Recipes · Tonic
Slippery Elm Throat Drink
Reader ratingsA silky, lightly sweet drink of slippery elm bark powder whisked into warm water with honey and cinnamon. A traditional soothing coat for a dry, scratchy throat.
A traditional North American remedy, used by Indigenous peoples and by 19th-century physicians as a soothing demulcent for the throat and gut.
Safety
- The mucilage can slow how quickly medicines and supplements are absorbed. Take other medicines at least 1 to 2 hours before or after this drink.
- It thickens as it sits, so check with your clinician before using it if you have trouble swallowing (dysphagia).
- There is little safety data for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Ask your clinician before using it regularly.
- Never give honey to babies under 12 months, because of the risk of infant botulism.
Why it’s good for you
The inner bark of slippery elm turns into a silky gel in water, which is why it has long been used as a soothing drink.
Evidence
Limited evidence
Mostly small, early, or laboratory studies.
No trial has tested slippery elm on its own. In a 2003 randomized trial, 60 adults with sore throats who drank a commercial demulcent tea (a blend that includes slippery elm, marshmallow root and licorice) had more short-term pain relief than those given a placebo tea, which fits the idea of a soothing coating but cannot be credited to the bark alone. Other human data come from an uncontrolled study of a multi-ingredient digestive formula, so evidence for slippery elm itself is thin.
General information from research and traditional use — not medical advice, and not a treatment for any condition. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition, check with your clinician first, and seek care for symptoms that are severe or do not improve.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a mug, stir the slippery elm powder with 2 tablespoons of cool water to make a smooth paste with no dry lumps.
- Heat the remaining water until steaming, just off the boil. Pour it slowly into the mug while whisking with a fork or a small whisk, and keep stirring until the drink turns silky and slightly thick.
- Stir in the honey, cinnamon and lemon, if using. Let it stand for 2 minutes to thicken a little more, then sip slowly while warm.
Tips
- It thickens as it sits. Stir in a splash more hot water for a thinner drink, or use up to 1 tablespoon of powder for a porridge-like one.
- Slippery elm is a wild-harvested bark, so choose brands that say it is sustainably sourced.
- Make it fresh each time. It does not keep well once mixed.
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