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LATIN NAME: Salix alba
FAMILY: Salicaceae
GENUS: Salix
ORIGIN: native to Europe and western and central Asia
HABITAT: It grows along the banks of rivers, ponds, on dams, along roads and near habitation in populated areas; often forms quite large groves, stretching along the rivers for many kilometers.
BOTANICAL INFORMATION: The tree is 20-30 m high, with a wide-rounded, often weeping crown, and with a powerful trunk up to 3 m in diameter (often several trunks), covered with a dark gray deeply cracked bark (bitter taste). The lower branches often incline to the ground.
The buds are lanceolate, reddish-yellow, silky, oblate, sharp, 6 mm long, about 1.5 mm wide. Leaves are alternate, narrow-lanceolate or lanceolate, serratulate or entire (edges not curved downwards), with pointed top, 5-15 cm long, 1-3 cm wide.
The flowers are collected in cylindrical, rather thick catkins 3-5 cm long. Fruits are boxes 4-6 mm in length. Seeds ripen in May-June.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: Willow bark contains the salicin glycoside (up to 7%), tannins (up to 11.5%), resins, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and other substances. Branches and leaves ascorbic acid, protein, fat, 25% fiber.
WHITE WILLOW RECIPES
Decoction: Add 1 tablespoon of white willow chopped bark to 200 ml of boiling water, simmer for 20 minutes, then cool and strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.
White Willow decoction: Add 2-3 gr of crushed bark to 200 ml of water, boil for 10 minutes, then strain. Take the decoction 3 times a day before meals.
Infusion from white willow inflorescences: Add 5 gr of catkins to 200 ml of boiling water, infuse for 10 minutes and strain. Take 3 times a day.
Tincture: Pour 500 ml of vodka over 100 gr of inflorescences, infuse for 3 weeks in a dark place, shaking daily. When ready, take 30-35 drops of tincture 4 times a day just before meals, previously diluted the drops with 1 tablespoon of water.
“Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one”
Grandmother Willow (Pocahontas)
*This article is for informational purposes only. We suggest consulting with a physician before using these or any other herbal supplements.
