| Internal
use
- Pain:
The Greek physician Hypocrates prescribed remedies with willow
leaves to alleviate problems related with the pain. Many old cultures
have used the leaves of plants that contain salicin for this purpose.
Willows have been used and are being used like an alternative to the
aspirin ( acetylsalicylic acid) in fact the aspirin was extracted
initially from this plant, besides the meadowsweet (Filipendula
ulmaria), the gaultheria (gaultheria sp.) , poplars (Populus
sp.) and some species of birches (Betula sp.) before it
could be synthesized chemically in the year 1890. Its content
in salicin becomes salicylic acid in the organism inhibiting the prostaglandins
and reducing the pain sensation, specially if we consider that, besides
being analgesic it also presents anti inflammatory properties . Therefore,
it can be used to palliate the pain in all type of manifestations:
headache, muscular pains, fibromialgy, sciatica, earaches, rheumatic
pains, pains in the menstruation, etc. The treatments carried
out with this plant should be prolonged during some time so that they
can have their effect, fsince it doesn't act as quick as the aspirin,
although it really becomes a natural treatment to the use of this
product.
White willow aspirin
It has been said that it presents less contraindications than aspirin
, although those that can not use aspirin should not take this plant.
Any treatment should be started with very low doses to check the tolerance
of the organism to this product, since the proportion of salicylic
acid present in the bark of the willows depends on many climatological
and seasonal factors. The dose for the adults is stablished between
the 100 and the 250 mg taken in 4 or 6 intakes a day. Children from
4 until 10 should not overcome 60 mg daily , the highest doses
being used in rheumatic or muscular pains, and, mainly, with the unbearable
pains of gout , arthritis or osteoarthritis (Decoction of 40 gr. of the dry bark in a liter
of water. Drink three glasses a day before the meals. (In many herbalists
you can get powder of white sallow. A decoction during 5 minutes in
a liter of water can be done to drink it in three takings a day) (20
g a day, as maximum, of fluid extract distributed in 3 or 4 daily
takings) (Infusion of 20 g of young leaves in a liter of water. Drink
three cups a day)
- Fever: Besides
the analgesic properties, salicin also presents antipyretic properties
that is to say it helps to dimisnish fever, in such a way that,
until the appearance of the aspirin, it was habitually used and it
is still being used in some places as substitute of the chinchona
(Cinchona pubescens) whose alkaloid quinine has been a resource
to combat malaria and other fevers. The substitution of this tree
for the willow supposes a cheaper form of treatment. Therefore, we
can use this tree in all the feverish manifestations, especially in
flu and cold. (Anyone of the previous treatments can be suitable in
this case)
- Circulatory
system diseases : Willow presents anticoagulant properties so that it
impedes the thrombus formation or clots inside the arteries or the
veins because of the accumulation of blood platelets. The use of
this it plants makes blood more fluid and helps our body to avoid
the appearance of certain cardiovascular illnesses, such as brain
haemorrhages, arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, heart attacks or bad circulation in
general (Infusion of a small spoonful of bark for a glass of water.
Drink a glass every two days)
- Tranquilizer:
It can be used as a remedy to combat edginess in situations that prevent
us to sleep well or when we feel nervous. The use of the floral
catkins can help us to calm the nerves and to sleep better. (Infusion
of a small spoonful of dry flowers for a cup of water. Drink two cups
a day, one before going to the bed) (Infusion of a spoonful of dry
leaves for a cup of water. Two cups a day, one before going to bed
- Male
sexuality and female sexuality: Its flowers
or its leaves can be used to combat the excessive sexual desire in
the man or in the woman. So, anyone of the previous preparations
will be suitable in those situations when the woman believes to posess
an apparent nymphomania or the man an exaggerated sexual desire. It
constitutes a natural solution for a man to improve priapism or involuntary
sexual erections, helping the pennis to recover flaccidity. It can
also be used to combat painful menstruations (dysmenorrhea) Digestive
tract: Because of its wealth in tannins, the
willow is a good astringent, reason why we can use it internally
to solve stomach problems caused by the acidity or in diarrhea cases.
( Decoction of 20 gr. of bark for a liter of water during 1/4 of hour.
3 cups a day) on the other hand, the great content
of the bark in tannins, which can reach in some cases to 20%, supposes
a risk for the health in a prolongued treatment or with high doses
of the drug.
- Acne: Being a good astringent it can reduce grease production on the skin. (3% decoction of the bark, for a quarter on an hour. Take three cups per day)
External
use
White willow bark tea
- Skin:
Used externally we can take advantage of its astringent properties to
cure wounds or burnings, improving scaring and impeding them to be
infected. (Decoction of 50 gr. of dry bark for a liter of water
during 15 minutes. Wash the affected area with the resulting liquid)
- Corns
( Calluses) ,warts and bunions: The external application of a humid
bark piece on the corns warts or bunions can eliminate these affections
of the skin (Place the the humid part on the affected area. Hold it
with a plaster and change it every day. Keep the treatment during one
week
- Buccal
treatment : The same previous preparation can be used for the
inflammations of the mouth caused by infections , in affections like
inflammations of the gums, dental problems, wounds in the mouth,
tooth decay, etc. (Decoction of 50 gr. of dry bark for a liter of
water during 15 minutes. Carry out mouthwashes with the resulting liquid)
- Respiratory
system : Equally we can use its analgesic and antiinflammatory
properties to treat the infections of the throat, in illnesses so well-known
as anginas or pharyngitis (Decoction of 50 gr. of dry bark for
a liter of water during 15 minutes. Carry out gargles with the resulting
liquid)
- female
sexual apparatus:A decoction of 60 gr. of the dry
bark in a liter of water can be used to carry out irrigations to fight
vaginism or painful spasms that takes place in the woman during
penetration.
Other
uses
Its wood
is strong although flexible and very light . It has been used to make
cricket bats, matches and carving . In the rural areas it is used for
the construction of poles and to light the fire.
The searchers of water use a willow branch in fork form to find the
valuable liquid.
Toxicity
People
that present allergy to the aspirin or medications with the same principle
(acetylsalicylic acid) should not use this plant. Neither those that
present adverse stomach reactions to its use, manifested mainly in form
of gastric acidity. In the same way, those that have antecedents of
gastric ulcer, intestinal hemorrhage , hemophilia, problems of blood
clotting, asthma, hepatic or renal problems and colitis.
The
administration of this plant in children with illnesses of viral type,
as colds or flu, can develop the syndrome of Reye, an illness that generally
affects the children between 4 and 12 , with serious results in the
liver and in the brain, which is attributed to the use of the aspirin
when they have the flu or the chicken pox.
It
should not be taken in combination with other anticoagulant or antiinflammatory
medications, during pregnancy or in those people that present whistlings
or noises in the ears (tinnitus)
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