Slippery Elm (ulmus fulva), also known as Red Elm, Moose Elm or Indian Elm, is a small tree native to North America. It has been a part of traditional herbal medicine for centuries and was used by North Americans and early settlers as a survival food during lean times. Tradition has it that the American troops who spent the bitter winter at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War survived for days on slippery elm gruel. Slippery elm is one of the four components of Essiac which is a popular herbal treatment for cancer. Slippery Elm is a soothing herb that is consumed in many forms including lozenges, liquid extracts, healing salves for wounds, boils, ulcers, burns, and skin inflammation. Slippery elm contains mucilage, a substance that becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. It coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines; it may also contain antioxidants that can help relieve inflammatory bowel conditions The inner bark of slippery elm also contains various nutrients, such as beta-sitosterol, campesterol, tannin, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, beta-carotene and vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C.