Soothing your Gut
Slippery elm and ginger have been used for centuries to reduce inflammation and improve gut health. How does slippery elm work? When it comes into contact with water it become mucilaginous (gel like) in texture. This gel protects the mucosal surface of the gut and has a mild anti-inflammatory action. When taken internally it can reduce the symptoms of heart burn, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is also indicated for dry-irritating coughs and used externally for skin conditions such as boils, burns, psoriasis or wounds.
Today’s recipe is for internal use. Drink one to three cups of tea per day to reduce inflammation. For stomach and upper intestinal problems such as heartburn or stomach ulcers, it is best taken after meals. For lower gut problems, it is most effective one to two hours after a meal. For coughs, it is best taken between meals.
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger root
- 1 teaspoon slippery elm powder
- 2 cups filtered water
Grate the fresh ginger into a pot, add two cups of filtered water and bring to the boil. Strain and stir in the slippery elm.
