Salix



White Willow Bark
salix alba

Precautions
Native American herbal medicine used willow bark to diminish sexual desire.
Long-term, daily use of willow bark will reduce sexual desire,
although it will not alter sexual performance in either men or women.
Do not use willow bark if you are allergic to aspirin, and do not give
to a child under sixteen years of age who has symptoms of any kind
willow bark of viral infection, especially flu or chickenpox.

Origin- Poland

The Original Asprin
White willow was introduced into the United States
from Europe and can be found next to rivers and streams throughout the country.
Bark is the part of the willow used, and is easily removed
in the spring when the sap begins to flow.

Willows have been used for centuries for pain relief and reduction of fever.
Leaves can be chewed, and contain salicylic acid.
This compound has been synthesized into acetylsalicylic acid,
otherwise known as aspirin.

Natural salicylic acid is nearly as potent as aspirin, however, the compound salicin
from willow does not cause gastric or intestinal upset or bleeding as aspirin can.
This is because willow does not block prostaglandins in the stomach or intestines.

Analgesic action of willow bark depends on symbiotic or "friendly"
intestinal bacteria to digest is components into painkilling forms.
Aspirin does not require digestion by intestinal bacteria, and works more quickly.
Willow bark, on the other hand, continues to provide
pain relief longer than aspirin.
Unlike aspirin, the salicylates in willow bark do not increase the risk of bleeding.
They do not usually irritate the lining of the stomach.
For these reasons, willow bark may be useful for people
who have chronic joint pain but cannot take NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors.

Typical Preparations
Most commonly used in tea preparations, and equally convenient
as a capsule or extract.
Used to make lozenges, and salicin tablets.

Native to North America, northern Asia, and much of Africa, the white willow
is a low-growing deciduous tree bearing long, green,
tapering leaves and catkins in spring.
Bark is stripped from young trees in the spring for use in herbal medicines.
Willow bark is the grandmother of aspirin and many
other medications for arthritis and rheumatism.
Almost two thousand years ago, the Greek physician
Dioscorides used willow bark to sooth the pain of inflamed joints.
Native American healers used willow bark long
before Columbus or the Viking landed.
The conversion of willow bark to aspirin began in 1828 when a German chemist
isolated the active ingredient and named it salicin.
In 1899, the Bayer company began manufacturing and selling a modified form
of the willow bark chemical acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin.
This first of the modern miracle medicines has been a mainstay
in the treatment of joint pain ever since.
Willow bark is a proven painkiller appropriate for colds, fevers,
minor infections, headache, arthritis, and pain caused by inflammation.

Constituents
Salicin, tannins.


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