Red elm bark - natural help for your four-legged friends

Veröffentlicht am: October 25, 2024
Alexander Schmidt
Alexander Schmidt

Physiotherapist

Constipation, diarrhea or problems with digestion - these are all complaints that many people struggle with. But it's not just us humans, our beloved four-legged friends can also be affected.

➤ In this guide you can read how red elm bark can help to alleviate these and other ailments in your pets.

Contents

What is red elm bark and where does it come from?

Slippery elm b ark has its origins as a medicinal plant in eastern North America and parts of Canada. It has been known there since the 19th century and was used for various ointments and tinctures. The uses ranged from the treatment of various wounds, abdominal and intestinal complaints to the treatment of flu-like symptoms.

At the time the powder is produced, the tree is usually more than 10 years old. In spring, the inner bark is separated and then dried and pulverized. The powder mixed with water forms a greasy substance that is rich in sodium, magnesium, calcium and vitamins A, B, C and K.

In the USA, rotgut bark is available for humans and animals, but in the EU the powder may only be sold as a supplementary feed for animals. The reason for this is the Novel Food Regulation. If you want to buy red elm bark for your pets, it is usually available in powder form.

What are the positive effects of red elm bark?

Various research has shown that the mucilage not only contains antimicrobial agents, but also antioxidants. This makes rotulm bark an excellent remedy for treating wounds, burns, boils, psoriasis and other inflammations such as intestinal diseases, as well as throat complaints, coughs and bronchitis.

The mucilaginous substance in elm bark can also have a positive effect on bones and joints, as it lubricates the joints and cartilage, keeping them supple. Another use is to detoxify the body, as red elm bark helps to eliminate toxic substances from the body.

Red elm bark for dogs and cats

Your four-legged friends can benefit greatly from using this natural remedy, as it is not only effective for internal complaints, but can also be used externally. The following symptoms can be treated effectively:

  • itchy skin rashes or inflammation
  • Antiseptic wound treatment
  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • Diarrhea and constipation
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Cough and bronchitis
  • Toothache or reddened gums

What side effects can occur during treatment with red elm bark?

There are virtually no known side effects from taking red elm bark. You therefore have almost nothing to worry about if you want to use this herbal remedy to treat certain symptoms in your faithful four-legged friends.

Nevertheless, in extremely rare cases, an allergic reaction may occur during external application - if this is the case, you can simply wash off the mucus and the irritation should quickly calm down again.

Even if there are no direct side effects, you should, however, make sure that prescription medication is administered before using the red elm bark internally. At least one hour should pass in between. The reason for this is the enormous formation of mucus, which can reduce or even completely prevent the absorption of other medic ations. 

How should the red elm bark be dosed? 

The best way to administer the powder to your pets is with a syringe. To do this, add approx. ⅓ teaspoon of red elm bark to a 5 ml syringe with lukewarm water and administer it by mouth. The mixture can be given several times a day, but should be adapted to the size of your dog or cat.

In addition, the red elm bark should definitely be administered before going to bed, as this calms the stomach overnight.

 

Sources (in English):

Joo Y. E. (2014). Natural product-derived drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. Intestinal research, 12(2), 103–109. doi: 10.5217/ir.2014.12.2.103

Hawrelak, J. A., & Myers, S. P. (2010). Effects of two natural medicine formulations on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a pilot study. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 16(10), 1065–1071. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0090

Ke, F., Yadav, P. K., & Ju, L. Z. (2012). Herbal medicine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Saudi journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Saudi Gastroenterology Association, 18(1), 3–10. doi: 10.4103/1319-3767.91726

Misra S. M. (2014). Integrative Therapies and Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Current Evidence. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 1(2), 149–165. doi: 10.3390/children1020149