Where does the white willow come from?
THE white willow is a tree native to Europe. It grows on moist soils, especially near watercourses. It can reach up to 25 m in height. It is part of the salix family, which includes weeping willows.
White willow bark is used for its medicinal properties. Its use is very old: it was already used for therapeutic purposes in Asia and North America, 500 years before our era. The Greeks used it to lower fever and as a painkiller. Its use was recommended to calm lower back pain.
In 1828, the pharmacist Leroux isolated the active ingredient contained in white willow: it is the salicin. I’salicylic acid is then synthesized giving rise to aspirin.
What are the benefits of white willow?
White willow has properties similar to aspirin. It is an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory. Its action is slower than aspirin, but it lasts longer. The white willow is recommended for making reduce fever (antipyretic action), for relieve rheumatic pain and for relieve headaches.
Among the Greeks, the main use of the white willow was for relieve lower back pain. Its effectiveness is recognized today for the same benefits. Similarly, the white willow is useful in the fight againstosteoarthritis.
What are the uses of white willow?
White willow can be consumed in the form of capsules, dried plant, extracts or tincture.
The dry bark is drinkable in the form of infusions. Simply infuse 2 to 3 g of willow bark in 250 ml of boiling water. This drink can be ingested before each meal to relieve symptoms due to colds and in a flu-like state.
In dyewhite willow helps fight against rheumatism and osteoarthritis: just drink 2.5 ml mixed with water, three times a day.
It is possible to carry out intermittent cures of white willow, at the rate of fifteen days per month, until the disappearance of the symptoms.
What are the contraindications of white willow?
White willow has very few side effects and contraindications. It can cause mild digestive upset in rare cases.
- People allergic to salicylic acid should avoid consuming it.
- Similarly, its use is not recommended in subjects with stomach disorders, such as an ulcer or gastritis.
- Pregnant women should seek advice from their doctor before consuming white willow. Its use is contraindicated in pregnant women for more than six months.
- The consumption of white willow is not recommended for people withasthma, gout or kidney disease. A risk of adverse effects is possible when white willow is combined with medications or herbs that thin the blood.
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