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ULMACEAE(Elm family)
• Medicinal / Folk-medicinal aspects: The seeds or inner bark of certain Ulmus L. species have been used in Chinese traditional medicine to prepare antiparasitic agents. Other preparations of the mucilaginous inner bark, known as slippery elm, have been used widely as healing poultices. • By removing several genera previously included in this family to the Cannabaceae, the work of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2003) has reduced the Ulmaceae to 7 genera comprising about 50 species of trees found in northern temperate regions and in tropical America (Mabberley 2008). The principal genera are Ampelocera Klotzsch [10 spp.] and Ulmus L. (25–30 spp.). Many are to be found in cultivation as ornamentals or as bonsai specimens (Hunt 1968/70). The family is a source of several commercially valuable timbers. [Information available but not yet included in database] The genus comprises 25-30 species of trees found in northern temperate regions. Many are important sources of timber (Mabberley 2008). Lovell et al. (1955) observed a strong (4+) patch test reaction to "elm pollen oil" in a patient with allergies to various tree pollen oils who presented with an airborne contact dermatitis. Elm pollen was later reported to produce a positive patch test reaction in a patient who had hand eczema (Agrup 1969). "L'ormeau" — elm — has been incriminated in wood-cutters' eczema (Schulmann & Détouillon 1932), but this is now known to be caused by lichens and liverworts growing on the trees. [Further information available but not yet included in database] [Information available but not yet included in database] [Information available but not yet included in database] A night watchman with facial dermatitis, who was often hit on the face by leaves and branches of a tree identified [possibly incorrectly] as Ulmus montana, was found to be sensitive to the leaves but not to elm wood. Tests with leaves from several other plants were negative. Patch tests to the leaves produced positive reactions in 17/67 control subjects. A further case of dermatitis caused by elm leaves was observed in a patient who had trimmed an elm hedge (Genner & Bonnevie 1938, Bonnevie 1939). This irritant reaction may depend on the occasional penetration of the skin by the small hairs on the leaf producing mechanical and chemical effects (Woods 1962). [Further information available but not yet included in database] This hybrid is derived from Ulmus minor Mill. × Ulmus glabra Huds. Several cultivars are to be found in cultivation (Mabberley 2008). [Further information available but not yet included in database] [Information available but not yet included in database] [Information available but not yet included in database]
[Information available but not yet included in database] According to Woods & Calnan (1976), the leaves of English elm and of other unspecified species of elm have irritant hairs on their under surfaces. In view of the difficulties taxonomists have had in classifying the British elms (Armstrong & Sell 1996), the botanical identity of the elms to which Woods & Calnan referred is unestablished. [Further information available but not yet included in database] The mucilaginous inner bark provides the crude drug known as Slippery Elm Bark or Cortex Ulmi Interior, which was formerly official in the pharmacopoeias of Britain, France, United States and elsewhere. Felter & Lloyd (1898) provided a detailed description of its internal and external uses, noting that: "As an emollient poultice, the bark has been found very serviceable when applied to inflamed parts, suppurating tumors, fresh wounds, burns, scalds, bruises, and ulcers; and in the excruciating pains of the testes, which accompany the metastasis of mumps, whether of recent or long standing, the constant use of an elm poultice, regularly changed every 4 hours, will be found a superior remedy. Notwithstanding its general value as an application to ulcers, it will often be found injurious, especially when used as a cataplasm to ulcers of the limbs, rendering the ulcer more irritable and difficult to heal, and frequently converting a simple sore, which might be cured by astringent or other washes, into an almost intractable ulcer; much care is, therefore, required in the application of this bark externally." Wren (1975) similarly extolled its virtues as a poultice. Additionally, slippery elm bark heated for several minutes with fats has long been known to render them resistant to rancidification (Wright 1852), this antioxidant property possibly contributing to its healing properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, the crude drug is known as chi yu, otherwise known as Cortex Ulmus Fulva, and has similar uses. [Further information available but not yet included in database] [Information available but not yet included in database] [Information available but not yet included in database] References
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