The efficacy and function of willow branches

Willow can be said to be a very common tree in our lives. In many streets or parks, willows are planted as ornamental trees. When we enjoy the cool under the tree, have you ever thought about the medicinal value of willow branches? In fact, although we often see willow trees, we may not know the effects and functions of willow branches.

Effects

Willow branches are the branches of the weeping willow of the Salicaceae family. Weeping willows are mostly distributed in the Yangtze River and Yellow River basins, and are also cultivated in other places. Its xylem contains salicin. Its most important effects are to dispel wind and dampness, detoxify and reduce swelling. It is usually used to treat rheumatic bone pain, turbid urine, rubella, jaundice and other diseases in humans. 1. Dispel wind and heat. "Treatise on the Origin and Symptoms of Various Diseases: Wind-Heat Symptoms" says: "Wind-heat qi first enters the lungs through the skin and fur. ... It causes chills, loose eyes, and mucus and spitting. ... There is green and yellow pus in the mucus." "Depei Materia Medica" says: "Remove wind and heat." Those who are injured by wind are affected first on the upper body. Wind is light in nature and is a yang evil, which is transformed into fire. Wind-heat invades the exterior, often affecting the lung and Wei, causing heat to accumulate in the skin and muscles, and causing disharmony between the Wei and the exterior. The symptoms include obvious fever, slight aversion to wind and cold, poor sweating, swollen and painful head, cough and sputum (sticky or yellow sputum), dry throat and mouth or red and swollen nipples, or even pain, nasal congestion and thirst, turbid nasal discharge, red edges and tip of tongue, slightly yellow tongue coating, and floating and rapid pulse. Treat with pungent and cool herbs to relieve exterior symptoms, dispel wind and dissipate heat. Willow branches are pungent and cold. The pungent taste can disperse, the cold can clear, and the bitter taste can purge. They also enter the solar bladder, dispel wind and relieve exterior symptoms, clear heat and soothe the lungs. They are used for wind-heat colds and wind-heat headaches. 2. Clearing the rash and relieving acne. "Illustrated Southern Yunnan Materia Medica" says: "For children with smallpox rash, with the Aconitum sunken on the top of the rash and the pus not rising, boil it and take it or bathe with the patient." For children with smallpox rash, bright red and lively ones are in good condition, and crystal clear and plump ones are harmonious. If the heat and toxins are blocked, the rash will not come out smoothly, the top of the pimples will become dark and sunken, the pimples will collapse and the pimples will become turbid, and there will also be confusion, high fever, dry lips, or even convulsions. Urgently detoxify and clear the rash. Willow branches are bitter and cold, entering the liver and stomach meridians, the blood and the qi. The bitterness can purge and the coldness can clear away heat. Drinking the decoction or bathing in the decoction can be effective. 3. Clearing away heat and dampness Willow branches are bitter and cold in nature, and enter the liver and stomach meridians. Bitterness can dry and purge, coldness can clear and purge, and they have the water-cold energy and the extreme yin nature, so they can clear away heat, dampness, and detoxify, and are widely used in diseases of dampness and heat in the middle and lower Jiao. 4. Reduce swelling and relieve pain. Willow branches are bitter and cold, have the water-cold energy, and are of the most yin nature. It can clear away heat, relieve swelling and relieve pain, and is used for sores, swelling and pain caused by internal heat and toxicity. 5. Dispel wind and dampness. Willow branches are pungent to disperse wind, bitter to dry dampness, and cold to clear away heat. They can be used to relieve and laxative effects. Therefore, they can be used for rheumatic pain caused by rheumatism entering the body, especially for those with heat symptoms. Both internal and external fumigation can be effective.

Nutritional Value

Studies have found that willow twigs contain a large amount of salicin. After entering the body, this substance can be converted into salicylic acid, which can exert the effect of antipyretic and analgesic. It also has the effect of local anesthetic and has a very good health care effect on the Foot Yangming and Jueyin meridians.

1. Salicyl glycoside can be hydrolyzed into salicyl aglycone (Saligenin or Salicyl alcoh01) and glucose by boiling with dilute hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. Salicin can be used as a bittering agent (acting locally on the stomach). After absorption, it is partially converted into salicylic acid (antipyretic and analgesic), which is then quickly hydrolyzed. Since the degree of conversion of salicin to salicylic acid is not constant, the former cannot be used to replace the latter clinically. Salicin at a concentration of 4-10% can be used as a local anesthetic and is almost non-toxic.

2. Effect on isolated rabbit heart: The weeping willow branch preparation has an effect on cardiac contraction force and can increase coronary flow; a small dose of willow bark preparation has a small effect on the coronary flow of the rabbit heart, while a larger dose (1 gram) has the effect of reducing its flow.

3. Antibacterial effect: The water decoction of willow leaves has a strong inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, Shigella dysenteriae, Pneumococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli.