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Slippery elm - what are your experiences?

Posted , 5 users are following.

diana80586
diana80586

Hello tribe,

I wondered what people's experiences with this natural herb have been? I've been a UC sufferer since 2003 and take mesalazine (Pentasa) 4g per day, plus 2 suppositories per day. I've been in mild/moderate flare for the past year and have been in consultation with my specialist IBD nurse since March, while awaiting consultation with my new consultant gastro (my last one retired two years ago). My nurse has sent me for all kinds of tests and procedures - flexi-sigmoid, endoscopy (for reflux, which may or may not be related), and calprotectin, which is elevated (around 380). Just waiting for biopsies and h-pylori test to come back now. In the meantime, I'm exhausted from constant diarrhoea and joint pain, also anaemic. I don't see my consultant until end November and am fed up of taking these meds that are not making a difference anymore, and I feel uncomfortable taking such high doses long term. I would much prefer to manage this naturally, and I've heard good things about slippery elm. Has anyone tried this - and how have you found it in managing your condition?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts...

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • deb4joy
    deb4joy diana80586

    Posted

    I don't use the slippery elm but it won't hurt to use it. What state & town do you live in? I would like to share about my GI doctor if you live anywhere in SF Bay area. He creates a healing morning drink with vital ingredients that takes a month or 2 to get in remission for my more mild symptoms and recent 3 month flare.

    If not living in this area then I wish you luck and maybe get info from the website - IhavUc

  • Joel53242
    Joel53242 diana80586

    Posted

    I'd speak to your doctor before trying, just because i've heard some people say it can slow down digestion in a negative way which messes with medication? I honestly don't know too much about it but I've heard that while it works wonders for some, it can really mess with medication being absorbed properly

  • kathleen98766
    kathleen98766 diana80586

    Posted

    slippery elm is wonderful I use it everyday it has been my saving grace along with good clean food.

  • kathleen98766
    kathleen98766 diana80586

    Posted

    slippery elm is wonderful I use it everyday it has been my saving grace along with good clean food .good price

  • diana80586
    diana80586

    Posted

    Thank you everyone for sharing your advice and experiences. I had heard that it can interfere with absorption of medication so I will be careful with this. The only other product that has worked for me in the past has been a good blast of VSL3 but it is prohibitively expensive and until they make it available on the NHS (!) is no longer a viable option for me long term.

    Thanks again and I wish you all the best on your healing journeys...

  • kathleen98766
    kathleen98766 diana80586

    Posted

    I don't have a problem with the absorption because I take my supplements and medication as soon as I get up in the morning wait 2 hours before taking slippery elm I hope you find something that works for you

  • sabab172
    sabab172 diana80586

    Posted

    I have had a possible gastritis or hiatal hernia flare up over the last three weeks on and off. Ive decided to come off omprezole which my doctor prescribed in the last few days as its not making much of a difference. I have been researching for night after night to find what can help and I have only read good things about slippery elm. So today I bought some and took some with my small evening meal tonight. I had some mild heartburn (not unusual) for the first hour and then all my aches and stomach issues have melted away this evening. I haven't felt like this for quite a few weeks now. And this is from two tablets. So I'm going to continue to use it this week and hope this is the relief to my stomach issues. So its a big thumbs up from me!

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