Slippery Elm Bark Powder

For horses, slippery elm bark powder is most commonly used internally, to treat conditions such as scouring (diarrhoea) and gastric ulceration and as aftercare in some types of colic cases. It soothes and coats injured and inflamed tissues, helping them to heal and reducing the likelihood of scarring, as well as drawing out toxins and irritants. It can be added to a moist chaff/grain feed or combined with plain yoghurt (with live cultures) and/or honey, mashed banana or mashed pumpkin, and added to feed or syringed into the mouth.

Externally, the bark powder is used for poulticing wounds/injuries. Depending on the situation, it can be used by itself or combined with other herbs, and when it is moistened its soft, sticky, malleable consistency is helpful for moulding and applying poultices in difficult to bandage areas.

Slippery elm bark powder is widely acknowledged as safe and effective and can be used on horses of all ages, from foals to the aged. Follow recommended dosage rates and do not administer it simultaneously with other medications as its mucilaginous texture can interfere with their absorption.

ACTIONS include: demulcent and emollient (soothing and protecting membranes/surfaces), mildly astringent (having a binding or contracting effect on mucous membranes), nutritive.