Salix alba

Family: Salicaceae

History & Growing: White willow, a deciduous tree that reaches heights up to 80 feet,  is native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia. It thrives near water, such as riverbanks or marshlands, and may be propagated from hardwood cuttings. Bark is harvested from 2- to 5- year old trees in the spring. [1] Bark can be dried or used fresh for medicinal preparations. It has been – and still is – used for pain, inflammation, arthritis, head and muscle aches, and fevers.

Parts Used Medicinally: Bark, leaves and catkins (fuzzy flowers on willow trees that bloom in late winter/early spring)

Supplementation Forms:  tincture, decoction, powder, standardized extract

Taste: Bitter

Energetics: Cooling & drying

Actions:

• Analgesic/anodyne
• Astringent
• Anti-rheumatic
• Anti-coagulant
• Anti-oxidant
• Febrifuge (helps reduce fever)
• Inflammation-modulating (anti-inflammatory)

Key Constituents: phenolic glycosides, salicin, flavonoids, polyphenols [1]

Organs & Body Systems Herb Acts Upon:

• Joints & Bones (musculoskeletal)
• Immune System (Traditionally used for treating infections like malaria, typhoid fever, cold/flu treatment, feverish conditions, diarrhea)
• Digestive System (bitter tonic)
• Topical (Can cleanse wounds, mitigate infection, and support tissue healing) [2]
• Head (head pain & heat-patterned headaches)
• Heart & Blood (antioxidant/anticoagulent)

Tradition & Current Uses (+ Supporting Studies/Research):      

• As a pain relieving, anti-inflammatory medicine:
  • Salicylic acid was derived from the salicin in white willow bark in 1838. Aspirin was then produced from compounds found in white willow bark and meadowsweet (patented in Germany 1899). “Salicylic acid (and salicin) has many of the properties of aspirin but causes notably fewer side effects.” [1] It is important to understand willow as an herbal remedy is SO MUCH MORE than “herbal aspirin” – several compounds within willow act synergistically to provide balance and healing vs a single isolated compound.
  • Several clinical trials show concentrated white willow extract to be an effective alternative to over the counter pain-relief/anti-inflammatory medication.
    • “A 2008 trial published in Phytomedicine, was conducted on individuals aged 50-75 with arthritis in the hips or knee. After using willow bark extract for 6 weeks, patients were found by doctors to be significantly better than those taking standard aspirin-based medications with fewer side effects.” [1]
    • White willow is popular and effective choice for arthritic and rheumatic pain.
    • “A small number of clinical studies have been conducted that support the use of willow bark extracts in chronic lower back and joint pain and osteoarthritis. Willow bark extracts also are widely used in sports performance and weight loss products presumably because of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, although no human studies have been published that specifically and directly document beneficial effects.” [4]
• As an astringent, willow can help tone lax tissues in the gums, mouth, intestine and skin.
  • As mentioned, willow can be used to cleanse wounds, mitigate infection, and support tissue healing topically. It can be used as a facewash for acne, or find its way into toothache and mouth remedies.
• Digestion:
  • Stimulates digestion
  • Has been used as a vermifuge to expels worms/parasites
• Fevers & Headaches:
  • White willow was often used to help ease “intermittent feverish conditions” (fevers that come and go) [2]
  • Often used to relieve headaches and head pain, more specifically when the pain is sharper and heat-associated (hot face/weather) vs a cold/achy headache. Differentiating can help understand why the pain/headache is occurring and what type of herb to use. (tension vs relaxation headache) [3]
• Menopausal relief:
  • May be used in cooling and hormone-balancing formulas to offer relief from night sweats and hot flashes
  • Can be used to support menstrual cramps or possibly hormonal headaches
• Willow’s pliant wood (it is easily bent when harvested but dries hard) can be used to fashion drying racks, snow shoes, sweat lodge poles, and more. Native uses include as a dye, cordage and for basket-making. Willow branches can be used for sleeping and sitting mats, bullboat frames, poles for structures, to support thatches of bundled grasses and to secure poultices in place on limbs or fingers. [3][5]

When to Reach for Herb & In What Form:

• This herb is not to be mislabeled as “herbal Tylenol”
• Understanding pain types (hot/cold/acute/chronic) [3]
• Willow is cooling, drying, bitter astringent; drains fluids. This makes it ideal for pain specifically where there is heat, swelling/inflammation patterns.
• Indicated for joint pain & arthritic conditions. Tincture form is likely more palatable, but perhaps try blending with other herbs specific to patterns to make a good cup of tea!
• For athletes, I envision this herb to be of benefit for individuals who not only “feel” hot, but train in heat and as a result suffer from a lack of appetite/nausea/diarrhea, perhaps even alongside of achy muscles and “niggling” injuries. A cup of meadowsweet tea with willow extract sounds delightful here!

Dosage & Preparation:

• Decoction: 2-10 grams/day (2-4 oz of a strong decoction up to 4 times/day) [2]
• Powder: 1-3 grams/day [2]
• Tincture: 1:4 @ 45% ABV, 3-5 mls 3-5x/day[2]

Contraindications:

• Do not consume if allergic to aspirin
• Do not consume if pregnant or nursing.
• Use caution in young children
• Use caution if taking blood thinning medication, beta blockers, diuretics, NSAIDS or Dilantin [2]

Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion:

• Planet:
  • I associate willow ith Saturn (actions on joints/bones + bitter, astringent, cold, dry)
  • Culpepper: Moon (silvery colors, grows near water, pliable branches, female associations)
    • may help support conditions of “excess moon”
• Element:
  • I associate this herb with Earth (astringent, bitter)
  • Many associated this herb with Water (grows near water, pliable, some support for female reproductive system)
• Dosha:
  • Vata plant: Cool & dry, so constitutionally may aggravate the vata dosha (cold/dry). Affinity for kapha dosha (stagnant/warm/excess water)
  • May balance excess pitta (hot/oily)

Citations & Recommended Reading:

1. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, Andrew Chevallier
2. Willow Uses and Plant Monograph, Learning Herbs by Rosalee de la Foret
3. Willow Bark vs Aspirin, The Plant Path, Sajah Popham
4. Shara M, Stohs SJ. Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark (Salix alba) Extracts. Phytother Res. 2015 Aug;29(8):1112-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5377. Epub 2015 May 22. PMID: 25997859.
5. Willow, Native Memory Project

Recipe of the Week:

Aches, Pains & Digestive Relief Infusion:

• 1-2 tsps each: organic mint, meadowsweet, marshmallow (leaf or root)
• 8 oz hot water
• 30-60 drops white willow tincture

Steep herbs in water for 15-30 minutes. Strain, add tincture, and enjoy!