Evidence supporting the use of: Slippery elm bark
For the health condition: Sore Throat

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Synopsis

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

Slippery elm bark (Ulmus rubra) has been traditionally used in North American herbal medicine for soothing sore throats and coughs. The inner bark contains mucilage—a gel-like substance that, when mixed with water, forms a slippery coating. Indigenous peoples and early settlers often prepared slippery elm as a tea or lozenge to ease throat irritation and cough. The mucilage is thought to coat the mucous membranes of the throat, providing a protective barrier and temporary relief from discomfort.

While there is a long history of traditional use, scientific research on slippery elm's effectiveness for sore throats is limited. Most of the support comes from anecdotal evidence and historical accounts rather than rigorous clinical trials. Some contemporary herbal throat lozenges and teas still include slippery elm for its demulcent (soothing) properties, and the FDA recognizes it as generally regarded as safe (GRAS). However, well-designed human studies to confirm its efficacy for sore throat are lacking, so the evidence rating is modest. In summary, slippery elm bark is primarily justified by tradition, with limited but plausible scientific rationale based on its physical properties, but not strong clinical evidence.

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