Willow - Söğüt

This large tree with its deeply fissured bark and hanging branches are a well-known site in river and wetland areas. The bark is normally used, although the leaves can also be used. It is a bitter, astringent herb with cooling properties, which relieves pain, lowers fever and reduces inflammation.

Health and Willow (Söğüt)

The bark and leaves are very effective to break and bring down minor fevers and colic. The bark is most helpful to treat rheumatism, arthritis and gout, as well as diarrhea and dysentery, headache and neuralgia. The pain relieving action as analgesic is due to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by the salicin derivatives, which cause sensitization of peripheral pain receptors, and "natural aspirin" from the willow (söğüt) bark seems to have far less side effects than the synthetic aspirin made by pharmaceutical companies.

Willow (söğüt) bark extract has shown excellent results when dealing with acne and problem skin. This also works as a beta-hydroxy acid, and is included in various cosmetic products for this purpose.

Warnings

No parts of the willow (söğüt) should be used by people who are sensitive to aspirin although the natural aspirin contained in willow (söğüt) is deemed to be less irritating than synthetic aspirin.