Thayers Slippery Elm Throat Lozenges

To be honest, we've never had any encounters with slippery elm prior to trying this product. Nor, had we ever encountered a product that claimed to be a demulcent. But, now that we've done some research and had the opportunity to try Thayers Slippery Elm Throat Lozenges, they have become our favorite demulcents.

De-mul-cent (di-mul'sent), adj. soothing; n. a mucilaginous substance used to soothe irritated or inflamed mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. (You probably figured that out from the "Throat Lozenges" hint, but it was on the package, so we thought we'd share.)

There is really very little to dislike about these lozenges. The taste is very, very mildly that of maple candy, but not nearly so sweet. The texture if the lozenge is a bit rough, not at all like the slice-your-tongue-hard-candy that you may be used to in these types of products. It is easy to deduce from the way they feel and taste that Thayer's has created a product that is very simple and natural. And they prove it with an ingredients list of just three things: Elm bark (150mg to be exact), plant-derived sweeteners, and vegetable stearate as a binder. One thing we love is when the list of things not in the product is longer than the ingredients. Thayers Slippery Elm Throat Lozenges are sodium-free, preservative-free, gluten-free, and menthol-free.

Ahh. The lack of menthol is very important to the effectiveness of this product. Thayers highly recommends their lozenges to singers, "especially opera singers." In cruising around at thayers.com, you will discover that many singers don't use menthol to treat throat discomfort because it causes temporary loss of control of their vocal chords. In addition, you can read about how one little church choir in Cambridge, Massachusetts began to recognize the value of using slippery elm to treat over-tired vocal chords, and thus created the market that Thayers has claimed as their own. Also on the website, you will discover other flavors of Slippery Elm Throat Lozenges, as well as a vast array of other natural products.

Seems the only thing left to discuss then is the effectiveness. Well, we are pleased to report that they are lovely. Really, it's impossible to talk about how effective they are without comparing them to your average menthol lozenge. With Thayers there is no unnaturally strong smell, no numbness, no unpleasant taste, and no cuts on your tongue. One of Thayers Lozenges actually takes a surprising amount of time to dissolve in your mouth. When it's gone, the package indicates it should be effective for two hours. We found this to be largely true. Thayers feels rather like a light, semi-permanent lubricant. It's not at all greasy or unpleasant, just mild and soothing. Slippery Elm: who knew?

• purchase price - $1.99 for a box of 24
• availability - Thayer's

Unique Reviews overall rating: 96 out of 100

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