Herbs & Herbal Remedies @ Green Papaya

Aspirin upsets some people’s stomachs, but most herbalists say white willow bark rarely causes this problem. If stomach upset, nausea, or tinnitus develop, reduce your dose or stop using the herb.

Those with chronic gastrointestinal conditions, such as ulcers and gastritis, should not use this herb.

When children under 16 with colds, flu, or chicken pox take aspirin, they are at risk for Reye’s syndrome-a potentially fatal condition involving the brain, liver, and kidneys. White willow has never been linked to Reye’s syndrome, but because of it’s aspirin-like action, do not give it to children with colds, flu, or chicken pox.

Other Cautions

For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults who do not have ulcers or gastritis and are not taking other salicylate medications, white willow bark is considered relatively safe in amounts typically recommended.

White willow should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. Ifwhite willow causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or ringing in the ears, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

A Harvest of Willow

Throughout history, many of the 500 willow species have been used in herbal Healing, but for the last 200 years only white willow has been commonly used. It reaches 75 feet and has rough, grayish brown bark, and long, thin leaves on flexible branches, which give the tree a graceful beauty.

White willows grow in almost any moist garden soil under full sun. Buy saplings at nurseries or propagate them from first-year branches several feet in length rooted in water or from foot-long hardwood cuttings taken in spring or fall and rooted the same way. Do not transplant willows. Willows grow quickly and must be pruned regularly.

Harvest the bark from older branches during pruning and dry.