White willow has unique healing properties. In folk medicine, all parts of the tree are used, but the most useful substances are found in the bark.
White willow is a large sprawling tree with a sloping crown. In different regions of Russia, the tree is called differently: silver willow, willow, white climber, weeping willow, willow. In nature, it grows up to eight meters. The plant is found everywhere along the rivers, in the lowlands.
Special willow plant
White willow has amazing branches: they are long, thin, hanging over ponds. Foliage is light silver underneath and dark green above. During windy weather, this feature makes the tree especially attractive.
Due to the rapid growth and strong root system, the unique appearance of the tree is quite common in gardening. It is used to decorate parks, forest planting areas, and strengthen sandy shores. white willowperfectly tolerates urban pollution, which makes it preferred for the design of streets, private areas.
Willow bark has a lot of useful properties. It is used in industry, and is also used in traditional medicine. It has many medicinal properties, but it is recommended to use it only after consulting a specialist.
Procurement of raw materials
White willow bark is harvested in early spring from young twigs up to seven years old. At this time of the year, the skin easily peels off the tree.
All removed parts are cut into small pieces and dried in the sun or in a dryer. The degree of readiness is determined by the fragility of the raw material. The blanks are able to retain their medicinal properties for three years.
In addition to the bark, male inflorescences have healing properties. Unlike women's, they are longer and fluffy. Flowers are harvested in April-May, during the flowering of the plant.
Composition and medicinal properties
The healing properties of white willow bark are determined by its composition. It contains a large amount of tannins, salicin, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, organic acids. Having decided to use folk remedies, do not forget that white willow bark has contraindications.
Due to the active ingredients, preparations obtained from the bark have an astringent, hemostatic, antiseptic effect. Also, this plant helps fight rheumatism, arthritis, and has a positive effect on joints with arthrosis. This fact was proved by the Germanthe scientists who conducted the experiment. It was attended by seventy-eight people. Within the first two weeks of using willow bark, patients experienced pain relief.
Preparations made on the basis of willow have a diuretic effect, and are also effective in the treatment of chronic diarrhea, catarrh, spleen pathologies. They also anesthetize, have choleretic properties.
The special properties of white willow allow the plant to be used to treat complex skin pathologies, remove sweating of the feet. The results of ongoing pharmacological experiments have shown that preparations prepared from parts of the tree have a pronounced antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. Infusions and decoctions of willow are used to treat fever, as painkillers. While taking these drugs, do not forget that they increase blood clotting.
Reception of infusions and decoctions is indicated for colitis, tuberculosis, dysentery, internal bleeding, typhoid, tonsillitis, gout, female ailments. Decoctions of the bark are used for gargling, externally as lotions for varicose veins.
Plant benefits
Our ancestors knew about the healing properties of white willow bark and used it to treat stomach diseases, viral infections, bronchitis, rheumatic pains, gout. Astringent properties help to cope with diarrhea. Decoctions are shown to people suffering from hypotension.
Willow is able to treat neuralgia, gastritis, inflammation of the urinary system, intestines. The plant is of particular benefit to men: infusionstaken to treat prostatitis.
People who suffer from extrasystole and tachycardia feel relief after taking willow-based drugs.
The substances that make up the tree help fight colds, stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontal disease.
Willow helps fight hair loss and dandruff. Rinsing with a decoction of willow leaves with the addition of burdock will make your hair beautiful, well-groomed.
Ointments for external use are prepared from the bark powder. Boils, long non-healing wounds are treated with such drugs. Decoctions can be added to baths for the treatment of varicose veins, hemorrhoids.
The healing properties of white willow help to relax, give peace of mind. With the help of decoctions, you can relieve a headache. Preparations from the bark help fight severe intestinal bleeding.
Use in traditional medicine
There was a time when the bark was used to treat not only the above ailments, but also malaria. The remedies prepared from it help relieve hot flashes during menopause.
A variety of remedies are prepared for the treatment of various ailments. The treatment of febrile conditions is carried out with tea. To make it, take a teaspoon of bark and pour a glass of water. The agent is boiled over low heat. After cooling, the broth is filtered. Taken as tea no more than two cups.
For tachycardia and arrhythmia, an infusion prepared from 100 g of male inflorescences is used. They are poured with half a liter of vodka and insisted for a month. The finished product is taken up to four times a daythirty drops each.
Useful properties of white willow bark help treat goiter. To prepare the medicine, it is necessary to burn the shoots of the tree. The coals are ground and mixed with honey in a ratio of 1 to 2. The finished product is taken fifty grams three times a day.
You can treat prostatitis with willow bark. To do this, prepare a remedy by taking a tablespoon of bark and pouring a glass of boiling water. The tool is put on fire for five minutes. After straining, the composition is taken one hundred ml three times a day.
Willow for outer beauty
An infusion prepared in a water bath from a spoonful of willow bark and the same amount of burdock helps against hair loss and dandruff. The mixture is poured with half a liter of boiling water and heated for twenty minutes. Then the composition is allowed to brew for a couple of hours. After straining, rinse the hair with the product. Use this remedy no more than twice a week.
To remove warts, willow wood ash is used. Add a spoonful of vinegar to it. The result should be a slurry that is applied to the warts. This procedure is done until the growths dry out and begin to fall off.
Recipes of traditional medicine
Knowing the healing properties and contraindications of white willow, after consulting a doctor, you can prepare folk remedies and use them to treat a variety of ailments. A drug is prepared from the bark for the treatment of prostate adenoma. To do this, take two glasses of water and two tablespoons of bark. The product boils for seven minutes. After cooling, it is filtered and taken one hundred ml three times.per day.
To cope with sweating of the feet, baths with an infusion of crushed bark help. To prepare it, take two teaspoons of powder and two glasses of water. The remedy is infused for eight hours. Strain before use.
In case of indigestion, indigestion, make a decoction and take it two hundred grams three times a day. To prepare the product, you need to take three tablespoons of raw materials, pour it with a liter of water, boil for seven minutes. The remedy is infused for eight hours. After cooling, the broth is filtered.
Traditional medicine to help
For the treatment of rheumatism, two tablespoons of crushed bark are poured into a glass of boiling water and simmered for half an hour in a water bath. The finished product is taken in a spoon up to five times a day. The remedy is applied half an hour before meals.
Dried bark is used to treat erysipelas, fungal infections of the skin. The remedy is prepared from a glass of bark powder, which is poured with boiling water so that the water covers the raw material. The composition is infused for half an hour. Then it is filtered. The resulting infusion is added to foot and hand baths. With erysipelas, the remedy is used for compresses.
Infusion of white willow helps fight sciatica. For this purpose, an infusion is prepared from a spoonful of raw materials and half a liter of boiling water. Infuse the composition for an hour, then strain. Take one scoop up to six times a day.
Willow treatment
For the treatment of hemorrhoids, varicose veins, willow is used externally in the form of lotions and baths. To prepare the product, you will need five tablespoons of raw materials and a liter of water. The product is boiled for half an hour,then he is allowed to brew for two hours. The finished medicine is poured into baths - they are taken for fifteen minutes. You can do lotions with this tool. To do this, soak gauze or a towel with a decoction, apply the cloth to the sore spot for three hours.
For the treatment of a boil, lotions are made with a decoction prepared from three tablespoons of the bark and two glasses of water. The agent is boiled for fifteen minutes, after cooling, it is impregnated with a cloth and applied to a sore spot.
In the treatment of pathologies of the cardiovascular system, an infusion of a glass of boiling water and a tablespoon of bark is used. The remedy is infused for three hours. The resulting dose is taken throughout the day, divided into three doses.
To relieve uterine spasms, an infusion of willow catkins is used. For its preparation, a spoonful of the product is taken and poured with a glass of boiling water. The remedy is infused for ten minutes. The same remedy helps to cope with insomnia.
For the treatment of wounds and ulcers, it is recommended to apply a compress soaked in a decoction of willow bark three times a day to diseased areas. For its preparation, two tablespoons of bark and a glass of water are taken. The agent is boiled for ten minutes, and after cooling it is filtered.
General Recipes
Most often, willows are used as an infusion, decoction and powder.
To prepare a decoction, fifteen grams of the bark is taken and poured into a glass of water. The composition is boiled for ten minutes. The remedy is taken in a spoonful three times a day.
To prepare an infusion, pour a teaspoon of bark with a glass of boiling water and infuse until cool. Then the composition is filtered, taken in a spoon up to five times a day.
To make a powder, you need to grind raw materials. Take one gram at night.
Contraindications
As with any medicinal plant, white willow has contraindications. It should not be used by children, pregnant or lactating women. It is also not recommended to use bark-based products for those who suffer from intolerance to the constituent substances.
You can not use willow for people with bleeding disorders, with gastritis with high acidity. The bark contains a high amount of acids, which is why it is forbidden to use it for people with gastric and duodenal ulcers, as well as for those who are sensitive to salicylates.
Side effects
In large doses, raw materials can cause diarrhea, nausea, and gastrointestinal disorders. When used in therapeutic dosages, no toxic effects were noted.
Knowing the beneficial properties and contraindications of white willow is not enough, you need to consult a doctor. Only he can determine what dosage is needed to treat the disease and how best to use it.
