What are the effects and functions of willow leaves

I believe everyone knows the willow tree, which is a kind of tree that sprouts and grows leaves in spring. There is an ancient poem: "I don't know who cuts out the fine leaves, the spring breeze in February is like a pair of scissors" which describes the willow leaves. In fact, willow leaves can be used as food and medicine. As a medicine, they can be boiled into soup and taken, which has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, diuresis, and reducing swelling; as a food, it contains dietary fiber, iron, sodium, zinc and other trace elements that are beneficial to the human body. Here is an introduction to its effects and functions.

1. Clear away heat and detoxify

Willow leaves are bitter and cold in nature, and have a strong effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. They are used to treat hot stranguria, stranguria with stones, leucorrhea, carbuncle and swelling.

2. Diuretic

Willow leaves belong to the kidney meridian and have a good diuretic effect. They have an auxiliary therapeutic effect on urethritis, cystitis, and bladder stones.

3. Pain relief

Willow leaves have the effect of reducing swelling and relieving pain, and are mainly used to treat burns, swollen and painful joints, toothache and other symptoms.

4. Rash

Willow leaves also have the effects of clearing away heat, dispersing and clearing rashes. They can be used to make a decoction for internal consumption and body washing. They are effective for measles and sha pox in children.

5. Iodine Supplementation

Willow leaves are rich in iodine, which can supplement iodine ions and are effective in treating goiter caused by endemic iodine deficiency.

5. Treat inflammation and infection

Modern medical research shows that willow leaves can be made into injections to treat inflammatory infections, and clinically have obvious effects on inflammations such as mastitis, pharyngitis, and bronchitis.

Nutritional Value

Willow leaves mainly contain tannins, salicylic acid, salicylose, salicin and other medicinal ingredients. They also contain dietary fiber, vitamin A, carotene, minerals potassium, sodium, iodine, zinc, iron and other nutrients.

1. Tannin: Willow leaves are rich in tannins and have astringent properties. They can be taken internally to treat gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, and watery diarrhea.

2. Salicin: Salicin is a chemical substance unique to the weeping willow of the Salicaceae family. When dissolved in water, it has antipyretic and analgesic activities. It is also converted into salicylic acid in the human body and has strong antibacterial activity. Therefore, taking willow leaves orally can treat gastrointestinal inflammation.

Note:

Willow leaves have the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, diuretic, calming the liver, relieving pain and promoting rash. It is commonly used for patients with chronic tracheitis, urethritis, cystitis, bladder stones, leukorrhea, hypertension, carbuncle, burns, swollen and painful joints, toothache, sha sha, endemic goiter, and skin itching.

Taboo 1. Willow leaves are cold in nature, so people with weak spleen and stomach should use them with caution.

2. Willow leaves are cold in nature, so women should use them with caution during menstruation, as they may cause menstrual pain.

3. Willow leaves are diuretic, so people with kidney problems should use them with caution.

Use with caution in pregnant women.

Willow leaves are cold in nature and eating them can easily cause cold spleen and stomach. Pregnant women who eat them in large quantities are prone to diarrhea or even miscarriage. They should not be taken without a symptomatic prescription from traditional Chinese medicine.

Not to be used by infants and young children.

The internal organs of infants and young children are not yet fully developed, their qi is weak, their blood is insufficient, and their physical form is not full. Drinking mulberry leaf tea for a long time can easily damage the spleen and stomach, interfere with the absorption and utilization of nutrients, and lead to symptoms of spleen and lung qi deficiency such as loss of appetite and indigestion. Therefore, infants and young children should avoid drinking mulberry leaf tea.