Supplement Scholar
Herb

Slippery Elm

Buy on Amazon ↗

Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosures

Slippery Elm. Demulcent herb used for GERD, esophagitis, and IBS.

How it works. Mucilage coats and soothes GI mucosa.

What the research supports. 1 graded claims. Strongest: Symptomatic relief in GERD / IBS (small studies) (limited).

How much to take. Typical dose: 400–500 mg × 3/d.

Side effects and interactions. 1 medication interaction listed. Serious: Discontinue and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe, persistent, or include difficulty breathing.

Stacking. Pairs well with A high-quality multivitamin, Omega-3 (EPA/DHA).

Common forms. Available as Powder, Lozenge.

Key studies. 8 studies cited. The strongest are listed with links to PubMed.

Community. Experiences from people who have tried Slippery Elm. Anecdotes are not medical advice.

Slippery Elm. Demulcent herb used for GERD, esophagitis, and IBS.

Key compound: galacturonic acidC6H10O7 · 194.14 g/mol

What it is

Demulcent herb used for GERD, esophagitis, and IBS.

Also called

Ulmus rubra

Food sources

Ulmus rubra inner bark

Goals

Gut Health

How it works

Mucilage coats and soothes GI mucosa.

Pathways

  • Mucosal coating

Effects

  • +GI mucosal coating supports

What the research supports

Symptomatic relief in GERD / IBS (small studies)limited

Strong: consistent results across large trials or meta-analyses. Moderate: several trials, mostly positive. Limited: small or mixed studies. Preclinical: animal or cell research only.

Typical dose
400–500 mg × 3/d
TimingConsistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
With foodEither with or without food.
Best formMost evidence is based on the powder form.
Shop Slippery Elm on Amazon ↗

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Look for USP, NSF or Informed Sport seals before you buy.

Side effects & interactions

Common side effects

  • Slippery Elm is generally well-tolerated at evidence-based doses
  • Mild GI discomfort (nausea, loose stools, or bloating) possible at higher intakes
  • Headache or transient fatigue reported by a small fraction of users

Serious

  • Discontinue and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe, persistent, or include difficulty breathing

Medication interactions

Most oral medicationsmoderate

Reduces absorption — separate 2 h.

Check any supplement–medication combination with your pharmacist before starting.

Combines with

Pairs well

  • A high-quality multivitaminCovers micronutrient cofactors that support most supplement pathways.
  • Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)Foundational anti-inflammatory support that complements most regimens.

Common forms

  • Powder
  • Lozenge

Key studies

8 studies cited in total.

PubMed: Slippery Elm — Symptomatic relief in GERD / IBS ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Slippery Elm and "Symptomatic relief in GERD / IBS". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Slippery Elm — randomized controlled trial ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Slippery Elm and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Slippery Elm — meta-analysis ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Slippery Elm and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Discussion

Loading discussion…