MISSIVES FROM THE APOTHECARY:
Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
January 13th, 2025
by Kamden Cornell, our head herbalist and owner of Heart & Vine Apothecary
Winter is really and truly upon us! The mountains are covered in snow (finally!!), the air is cold and crisp, and the chilly breath of Boreas has carried our sweet plant friends off to sleep. That doesn’t mean that we can’t still interact with them, of course! As you may know, I am an avid lover of plants considered invasive, and I want to talk to you about one in particular that can be useful this time of year. Siberian elm, though it is probably one of the most hated plants in the US, is one of the most lovely remedies for dryness inside and outside of the body, for cough, for sore throat, for constipation, and for magical purposes such as putting a stop to slander and even venerating the dead.
The more commercially available variety is slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), which is now threatened because of over harvesting, climate shift, and disease. Siberian elm, on the other hand, is thriving everywhere, to such a degree that people want to rip it our of the ground wherever it is found. It does exactly the same things as slippery elm, though, so we might as well be using it. All you need to do is find a Siberian elm, collect some of the smaller branches (about a finger-width thick) and twigs, use a sharp implement to score the bark length wise, and them peel it off like a little jacket. Use a knife or spatula to scrape the inner bark away, put it aside on a splayed open paper bag (or dry it in a dehydrator) and, when it is fully dry, powder it in a coffee grinder. Free medicine AND eco-conscious herbalism all wrapped into one easy activity!
The inner bark of all elm species is mucilaginous, meaning it creates a sort of slime as it steeps in water or as you chew on it. The tender inner bark can be scraped away from the rough outer bark, dried, and ground to make a powder that can be added to warm water, smoothies, face masks and lotions, and all sorts of other remedies. It is incredibly useful during the winter, as it can soothe the ache of a sore throat, acts as a mild expectorant, and helps to keep the sinuses and alimentary canal moisturized. Just use slightly warmed water (never hot or boiled water, as that breaks down the mucilage), add a bit of lemon and honey, and enjoy the moistening goodness of elm! The powder also makes for a nice laxative, as it is not stimulating to the colon (does not cause peristalsis), but rather coats everything with its slipperiness and eases it out of the body. Isn’t that the slickest thing you’ve ever heard? Topically, simply mix a bit of your elm powder into some kaolin or green clay, add a dollop of honey, a splash of rose water, and stir it into a paste. Apply this to areas where your skin is dry, chapped, or irritated by the winter chill.
When it comes to magic and gathering this plant, keep aside the leaves you are not using (although they also make a lovely drink that tastes a lot like green tea, especially if you roast them a bit). These can be added to incense burned as an offering to the ancestors or other honored dead that you work with. They can also be strewn about at crossroads as an offering to the spirits there. Elm is a powerful aid in spells meant to stop gossip and slander, too. Take a black candle and “butt” it, meaning you cut the top off and whittle the bottom down to be the new top. Rub it with olive oil or your favorite dressing oil (like “Stop Gossip” oil), roll it in elm powder, and burn it to the nub to turn back the slander spoken against you, You can also take red paper and cut a “tongue” out, dress it with the oil, and pin it to the candle before burning. It will get trapped in the wax and no longer be able to speak ill of you!
Happy slime times, y’all!