Salix, Willow

Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

Salix alba
Thomé, Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz, 1885

Salix fragilis
Medical Botany, Woodville, 1810

Uses:

1. Clears Wind and Damp, Eases Pain, Promotes Urine:

-painful, burning urine; Cystitis, Urethritis and Prostatitis.
-turbid white urine in TCM; Edema in Tibet
-Gravel, Stones
-Arthritis, Rheumatism, Rheumatoid Arthritis and various pains from wind and damp. (West, Tibet)
-Leaf is a better Diuretic, twigs and bark are best for rheumatic disorders;

2. Clears Heat and Toxin, Eases Pain:

-Fevers; Malaria.
-acute pain from heat including rheumatic and muscular pain, headache, toothache etc.
-Mastitis; Thyroiditis
-traditionally for Mania and Madness.

3. Cools the Kidneys, Clears Deficient Heat:

-insomnia, irritability
-low grade fevers, night sweats, consumption, all from deficient Kidney heat.
-Premature Ejaculation, Nymphomania and excessive sexual desire;
-‘the leaves cause barrenness’ (Dioscorides)
-the twigs, buds, leaves, and seeds have all been used to repress excessive sexual desire in man or women, and for lustful dreams (first listed by Dioscorides)

4. Clears Heat from the Stomach:

-hyperacidity, painful digestion, epigastric discomfort as seen in colic, dyspepsia from digestive debility etc.;
-vomiting from Stomach heat.
-frontal headache and toothache associated with Stomach Heat.
-accessory herb in the treatment of Diabetes from Stomach heat. (bark)

5. Stops Leakages and Bleeding:

-bleeding from wounds, the mouth, nose, and other types of bleeding.
-chronic diarrhea, Dysentery, and Spermatorrhea. (The seeds, bark or leaves were traditionally decocted in wine)

6. Externally:

-skin disease such as Erysipelas, Eczema and Scurf.
-Sap from the cut tree clear Spots from the face and skin
-leaf decoction in water with one-tenth part of wine vinegar added was used for Erysipelas and Herpes. (Herbarium Horstianum)
-ashed bark is mixed with vinegar and applied topically to Warts, Corns iv. the Sap is used externally to clear the skin
-leaves or bark are decocted in wine and used as a wash for Dandruff (Dioscorides)
-decoction of the leaf and bark is used as a wash for Gout.
-oil obtained from the Wood (with heat) is anointed on for Numbness, Lack of Feeling or Shaking of the Limbs.
-Sap gathered by cutting the bark while the tree is in flower is good for dimness of Sight, redness of the Eyes, or Films growing over them.
-foot bath in the heat of Fevers, and bleeding Noses
-Buds or Bark stop Bleeding, applied
-ashes of the Bark cures Warts and Corns

Main Combinations:

Fever

1. Febrile disease:
i. Willow bark with Vervain
ii. Willow bark, Feverfew, Camomile
ii. Willow bark, Ceylon Cinnamon, Cinchona, Menyanthes, Gentian, Star Anise
iv. Hectic Fever, Willow leaf and bark decocted and added to the bath water (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630)

Inflammation and Pain

2. Arthritis, Rheumatism:
i. Willowbark and leaves boiled in wine and applied (Culpeper)
ii. Willow bark with Elder berries
iii. Willow bark with Birch leaf, Linden leaf, Dandelion
iv. Willow bark with Birch leaf, Senna (Kroeber)
v. Willow bark with Celery seed and Guaiacum
vi. Willow bark with Elder flower, Rosemary, Golden Rod, Coltsfoot (as in Decoction for Arthritis)
3. Gout, Willow bark with Winter Cherry, Horsechestnut bark, Walnut shell, Horsetail (Meyer)
4. Pain from Heat such as headache, neuralgia, neuritis, rheumatism and fever, Willow bark, Betony, Rosemary, Raspberry leaf and Vervain
5. Migraine:
i. Willow bark, Feverfew (see research below)
ii. Willow back, Vervain, Betony, Balm
6. Prostatitis:
i. Willow bark with Horsetail (Ellingwood)
ii. Willow bark, Saw Palmetto, Nettle

Other:

7. Madness, Willow leaf, Meadowsweet, Burnet, Borage, Balm, St Johns wort, Camphor (The London Practice of Physic, Dr. Willis, 1689)
8. Bleeding from the Lungs:
i. Willow leaf, with Daisy, Periwinkle, Knotgrass (Meyer)
ii. Willow leaf, Comfrey leaf, Plantain leaf
9. Diseases of the Colon, Willow bark, Ginger, Walnut, Dates, decocted in water. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913)
10. Leukemia, decoct roots of Willow, Pear, Peach and Mulberry (Anti-Cancer Medicinal Herbs, Chang Minyi, 1992)

Externally:

11. Head pain from heat, boil Willow leaf and Rosemary in vinegar and use as a wash
12. Open Burn Ulcers, Willow bark and Carbonised Linden wood
13. Hot inflammatory tumors and swellings, Willow leaf with Purslane, Nightshade, Rose and Houseleek
14. Erysipelas, Herpes, Ringworm, Eczema:
i. Willow leaf decoction with 10% vinegar added, used as a wash
ii. Acorn cups, Willow leaf, Blackberry leaf, Plantain
15. Foul and Gangrenous Ulcers, Willow leaf juice made into an ointment with sufficient Lard. (Armen Pharmacopoea, Hufeland, 1825)

Major Formulas:

Decoction for Arthritis
Powder for Ulcerated Cancer