The efficacy and function of willow root

Only when we understand the main ingredients of any medicinal material can we better exert its efficacy and function. Here I recommend a very popular Chinese medicinal material, willow root.

[Other names] Small red willow (Medicinal Plants in China's Desert Areas), Ulan-Bulegasu (Mongolian name).

[Source] It is the roots and fibrous roots of Salix wu, a plant of the Salicaceae family. Harvest as you use it.

[Original form] Shrub, 1 to 2 meters high. The twigs are semi-drooping, gray-brown, with long silky hairs when young, slightly short hairs or glabrous when old; the buds are ovate, with silky hairs, 2-5 mm long. The leaves are linear or narrowly linear-lanceolate, 1-5 cm long, 2-4 mm wide, nearly entire, involute, or sparsely serrated on the margin, with short silky hairs on both sides when newly born, and nearly glabrous later; the petiole is 3-5 mm long, glabrous or with short silky hairs. Catkins 1 to 15 cm long; nearly without peduncle; axis of inflorescence sparsely pubescent; bracts elliptic or lanceolate, glabrous on both sides; ventral side with 1 gland; male flowers with 2 stamens, filaments all fused; female flower ovary glabrous, sessile. Capsule, about 4 mm long, glabrous. Flowering period is June. The fruiting period is from June to July.

[Habitat distribution] It grows on river banks, fixed sand dunes and lightly salinized sandy land in desert areas. Distributed in Liaoning, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang and other places.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, cool in nature.

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, purges fire, and relieves qi. Treat toothache caused by wind and fire, and acute lumbar sprain.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 0.5 to 1 liang. For external use: decoct in water and gargle.

[Additional prescription] To treat acute lumbar sprain: a handful of fresh roots of Willow of Black Willow and an appropriate amount of Rehmannia glutinosa bark. Decoction in water.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

The above is an introduction to the effects of willow root. When using it, you can use it according to the needs mentioned above. Willow root is also very helpful in treating certain diseases.