The efficacy and function of white willow

White willow is a very good medicinal herb. It is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients. It has extremely high medicinal value. Let us learn about several aspects of white willow.

[Source] Medicinal material source: branches, leaves or buds of Salix alba, a plant of the Salicaceae family.

[Original form] White willow, a tree, up to 20m tall. The old bark is dark grey with deep longitudinal cracks. Leaves are lanceolate, linear-lanceolate or broad-lanceolate, 5-12 (-15) cm long, 1-3 (-3.5) cm wide; apex acuminate, base cuneate, young leaves covered with white silky hairs on both sides, which fall off later; petioles are about 1 cm long, with white silky hairs, stipules lanceolate, with glandular dots on the edges, which fall off from time to time. The inflorescence opens at the same time as the leaves, and the axis is densely covered with white hairs; the male inflorescence is 3-5cm long, with bright yellow stamens and 2 stamens; the bracts are ovate-lanceolate or obovate-oblong, light yellow, with cilia; there are 2 glands, dorsal and ventral; the female inflorescence is 3-4.5cm long, the ovary is ovate-conical, with short stalks or nearly sessile, the style is short, often 2-lobed, and the stigma is 2-lobed; the bract is entire; there is 1 gland, ventral, and rarely 1 underdeveloped dorsal gland. Infructescence 3-5.5cm long. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is May.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: mostly grow along rivers, and can be distributed to an altitude of 3100m.

[Chemical composition] The leaves contain apigenin, amentoflavone, cupressuflavone, as well as vitamin C and glutathione.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; cold

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; dispels wind and dampness. Mainly used for acute tonsillitis, pharyngitis, parotitis, icteric hepatitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, nephritis, furunculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 9-15g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In fact, you will only know its benefits after practicing it. Just like the traditional Chinese medicine white willow introduced above, it turns out that white willow can also treat some other diseases. Therefore, eating it in moderation has many benefits.