Medical Uses For White Willow - Salix Alba
Other Common Names: Ak Sogut, Safsaf Abyadh, Sauce Blanco, Sugut Aghaji, Salix alba
Range: Europe; Iraq; Spain; Turkey; USA; Yugoslavia
Habitat: By streams and rivers, marshes, woods and wet fens on richer soils.
The generic name of the willows, Salix, comes from the Celtic sal,
meaning "near," and lis, meaning "water." Most species grow near water
or in moist ground in cold and temperate regions throughout the world,
but a few are dry-soil plants.
Justly famous as the original source of salicylic acid (the
precursor of aspirin), white willow and several closely related species
have been used for thousands of years to relieve joint pain and manage
fevers.
The bark is anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, antiseptic,
astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, sedative and
tonic. It has been used internally in the treatment of dyspepsia
connected with debility of the digestive organs, rheumatism, arthritis,
gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, feverish illnesses,
neuralgia and headache. Its tonic and astringent properties render it
useful in convalescence from acute diseases, in treating worms, chronic
dysentery and diarrhoea. The fresh bark is very bitter and astringent.
It contains salicin, which probably decomposes into salicylic acid
(closely related to aspirin) in the human body. This is used as an
anodyne and febrifuge. The bark is harvested in the spring or early
autumn from 3 - 6 year old branches and is dried for later use.
The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish
illnesses and colic. An infusion of the leaves has a calming effect and
is helpful in the treatment of nervous insomnia. When added to the bath
water, the infusion is of real benefit in relieving widespread
rheumatism. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season
and are used fresh or dried.
The wood of willows is white, soft, and light, but it is tough and
elastic and not given to splintering when subjected to strain. It is
thus used for making tool handles, baseball and cricket bats, shipping
containers, and, because it is relatively nonflammable, for the brake
blocks of railway stock.
Other Common Names: Ak Sogut, Safsaf Abyadh, Sauce Blanco, Sugut Aghaji, Salix alba
Range: Europe; Iraq; Spain; Turkey; USA; Yugoslavia
Habitat: By streams and rivers, marshes, woods and wet fens on richer soils.
The generic name of the willows, Salix, comes from the Celtic sal,
meaning "near," and lis, meaning "water." Most species grow near water
or in moist ground in cold and temperate regions throughout the world,
but a few are dry-soil plants.
Justly famous as the original source of salicylic acid (the
precursor of aspirin), white willow and several closely related species
have been used for thousands of years to relieve joint pain and manage
fevers.
The bark is anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, antiseptic,
astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, sedative and
tonic. It has been used internally in the treatment of dyspepsia
connected with debility of the digestive organs, rheumatism, arthritis,
gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, feverish illnesses,
neuralgia and headache. Its tonic and astringent properties render it
useful in convalescence from acute diseases, in treating worms, chronic
dysentery and diarrhoea. The fresh bark is very bitter and astringent.
It contains salicin, which probably decomposes into salicylic acid
(closely related to aspirin) in the human body. This is used as an
anodyne and febrifuge. The bark is harvested in the spring or early
autumn from 3 - 6 year old branches and is dried for later use.
The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish
illnesses and colic. An infusion of the leaves has a calming effect and
is helpful in the treatment of nervous insomnia. When added to the bath
water, the infusion is of real benefit in relieving widespread
rheumatism. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season
and are used fresh or dried.
The wood of willows is white, soft, and light, but it is tough and
elastic and not given to splintering when subjected to strain. It is
thus used for making tool handles, baseball and cricket bats, shipping
containers, and, because it is relatively nonflammable, for the brake
blocks of railway stock.
- Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
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