Irritable Bowel

[Erny]

I am a great believer in Slippery Elm, have used it with much success in foals for scouring. I usually use the tincture, just 5-10 drops does the trick.

Just curious - but how does a "tincture" work? Does it balloon, expand and become the thickish gel like consistency that the powder form becomes, after absorbing moisture, this being (as far as I understand) what affords the animal gut protection from irritation ??

I'm interested because I too have a dog with Irritable Bowel (cause still indeterminate) and after reading Cowanbree's success, I've gone back to giving it a go. (Earlier on in my boy's history, it didn't help with what we were dealing with back then, but things have changed - stabilised, even, perhaps, to a degree) and so I thought I'd give it another shot. Mandela's stools had gone really off in the last few weeks and I must admit that inside of 12-24 hours of administering the Slippery Elm powder, his stools vastly improved. I'm not sure how long this will last though - it's always an up and down ride with his condition and symptoms. I don't put additives with his food as he will often walk away from his meal regardless. So I administer them separately and as approximate to his meal as is appropriate. The tincture might be easier to administer?

[Mad Mary]

I'm wondering too. I see you can buy "white slippery elm tincture" online but it does not give any information on how it works compared to the powder or capsules.

[trifecta]

The tincture is the homeoepathic form. In the case of IBS it stimulates the nerve endings in the stomach & intestines to secrete mucus.

Likewise it is medicinal in the treatment of sore throats, respiratory ailments, cystitis, inflammatory bladder & chest complaints including pleurisy, bronchitis & tuberculosis. In fact, homeoepathically, it stimulates all the tissues in the body which secrete mucus.

[Mad Mary]

The tincture is the homeoepathic form. In the case of IBS it stimulates the nerve endings in the stomach & intestines to secrete mucus.

Likewise it is medicinal in the treatment of sore throats, respiratory ailments, cystitis, inflammatory bladder & chest complaints including pleurisy, bronchitis & tuberculosis. In fact, homeoepathically, it stimulates all the tissues in the body which secrete mucus.

Ahh - now I understand, thank you :)

[Erny]

Thanks Trifecta.

A follow-up question though .... if the tincture works by stimulating the nerve endings in the stomach and intestines to produce and secrete mucus, would the result be poop with a mucus coating that the Vets general *diagnose* as colitis?

Hope this doesn't sound like a challenge question - just something I'm curious about. I used to drive my parents mad with "want-to-know" questions, lol.

[trifecta]

Thanks Trifecta.

A follow-up question though .... if the tincture works by stimulating the nerve endings in the stomach and intestines to produce and secrete mucus, would the result be poop with a mucus coating that the Vets general *diagnose* as colitis?

Hope this doesn't sound like a challenge question - just something I'm curious about. I used to drive my parents mad with "want-to-know" questions, lol.

No, the faeces appear normal. I guess the mucus which is produced protects the bowel & it is able to work properly. As soon as the faeces are normal I would cease treatment, sometimes foals need only one or two doses. Don't ask me how it works..... I just know it does! :D