Do you suffer from occasional constipation, loose stools, mucus in the stool, or heartburn? Or are you interested in rebooting your precious gut microbiome?
Read on for a combination of Ayurveda, Western science, and my favorite tea to address all these issues and more.
The Gut-Brain Axis
The gut-brain axis is the relationship between microbes in the gut and one’s mental and emotional state. New studies suggest that both good and bad intestinal bugs play a major role in the function of digestion, the central nervous system (CNS), the mind, and the emotions.1
Stress influences intestinal mucosa, where our microbes either live or die, altering the function of our gut microbiome.2 In fact, in one study, a group of subjects with intestinal discomfort and bloating had 5x less bifidobacteria (a well-known beneficial bacteria) than a group without intestinal discomfort and bloating.3
In another study, stress was found to damage intestinal mucosa and gut microbiology to such an extent that it caused an increase in gut permeability, allowing toxins and pathogens to enter the bloodstream.4
Our Intuitive Intestinal Microbes
In the same way research has shown stress can disturb the microbiome and compromise overall health and wellbeing, new studies suggest that a healthy non-stressed microbiome can boost cognitive function, gut feelings, intuitive decision-making, and motivation.5
Researchers found a highly complex communication system between the gut and the brain that is not only responsible for higher brain functions like gut feelings and intuitive decision-making, but also for maintaining proper digestion. Like all functions of the microbiome, it all starts with the health of the intestinal wall.
The study reports that if these gut-brain communication pathways are disturbed, a wide range of health issues, including gastrointestinal issues, obesity, and eating disorders may result.
Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science!
According to Ayurveda, 85% of overall health and wellbeing is determined by the digestive system. Stress is understood to directly compromise digestion, and then take its toll on the rest of the body. New science is confirming this ancient wisdom.
More exciting is the fact that science is now making a solid connection between the health of our digestion (the microbiome) and higher states of mental, emotional, cognitive, and (dare I say!) spiritual or metaphysical functioning.5 “Gut feelings” and “intuition” are not words that regularly appear in scientific abstracts from the National Review of Neuroscience. 5
Ayurveda suggests that a healthy digestive system delivers refined products of digestion that are directly responsible for one’s physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional development. In fact, Ayurveda goes as far as saying that this is the purpose of the human body and thus the purpose of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda directly maps out both the positive and negative impact that stress, even in its most subtle form, has on digestion and our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
Gut Goldilocks
The first thing that happens when we’re stressed is a direct insult to the intestinal tract. If stress is persistent, mucus membranes of the gut will begin to dry out. This dryness can impair the ability to have regular bowel movements, causing occasional constipation, bloating, and gas.
If stress angers on, mucus membranes can react to stress-induced dryness and constipation by producing excess reactive mucus. This excess mucus can cause the stools to become loose, bog down the intestinal villa, and result in mucus in the stools. When the villi become irritated and burdened with excess mucus, the ability to digest, detox, and assimilate can become significantly compromised.
The natural environment of the intestinal tract that supports beneficial microbes is delicate.2, 4 For the intestinal villi to function well, they cannot be too dry or too wet (riddled with reactive mucus production)—they have to be just right!
Ayurveda described the microbiome thousands of years ago, calling gut bacteria “krimi”. To deal with such harmful gut bacteria, they employed strategies that are only today being investigated by Western medicine. Instead of killing the bacteria as we do today with drugs and harsh herbs, they suggested to 1. remove them physically, 2. remove the cause of the infestation, or 3. alter the nature of the bacteria and the environment of the gut where the infestation was—amazing!10
They went on to suggest that the prakriti (nature or basal makeup) of the human host, as well as the parasite, can both be suitably modified with dietary and lifestyle habits, herbal and mineral support, and immune-enhancing Ayurvedic procedures.
Tea for Gut Health
Ayurveda tends to the intestinal wall with great care in innumerable ways. Today, there are many scientific studies confirming how these Ayurvedic therapies support a healthy microbiome as well as optimal digestive and overall health.
My favorite such therapy (that I have used successfully in my practice for almost thirty years) is a concentrated tea made out of chopped (not ground) slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, and licorice root.
To antidote both dry and overly damp mucous membranes, I have not found a better solution than a slippery elm, licorice, marshmallow decoction taken regularly for a month to reset intestinal and microbial function.
Each of these herbs are naturally slimy, which means it will soften and coat dry and imbalanced mucous membranes all the way from throat to stomach to small and large intestines. It is like coating the entire digestive tract with a mucilaginous, microbe-boosting layer for a month. During this time, new intestinal skin can grow, a healthy intestinal environment can be restored, and healthy microbes can repopulate.
After cooking these herbs down into a concentrated tea or decoction, the soluble fiber from these roots and barks are released, which is naturally slimy, offering support to dried-out intestinal mucosa.
Soluble fiber in the tea feeds intestinal microbes and acts as a natural prebiotic for the microbiome. This is a critical part of the tea’s restoration effect: to create an environment for healthy microbes to proliferate while restoring an environment for the intestinal villi and gut mucosa to digest, detox, and assimilate nutrients optimally.
The Cast: Licorice Root, Slippery Elm Bark + Marshmallow Root
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Licorice is a classic Ayurvedic herb used worldwide as a lubricant for intestinal and respiratory airways. Licorice lubricates and coats mucus membranes and, as an adaptogen, protects them from stress and environmental irritants and pollens. Licorice quells mucus imbalance and supports functions of other herbs when taken in combination.6
Licorice is calming for vata, cooling for pitta, and moving for the mucus of kapha.
Slippery Elm Bark (Ulmus fulva)
Slippery elm has long been used for digestive and intestinal concerns because of its lubricating and gut-defending properties.8 Along with mucilaginous, protective properties for the intestinal wall, it has been shown to support healthy antioxidant activity in the intestinal tract. 7
Like licorice, it has a sweet taste and cooling action. It balances vata and pitta, but will increase kapha as a result of its more mucilaginous properties. It provides a thick layer of protective herb for the entire intestinal tract.
Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis)
Marshmallow root is perhaps the most slippery of the three herbs in this formula. It has been studied to support the health of the stomach lining from acid and protect the intestinal tract from irritants, such as the toxic form of carrageenan. It has been approved by the German Commission E in supporting the integrity of the gastric, oral, and pharyngeal mucosa.9
Like both licorice and slippery elm, marshmallow is a soluble fiber, which means it will be broken down by the stomach, but not absorbed. This allows it to offer the gut, where most microbes reside, a handsome feast of fibers and nutrients.
Marshmallow is cooling for pitta, soothing and calming for vata, and, as it is mucus-producing, will increase kapha—a good thing in this instance, as we are trying to coat and protect the intestines from top to bottom over a month of therapy.
Make a Decoction or Tea at Home
Key to the success of this intestinal and microbial reset is to take these three herbs as a decoction for a month or two. Then use the tea as a maintenance beverage. Secondly, you must source these herbs in a chopped, not ground, form. If you use ground herbs, you will make mud and it won’t work. One of the reasons I created our Slippery Elm Prebiotic Formula was because I could never find the herbs locally in a chopped form.
Slippery-Elm-Mixture_Dr-Douillards-LifeSpaFor Best Results from Slippery Elm Prebiotic Formula
- For occasional constipation, use with Elim 1 herbal formula. Wean off Slippery Elm Prebiotic Formula and then wean off Elim 1.
- For loose stools, use with Elim 2. Wean off Slippery Elm Prebiotic Formula and then wean off Elim 2.
- For mucus in the stool, take with Amalaki to help reestablish a healthy intestinal lining.
- For occasional heartburn, take with Cool Digest before meals.
- To best restore a healthy microbiome, take with Gut Revival, which has probiotics that kill off bad microbes and repopulate the gut with good microbes. Once finished with Slippery Elm Prebiotic Formula, follow up with colonizing probiotic Flora Restore, which has been shown to establish new permanent microbial residents and microbial diversity in the gut.
Mathilde says
Hi there
Can we use this tea during pregnancy? I saw elm was used to provoke abortions, so I’m a bit worried.
And if someone could tell me if we are speaking of US or UK quarts, it would help a lot (or give me the indication in metric system).
Thank you so much
Mathilde
Gary Glynn says
I didn’t hear any mention about licorice root and high blood pressure. I made the concoction, drank it and then noticed a dangerous blood pressure spike. Shouldn’t there be a warning about this?
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Gary,
So sorry to hear that this happened. Studies suggest that a much higher amount of licorice would be required to have an adverse affect.
Dr. John has written about licorice and blood pressure and you can read that article here:
https://lifespa.com/much-licorice-safe-blood-pressure-whole-licorice-vs-licorice-dgl/
Best,
LifeSpa Staff
Thomas Gammell says
van you take these supplements with antidepressants
Fran says
The problem with marsmallow root and licorice is that they have phytoestrogenic properties and cause headaches and even migranes to people with estrogen dominance. Would it be useful to take slippery elm alone?
Dan says
Fran, Slippery elm alone is beneficial. However, you can supplement with vitex (chaste berry) to normalize estrogen levels. Then, after 2-6 weeks experiment with adding in marshmallow and licorice.
-Dan
Lifeloveaddiction.com
Jason Klinger says
not true
Alisha says
Great article! However, I recently purchased all three of these herbs but in powder form, is there a way I can still make the probiotic tea?
Thanks!
Josey says
I have been using this off and on for a year or so as I heal from a chronic digestive issue. Excellent product!! Because making a batch is decently time consuming, I’ve started doubling it and then freezing it in bite-size (1T or so) bits in silicone candy trays. Then I can just pop one in my mouth when needed or easily add it to tea, etc… and it lasts much longer than just in the fridge! It seems to still be helping just as well, but I’d love to know if freezing it degrades its effectiveness in any way. I’m very grateful for your website, all your info, and many of your products, Dr. Douillard and team!!! 🙂
Laurene Hayden says
Freezing removes the prana – life force energy – from the item.
Robin says
There are several very good (and some seriously important) questions here that are not answered. This concerns me. Especially ones where pregnant or nursing mothers are involved.
Without doing further research *yet* it seems that this concoction is meant as a protective layer throughout the digestive system, but how is it that is a healing of the gut. Or is it simply a protective covering so that the gut can heal? Are there other requirements along with this tea that are necessary for true healing?
My husband has been diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus and we would really like to do something other than load up on omeprazole every day for years.
Thank you if you choose to respond.
Blessings,
Robin
Laila Ayyoub says
I think at some point you mentioned using gut revival with the decoction tea for a month and then following up with a month of flora restore. Did I understand that correctly? Or do you just use the tea for a month followed by the flora restore?
Elyse says
Good morning,
Is this month-long regimen safe (for baby) while breastfeeding?
Thank you,
Elyse
Hema says
Hi. I have slippery elm bark powder marshmallow root powder and liquorice root. Could you please let me know the recipe with these 3 ingredients for constant diahrea and GERD
Paige says
Hi there! I was wondering if there is an alternative to Slippery Elm in this case? I live in Spain and cannot find it anywhere in chopped from, but Marshmallow and Licorice yes.
Thanks,
Paige
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Paige,
Thanks for your question! While we definitely recommend Slippery Elm (http://store.lifespa.com/slippery_elm_prebiotic.html) for restoring gut health, licorice root and marshmallow root work very well too. It sounds like they could be the best option for your circumstances.
Be Well
annette wass says
Hi
you wont find the bark in Europe as in years gone by the slivers of bark were used to induce illegal abortions.The powder works just fine as a demulcent for the gut.
Eva says
Hi Dr. Douillard,
If the person has kapha in stomach and post-nasal drip + intestinal gas and occasional seasonal constipation, is this formula safe or will it increase kapha/mucus overall? If so, can only licorice be taken to relieve constipation/gas (since it does not increase Kapha)?
Warm regards,
Eva L
Cathy says
It says to take 1 tablespoon of the liquid every two hours on an empty stomach. I’m trying to figure out how meals fit in with this schedule. Can it be taken on an empty stomach right before a meal? Does this work out to approximately 8 T. per day? Thanks for your response.
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Cathy, thanks for reaching out. The main premise is to simply do the best you can. In general, the stomach itself is empty about 30 min after eating. This should help you be able to schedule your dosages, the average range for most people is 6-9 a day. Be well.
Ryan says
When making the decoction, should the pot be covered? Approximately how long should it take to boil down to half a quart?
Thanks for you help.
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Ryan thanks for reaching out. Yes the pot can be covered, keep an eye on the mixture as it boils – you’re looking for viscosity. It can vary depending on your elevation, for most people it takes roughly an hour.
Peter says
Hi. I think my girlfriend could benefit from this tea. She is about 5 months pregnant. Any reason for her not to take this?
Thanks for the good articles.
Duarte says
Dear Dr.John Douillard, my mom is suffering from diverticulitis and poor health in the mouth gums, I believe this tea can help a lot. can you please confirm if is recommended.
Can you tell me where i can buy this herbs in Europe?
If not can you tell me where can I order it from US.
Thanks in advance, I really appreciate your work.
Donna says
Good morning. I have cronic constipation. Please could you advice which other products i should take with the prebiotic tea. Thankyou. Donna .
John Douillard says
Hi Donna. You may want to look into a product called Elim 1: http://store.lifespa.com/elim1.html Elim 1 combines the Ayurvedic bowel-toning herb Triphala with demulcent herbs and a small amount of psyllium to support healthy movement of the bowels. Elim 1 works to soften and lubricate the mucus membranes of a dry intestinal tract while simultaneously strengthening the bowel muscles to effectively support waste moving out of the system.
Ravi says
I can’t find slippery elm bark in the UK. Is it ok to use the powder and if so, can it be added in the morning opposed to the evening?
John Douillard says
Hi Ravi. Yes this should be fine. I would experiment with 1/2 tsp in your tea in the morning for a couple weeks and see how that feels. Be well.
annette wass says
Hi
slippery elm bark is illegal in the UK ( and maybe Europe in general I think ) as years ago the slivers of bark were used to induce illegal abortions. Powder works well as a mucilage to heal the gut
annette says
you wont find the bark in the UK only powder.The bark was banned a long time ago as it was allegedly used to procure illegal abortions
Vacheslav says
funny word “illegal abortions” as if done legally, without repentance, you wouldn’t go to hell! Europe is totally screwed up, abortions are ok but the death penalty is a big disaster! in other words, those who deserve death, are kept to live, while the innocent are murdered brutally!
Ella says
Hi. What if you have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth? How can we combat inflammation in the gut then? 🙁
joel says
dr. christopher recommends to use slippery elm gruel made from powdered slippery elm mixed in hot water to make a mucus like gruel.. adn eat that every waking hour 1 tblsp… some even recommend to mix the slippery elm POWDER with raw milk kefir or raw milk(prebiotic with probiotic)
Geoffrey Levens says
Is there any reason the pre-biotic tea needs to be reduced over heat? Seems to me (limited knowledge) that the constituents we are after in the herb material should all be in the water after the cold soak/infusion. Much less work to just take double the dose each time i.e. 2 Tablespoons every couple hours?
Greatly appreciate the information you put out for everyone at no charge! Thank you and many blessings to you
Geoffrey Levens says
Just “reduced” my 1st batch and seems like perhaps the heat changed the structure of the soluble fiber, made it much more gel like. That would explain the need for cook down vs only cold extraction.
John Douillard says
Hi Geoffrey. Yes, the gel-like consistency is key. Be well.
Lula jester says
If you are dealing with, high blood pressure, will the licorice be a problem with this condition?
Lao Tzu says
Hello and thank you heaps. How thick and slimy and viscous is the decoction supposed to become after reducing to 1/2 quart? It clearly is a potent concentrated tea but still pretty much looks like tea here… I expected more viscosity, it got out the sieve easily, I’m not certain I got it right?
Jeannie says
Hi Dr. – I will try your Slippery Elm Prebiotic Formula along with Elim 2 as suggested for loose stools. Anything else you recommend while I’m at it? Have had this issue now for several weeks it seems. Digestive issues are unusual for me (48y/f). Now first thing in the am the minute I hop out of bed. Much emotional stress this past year, so upped the supplements, lots of greens/good diet etc…thought the greens would help bulk things but not so far. Thanks in advance! Jeannie
Catherine says
Hi, I made the tea and am wondering how long it last in the fridge?
Thanks,
Catherine
John Douillard says
Hi Catherine,
It should be fine in the fridge for about 4 days.
Louise says
Hi i have problems with my gut i was not going off often which i had too stop eat meat and waste would stay in d colon long and create parasite and uric Acid i am from trinidad how can i get ur products