I got my shipment yesterday from MountainRoseHerbs and this slippery elm is excellent. My pain went down to a 0/10 for the first time in a month, since I ran out of my other good slippery elm powder! I've been a 5/10 for pain so this is a godsend for me. Even sitting in a chair has been uncomfortable the last week. MountainRose's elm is bland and dissolves beautifully. It coats the gastritis areas in my upper stomach within 5 minutes of me swallowing a teaspoon of the paste I make with it.

Steve, there's no maximum dosage amounts since it's a food source. Some people even use slippery elm to make porridge- like a bowl of oatmeal.

I haven't tried the other mucilaginous herbs from them that I received yet. I'll let you know if the marshmallow, psyllium and kelp, chia work as well.

I am thinking of trying slippery elm as it seems positive here. A couple quesitons:

1) Are the capsules ok to take? Mixing the powder with water doesn't sound so good.
2) If I am also taking licorice root DGL 20 minutes before a meal, would I take the slipper elm after the meal?

Lu,

Just drink water after you take the capsules so it makes a soup in your tummy. That way it'll coat everything.

I tried the kelp powder. It's the grossest thing I have ever tasted. It was fishy and salty and gritty. It didn't make a mucilaginous paste either! I'm really surprised it's listed as being a mucilaginous/demulcent herb because it did not get slippery/slimy.

The Marshmallow root powder made a similar slippery paste like the elm. I can see how it would coat well too. The taste is not as good as the slippery elm though. IT's much stronger.

Psyllium HUSK powder made a foamy slurry. I didn't like it's airy consistency or flavor.

Psyllium SEED powder was excellent in flavor and texture. It made a nice soupy mix and would coat a stomach well too.

My main gastritis symptom is nausea...so if the taste is horrible, it may backfire and make me toss my cookies which would defeat the purpose. Sounds like the capsules with water is the best bet. Gonna hit a health store tongiht and see what they have.

PS - You would think that marshmallow root would taste good from the name.

Well, didn't find any powder at the health store, but did find the capsules. Seems like a lot to take though...4/dose, 3 time a day.

I also found a tea that is for gastritis type symptoms. Not sure if it will work but figure it can't hurt.

Start with capsules and see if SE works for you. If it does you can always order SE powder online by the lb, it is much cheaper this way. I bought capsules to start with as well and dissolve contains of 3-4 of them in 2 oz of warm water. Builk shipment if of my SE order will be delivered next week.

The capsules themselves smell pretty yucky. Can't imagine taking the powder. Hopefully these will help.

You get used to taste and smell quickly. It is not bad overall. Disolve contains of the 3-4 capsules in 2 oz of warm-hot watter, let it soak for 5 min and drink. If you feel it helps get the powder in bulk.

I'm sure it's coincidence, but have been trying the slippery elm capsules 1 to 2x a day with the digestion tea and I've been having a couple good days. Am also still on the tecta (GP said to try continuing it for next couple months if it's helping), plus it's easier to eat careful during the week since I'm more in control of meals (i.e. I fix my own lunch and dinner at work/home as opposed to social meals on weekends with friends, restaurants, etc)

I found SE very helpful too. Unfortunately it is not a total cure. At this point I only eat food that I prepare myself. if I get invited to any social event I either bring my food or eat home before. Gastritis will not clear up on it's own, Stomach needs a lot of time to heal and every bit of "bad" food comes at a great cost to us. Don't stay on PPI too long, you already know it's dangers when used long term. You'll get acid rebound once PPI is stopped. This might be tough to deal with. Use your best judgment and don't use PPI more than necessary.

Thanks Steve. I talked to my GP who said if the PPI is helping me, that I can take it for "several" months (not sure how many that means). I get the impression that tecta isn't as powerful as something like nexium (based on some that have tried the former with and it didn't help them whereas nexium does)

My Nexium prescription was given me for a whole year, I just needed to keep refilling but looks like I'm doing just fine without it. Tecta is a very powerful PPI with all the benefits and side effects as any of them, look here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantoprazole

I'm not advising you to stop taking Tecta ASAP. Just be aware of what it is and don't get stuck with it long term.

Thanks Steve. That's great to hear that you're able to manage without PPI. I think of stopping and then the nausea returns so keep on it (plus my GP said to try for a bit). Just wish this whole gastritis thing would go away.