chlorella
Chondrus
Cinnamomum
cinnamon
Citrus
Clostridium butyricum
clove
coconut
coconut milk
coconut oil
colocynth
coriander
cowage seed
cruciferous
cucumber
Cucurbita
cumin
Curcuma
curcumen
currant
curry leaf
Cyclanthera pedata
Cynomorium
dandelion
date
dextrin
dianthrone
Dianthus
dioscorea
dog rose
dragonhead
dulse
dwarf morning glory
Embelia
emblicanin
emodin
endive
enzymes blend (proprietary)
fennel
fiber
fiber blend (proprietary)
Ficus simplicissima
fig
flavonoids
flaxseed
flowering quince
Frangula
fructan
fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
fruit
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
fruit blend (proprietary)
fumitory
galactomannan
galactooligosaccharides
Galangal
ganoderma
ginger
ginseng
Glucofrangulin
goji berry
gooseberry
green banana
green tea
greens blend (proprietary)
guar gum
Guava
gum
Helicteres isora
hemicellulose
honey
hyacinth bean
hydroxyanthracene derivatives
Hygrophila
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian kinotree
Indian tinospora
indigo leaves
inulin
isomalto-oligosaccharide
Jalap
jujube
jungli-bean
kale
karaya gum
Kefir
kiwi
Kohlrabi
Kokilaksha
Konjac
kudzu
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactitol
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus pentosus
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus rhamnosus
lemon
lemongrass
licorice root
Ligusticum
ligustilides
lodhtree
long pepper
loquat
lotus
lovage
luffa
Lycium
Lycopodium
magnesium
mandarin
mango
Melon
Methylcellulose
Microcos
millet seed
Molasses
Momordica
Morinda
Moringa
Morus
Mucilage
Mugwort
Myrobalan
Natsudaidai
Neem tree
Nettle
Nigella seed
noni
nopal
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
oat
Oligosaccharides
onion
Onosma bracteatum
Operculina turpethum
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
orange
Oroxylum indicum
Osmanthus
Oxystelma
pagoda tree
papaya
parsley
paw paw
peach
pear
peony
perilla
Persimmon
Peucedanum
Phaeophyceae
Phellodendron
Phyllanthus
pineapple
Piper retrofractum
Plantago
plantain
plum fruit
Polygonatum
Polygonum
polyphenols
polysaccharides
pomegranate
Portulaca
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
Prickly Pear Cactus
probiotics
prune
Prunus
psyllium
pumpkin
punarnava
purslane
Pyrrosia
quail egg
quince
Quisqualis
radish
raspberry
Rhamnus nakaharai
rhizome
rhubarb
rhubarb root
Rhus coriaria
ricinoleic acid
rockweed
root tuber
rose
Rubiaceae
Rubus
Rumex acetosa
Salvia
Sargassum
sea salt
seaweed
senna
Sennosides
Sete sangrias
Sichuan Lovage
Sicklepod
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
Solanum indicum
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
Spelt
Sphaeranthus indicus
spinach
Sterculia
Stereospermum
streptococcus thermophilus
Sumac
sunflower
sweet flag
Swertia
Szechuan lovage
Tamaricaceae
Tamarind
Taraxacin
Taraxacum
Taraxol
Tea
Terminalia
Thaumatococcus daniellii
thyme
Tiger Nut
Tinospora cordifolia
Trichosanthes
Triphala
turmeric
Ulmus
Varuna
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
vegetable blend (proprietary)
Vidanga
Violet
Watercress
Watermelon
Wax Gourd
Wheat
Wulinshen
xylooligosaccharides
Yacon
Yellow Dock
Yerba buena
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
Zingerone
Zucchini

Products containing Slippery Elm

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.