White Willow

White Willow


With thanks to Elisa Masoni

Latin Name: Salix alba
Family: Salicaceae

Part used: Bark (sourced during July, August and September)
Energetics: Bitter, cooling and drying
Organs/Systems: Circulation, Muscles, Blood, Nervous System
Meridians: Bladder, Kidney, Heart
Iris: Lymphatic
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.

    CONTRA-INDICATIONS

    Better to combine willow with demulcents, to avoid drying excessively mucus membranes. Cold infusions can be more gentle.

    • Salicylates or ASA allergies: do not use it
    • Pregnancy: use with caution and moderation during pregnancy.
    • Breastfeeding: Do not use it
    • Caution in conditions like Asthma, Gastritis, Hemophilia, Stomach ulcers, Kidney or Liver disease.
    • Children: Orally, salicylic acid and aspirin are contraindicated in children with viral infections. Although Reye's syndrome has not been reported, the salicin constituent in willow bark is similar to aspirin and might pose the same risk.
    • Stop taking it before surgery or chemotherapy.
    • Type 2 diabetes: Caution, monitor blood sugar levels.
    • Coronavirus disease 2019: Some experts have warned that willow bark might interfere with the body's immune and inflammatory response against COVID-19. There is no strong evidence to support these warnings, but there's also no evidence that willow bark has benefit against COVID-19 infection.

    ACTIONS

    • Analgesic
    • Anti-inflammatory (non-steroid like)
    • Antiseptic
    • Anti-biotic
    • Anti-microbial
    • Anti-fungal
    • Anti-infectives
    • Anti-oxidant
    • Anti-diabetic
    • Anti-obesity
    • Anti-cancer
    • Anti-platelet effects
    • Tonic
    • Diaphoretic
    • Sudorific
    • Antiperiodic
    • Astringent bitter
    • Febrifuge
    • Astringent
    • Immune-enhancing
    • Neuroprotective
    • Hepatoprotective activities

    Main Constituents

    • Salicylates (salicin)
    • Tannins
    • Flavonoids (flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, flavan-3-ols -catechins and procyanidins-, chalcones, dihydrochalcone, anthocyanins, dihydroflavonols)
    • Phenolic glycosides
    • Organic acids
    • Non-phenolic glycosides
    • Sterols
    • Terpenes
    • Simple phenolics
    • Lignans
    • Volatile substances
    • Fatty acids.

    Main Uses

    It helps cool and drain the vital force down. For painful symptoms associated with excessive heat and dampness
    Musculo-Skeletal: Swollen, Inflamed joints, Painful musculoskeletal conditions, Stiffness, Lower back pain, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis
    Intergumentary System: Throat-tooth aches, Skin inflammation.
    Immune System: Fever, Influenza, Headaches,
    Endocrine System: Menstrual cramps, Dysmenorrhoea, Weight loss support
    Digestive System: Chronic diarrhoea (tonic and astringent), Poor digestion

    More About White Willow

    S. alba L is a native tree to Europe, central Asia and northern Africa. In Folk medicine, willow was used to treat fevers, rheumatism, headaches, chronic and acute inflammation, pain and infections.
    Assyrian, Sumerian, Greek and Egyptian texts mention willow bark as a remedy for pain and fever.
    NativeAmericans used it as a therapeutic staple. For systemic pain, Willow was frequently made into tea, and the younger branches were eaten for their analgesic properties, especially against toothaches.
    Willow was the original source of salicin, linked to the discovery of acetylsalicylic acid and aspirin. During the Jewish festival of Sukkot one of the "Four Species" that are utilized ceremonially, is willow.
    One of the main characteristics of Kwan Yin, the Bodhisattva of compassion, in Buddhism, is a willow branch. In European Christian churches willow branches are frequently used on Palm Sunday in place of palm branches.

    Further reading and Clinical Research:

    • Tawfeek N, et all. Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Medicinal Uses of Plants of the Genus Salix: An Updated Review. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Feb 12;12:593856. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.593856.
    • Lennard, T. A. (2011). Pain procedures in clinical practice. Elsevier/Saunders
    • Pau, G. (2019). The foundations of Iridology: The eyes as the key to your genetic health profile. Healing Arts Press.

    References


    Osteoarthritis

    Willow Bark ( Salix spp.) Used for Pain Relief in Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
    The results showed significant differences in pain relief and improvement in physical status for patients with arthritis between willow bark treatment and placebo groups, and no significant differences in the risk of all adverse events in patients with arthritis between willow bark treatment and placebo.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37895439/

    Anti-Adipogenic

    Anti-Adipogenic Effects of Salicortin from the Twigs of Weeping Willow        (Salix pseudolasiogyne) in 3T3-L1 Cells
    These results suggest that salicortin could be a potential therapeutic compound for the prevention or treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36296558/

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