Arts, Environment and the Child: Walking the Wheel of the Seasons

Sabrina White

Arts, Environment and the Child

Fall 2005

 

Latin Name- Ulmus Fulva

 

Family Name- Urticacea

 

Common Name- Slippery Elm

 

Native American Names- American Elm, Indian Elm, Moose Elm, Red Elm, Rock Elm, Sweet Elm, Ulme, Winged Elm

 

Related Species- Nettles

 

Description- The inner bark of the Slippery Elm Tree is a highly nutritious food- herb. It is wonderfully strengthening and healing with many valuable uses.

Slippery Elm is a small tree abundant in various parts of North America. The leaves are rough with hairs on both sides, the leaf buds are covered with dense yellow wool. The flowers are stalk less.

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Botanical Description-

Habit- Slippery Elm is a medium sized tree of moderately fast growth. The tree may live to be up 20 years old.

Size- The height can be up to 500ft. The average trunk diameter is 2 feet.

Arrangement- Open branched tree

Leaves- Simple, elliptical and long pointed leaves have doubly serrate margins and are 5-7 inches long. The leaves are thick, rough and dark in color. The under sides of the leaf are paler with white hairs they have a prominent mid-rib and parallel leaves.

Flower- Monecious; small light green, in tight clusters of 3-5, appearing in early spring before the leaves open.

Fruit- Round, papery samara, ¾ to 1 inch across, margin and surface or wing smooth; surface of seed cavity pubescent, ripen in late spring. ( 1.)

Bark- Dark reddish brown. It does not show buff- colored patches or streaks when sectioned; bark fissures not as diamond- shaped as American elm. The inner bark is mucilaginous.(4)

Twigs- Often stouter than American Elm, slightly zigzag. They are ashy gray to brownish gray in color. Scabrous, false terminal bud. The lateral buds are dark, chestnut brown to almost black; buds may also be rusty colored. The twigs are hairy and are mucilaginous when chewed.

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Ecology-

 

Habitat- Adapts well to soils which are moist and high in compost. It can be found in moist woodlands and bottomlands, along banks of streams- but will also grow in poor dry soil. Found primarily in the northern and central U.S.

 

Native Where- Slippery Elm is a deciduous tree found from Canada to Florida, West form the Dakotas to Texas.

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Harvest-

Plant Part- Inner bark of the Slippery Elm

Season of Harvest: Spring and fall

Method of Harvest: Extracting the inner bark of the Slippery Elm Tree

Ecological Consideration of Harvest: Slippery Elm is on its way to becoming endangered due to over harvesting and the Dutch Elm disease.

Cautions: Because of unknown health risks associated with using the whole bark, make sure to buy products that only use the inner bark.

The risks of using slippery elm while pregnant are unknown.

Children under the age of 2 should be careful. It may be hard to swallow the tea.

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Indigenous and Non- Western Use-

 

Western Medicinal Information- The bark of this American elm, though not in this country, is an official drug, and considered one of the most valuable remedies in herbal practice, the abundant mucilage it contains has wonderfully strengthening and healing qualities.

Food: Milk, tea and portage, syrup.

Medicine- Lozenges, powder, salve, paste, capsule, wash, oil, foot powder, baby powder, lip balm.

Part Used: The inner bark of the Slippery Elm Tree.

Indications:

Nutritious food

Nausea, Vomiting

Inflammation of stomach, Intestines and bladder

Bronchitis, Pleurisy

Sore and dry throat

Dry skin, Chapped lips

Coughs

Bleeding from the lungs or colon

Ulcers

Swollen glands

Dysentery, Diarrhea

Wounds, Boils, Burns, Rashes

Diaper Rash

Applications: Can be used as topically or internally, depending on the problem.

Cautions- Because of unknown health risks associated with using the whole bark, make sure to buy products that only use the inner bark.

The risks of using slippery elm while pregnant are unknown.

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Personal Experience- I made chap-stick with the Slippery Elm. It was an awesome experience. I enjoyed gathering the ingredients and creating the lip gloss from scratch. It is nice to have something on your lips that isn’t full of harsh chemicals.

Materials/ Technology- Slippery Elm Powder, Beeswax, Honey, Olive Oil

Medicine: Lip Salve

Part Used: Inner Bark/ Slippery Elm powder

Indications: Forchapped lips

Harvest: Extracting the inner bark of the Slippery Elm Tree/ I purchased it from Radiance since taking it out of the tree myself will do more harm then good.

Application- Lip Gloss/ Chap-stick

Preparation- First you mix the Slippery Elm with 1 cup of olive oil. Heat on low for 20 min.

Melt ½ ounce of beeswax.

Mix beeswax and Slippery Elm together.

Add 1/8 teaspoon of vitamin E to preserve salve.

Pour into container and cover tightly.

Reason/ Purpose- I was hoping to obtain a natural chap-stick that would leave you lips feeling regenerated and refreshed without the use of chemicals.

Experience- I found that it was easy to work with and worked well on the lips. The ingredients were simple and easy to obtain. You can develop the right consistence by adding a little more beeswax to make it harder or adding a little more Slipper Elm if it is too hard.

Cautions Based on Experience- Make sure to use a tin can so that you don’t ruin your favorite pan. A yogurt container works great so that you can pour into the chap-stick without a big mess.

 

Additional Information- There is as much nutrition in Slippery Elm as there is in a bowl of oatmeal. Eating slippery elm during any kind of sickness is not only healing but strengthening as well.

 

-Slippery Elm was burned in a fire to contain gossip.

 

-The American Red Indians used the bark of the Slippery Elm as a food called Ooshooka meaning to slip.

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REFRENCES-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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