Description

White willow-a dioecious tree with a spreading crown and dark gray cracked bark, the Leaves are alternate, linear-lanceolate, pointed, pubescent below. Staminate catkins are bright yellow, female catkins are green. The fruit is a bare box. Height 5 -18 m.

Goat willow is a dioecious tree with greenish-gray bark. The branches are thick and spreading. The leaves are ovate-oblong, dark green, felt-furred below. Male catkins are yellow, pistillate catkins are long. Fruit-box. Height 6 – 10 m.

The time of flowering. April-may.

Description

Habitat. White willow grows in river valleys, near ponds, lakes; widely cultivated. Goat willow is found in mixed forests, along the edges of forests, shrubs; it is bred as an ornamental tree.

The part used. Bark and leaves.

The time of collection. The bark is collected in early spring, the leaves in summer.

Chemical composition

The bark contains up to 12% tannins, salicin glucoside, flavones, vitamin C.

Application

Willows are widely used in folk medicine in different countries. Water infusion of the bark of various willows has anti-malarial, antipyretic, diaphoretic, anti-leafy, astringent, hemostatic, antiseptic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and soothing effects. Decoction of the bark is taken for various bleeding, indigestion, catarrh of the stomach and intestines, diarrhea, rheumatism, gout, and especially for malaria (before the discovery and spread of quinine, willow bark in folk medicine was the only available antimalarial agent). When malaria is used and infusion of leaves.

In Central Asia, willow leaves are considered an effective remedy for sunstroke: the victim is covered with leaves. In German folk medicine, an infusion of bark is taken for malaria, joint rheumatism, gout, various bleeding, gastrointestinal diseases with mucus, headaches on the nervous soil and various pains, in particular facial nerve pain.

Externally, the bark decoction is used for foot baths when sweating feet with an unpleasant smell. Decoction of the bark is also used for rinsing with inflammatory processes of the mouth and throat. In inflammatory processes of the skin, ulcers and abscesses, an ointment prepared from willow bark powder and butter is used. Bark powder is applied to bleeding wounds to stop bleeding.

The powder is also drawn into the nostrils to stop nosebleeds. For pain in the legs from the expansion of veins, use foot baths (up to the knees) from a decoction of equal parts of willow and oak bark. For dandruff, itching of the scalp and hair loss, wash your head with a strong decoction of equal parts of willow bark and burdock roots.

Method of application.

1. 1 teaspoon of dry willow bark infused for 4 hours in 2 cups of cooled boiled water. Take 1/2 cup 2-4 times a day before meals.

2. Powdered willow bark, take 1 g 3 times daily before meals.

3. To prepare a mixture of equal parts of willow bark and mylnyanka root, 2 teaspoons of the mixture cook for 10 minutes in 2 cups of water, insisting for 1 hour, strain. Add 1/2 cup of rosehip fruit infusion to the broth. Take 1/2 cup 4 times a day for rheumatism, jaundice and after infectious diseases.

4. Prepare a mixture of 2 tablespoons of willow bark and 2 tablespoons of burdock roots, boil in 1 liter of water, insist for 2 hours, strain. Warm broth wash your hair twice a week for dandruff, itchy skin and hair loss.