The bark of the willow tree is the source of one of our most potent drugs, acetylsalicylic acid, known as aspirin. Native Americans used several varieties of the willow; they wove baskets with willow, used willow for pain and reducing fever; the gray...
* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
The bark of the willow tree is the source of one of our most potent drugs, acetylsalicylic acid, known as aspirin. Native Americans used several varieties of the willow; they wove baskets with willow, used willow for pain and reducing fever; the gray willow (S. exigua) was called "Kosi tsube" by the Paiutes and the Shoshones. They used willow twigs with salt, steeped and drank for laxative.
Willow was one of the first herbs to be scientifically investigated. In the 19th century, the French chemist, Leroux, extracted the active ingredient "salicine." By 1852 it was being synthetically produced, and by 1899 a less irritating acetyl salicylic acid was manufactured and marketed as aspirin. This was the first plant-derived drug of the modern generation.
The white willow bark was used to reduce fevers, relieve headache. Unlike the synthetic drug, acetyl salicylic acid, called aspirin which can cause stomach irritation, white willow bark contains tannins, which are actually good for the digestion.
The tea drug is peeled in spring from moderately large branches and dried. The bark comes from various willow species, including the white willow (Salix alba L.), basket willow or osier (Salix daphnoides L.), and brittle willow, or withy (Salix fagilis L.).
A strong tea made from the inner bark of the willow tree was once thought to be a "perfect cure" for venereal disease.
The framework of the vapor bath lodge of the Native Americans was made of willow poles, bent and tied with their bark. The willow was mystically connected with the departure of the spirit from the body at death. Willow twigs had certain uses in funeral rites.
Willow Bark is used in treating feverish diseases, chills, ague, pain, inflammations, neuralgia, headaches, gout, and rheumatic ailments, arthritic joints. Native Americans used it for diarrhea, to staunch bleeding, and for dandruff. Willow Bark is also taken for worms, gonorrhea, dyspepsia, dysentery, chronic diarrhea and edema, and it may also be taken as a bitter tonic in small doses before meals, to hasten convalescence from acute diseases.
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Directions
Take 1 to 2 capsules up to three times daily at mealtime with a glass of water.
Ingredients
Willow Bark - 350 mg
Additional Information
Herb-Xtra is committed to the manufacture of high quality, standardized and guaranteed natural health products and supplements.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
