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AHPA’s 40 Herbs We Love – No. 14: Slippery Elm Bark (with love from Mueggenburg Farms)

June 29, 2022

AHPA's 40th anniversary celebrations continue with our showcase of the fourteenth of many beloved herbs at the heart of our robust industry and vibrant community.

No. 14: Slippery Elm Bark (Ulmus rubra)

A staple in the U.S. herbal tradition, slippery elm bark (Ulmus rubra) is one of the main driving forces in the wild harvesting market in Appalachia.

Slippery elm is harvested in a narrow window in the early summer months, just as the sap is coming out of the trees. The bark is then stripped vertically and the bark "slips" right off, upon which the bark is dried and prepared for cutting or powdering. Its unique mucilage properties make the inner-bark of slippery elm an invaluable herb in many throat-soothing teas and dietary supplements.

As tricky as the cutting and processing of the bark may be, its health benefits and positive economic impact in the rural areas of Appalachia make it one of the many reasons slippery elm bark is an herb we love!

The Mueggenburg Group is thrilled to celebrate with AHPA as we reflect and thank them on a tremendous 40 years of representing and protecting the U.S. herbal industry.


Share the Love

Do you want to celebrate an herb you love with AHPA's 40 Herbs We Love campaign for AHPA's 40th anniversary? Contact Amber Bennett to learn more about sponsoring your favorite herb!

More Ways to Celebrate

In addition to AHPA's 40 Herbs We Love, there are more fun and exciting ways to get involved with AHPA's 40th anniversary celebration.
You can:

  • Share your photos from the 80s! Pay homage to the 1980s (the decade AHPA was founded) by submitting photos of yourself and/or friends and colleagues in the herbal industry. The photos will be shared in the AHPA Report and on social media for members and followers to guess who is in the photo!

  • Author a 40th anniversary letter or guest article for the AHPA Report! Share a favorite memory or lesson learned, comment on a historical or present issue, or address AHPA members and friends of the herbal and natural products industry with your own 40th anniversary message in the monthly AHPA Report.

  • Join us for the 40th anniversary Founders Series fireside chats! Gather (virtually) with fellow AHPA founders and friends for a pre-recorded fireside chat to discuss topics celebrating AHPA history, achievements, and what sets us apart in the herbal community. Videos will be available to watch on-demand and shared in AHPA Updates, the AHPA Report, and on social media.

Click here to download more information on all the ways you can join us to celebrate 40 years of AHPA, and contact Melissa Do with any questions and to get started.

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