Botanical Index No. 1106

White Willow

salix alba

Medicinal Actions

Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Cardiopathy Catarrh Cataract Cold Corn Debility Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Earache Encephalosis Enterosis Fever Flu Fungus Gout Headache Hemoptysis Hoarseness Infection Inflammation Influenza Insomnia Malaria Myosis Nervousness Neurasthenia Neuropathy Obesity Osteoarthrosis Pain Pertussis Poison Ivy Rheumatism Scrofula Sore Sprain Tendinitis Thrush Toothache Ulcus cruris Vaginosis Wart Worm Ankylosing Spondylitis Arthrosis Bursitis Callus Cancer Candida

General Dosage

2–3 g bark in cold water, bring to boil, steep 5 minutes; 1–2 g bark; 2–4 tbsp fresh bark; 1–2 tsp powdered bark 1–3 ×/day; 3–6 g dry bark; 1–3 g dry bark, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 4.5 g dry bark:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water; 1–2 ml bark tincture 3 ×/day; 1–3 ml liquid extract 3 ×/day; 20–40 mg salicin; 60–120 mg salicin/day; 2–3 capsules every 3 hours; 2–3 capsules as needed, or every 3 hours, up to 18 capsules.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. Salicylates and tannins. For oral use of bark Commission E reports contraindications, adverse effects, and interactions: on theoretical grounds, similar to those of the salicylates. In view of the lack of toxicological data, excessive use, especially during lactation and pregnancy, should be avoided. Individuals with aspirin hypersensitivity, asthma, diabetes, gastrosis, gout, hemophilia, hepatosis, hypothrombinemia, nephrosis, and peptic ulcers should be cautious with salicylates. Alcohol, barbiturates, and oral sedatives may potentiate salicylate toxicity. Beware of salicylate interaction with oral anticoagulants, methotrexate, metoclopramide, phenytoin, pronebecid, spironolactone, and valproate. Salicylates excreted in breast milk reportedly can cause macular rashes in breast-fed babies. Salicylate toxicity may cause dermatosis, gastrosis, hematochezia, nausea, nephrosis, tinnitus, and vomiting. Excessive use of the tannin-rich bark may cause diarrhea and nausea. Still, “willow is much safer than aspirin”. Not for use during viral infections, because of [remote theoretical, JAD] possibility of Reye’s Syndrome. The prodrug, salicin, which does not irritate the stomach, is metabolized to saligenin in the GI tract and salicylic acid after absorption. “Products containing willow should preferably be standardized on their salicin content...”. “The analgesic actions of willow are typically slow-acting, but last longer than standard aspirin products”.

!