WILLOW, BLACK
Salix nigra
COMMON NAMES: Pussywillow, catkin willow.
FEATURES: Willow of the family Salicaceae and genus Salix, has many trees and shrubs; three hundred
species vary from less than 1 inch in height to trees of 100 feet or more, depending on local and climatic
conditions. In North America we can claim over 100 of the various species. Largest of the willows of
eastern North America is the black willow, Salix nigra. It has dark brown, ridged bark, reddish to orange
twigs, and long, narrow leaves that are taper-pointed. The flowers are in elongated clusters—aments, or
catkins—either male or female; however, in rare instances the flowers are bisexual. The “precocious”
catkins are ornamental. Among flowering plants willow is ancient, fossils extending back to the
Cretaceous period.
MEDICINAL PART: Bark.
SOLVENT: Boiling water
BODILY INFLUENCE: Aphrodisiac, tonic, astringent, detergent, antiperiodic.
USES: Willow is very similar in action to quinine; the active principle is salicin and is believed to be far
more valuable than quinine for ague and low grades of fever. These salicylic acids are found in a number
of herbal remedies used throughout the world, some dating as far back as the Stone Age. We do not know
how the willow first became known to the Native Americans, we only know that when they were in need
of a fever-reducing agent willow-bark tea was given.
In 1763 the Reverend Edward Stone made an old-fashioned deduction: three things occurred together—
low, marshy regions, rheumatism, willow trees. So he tried a decoction of willow bark on sufferers of
rheumatic complaints and thus rediscovered the effectiveness of salicylic acid (salix is Latin for willow).
It wasn’t long before experimentally inclined chemists began synthesizing this substance from common
coal tar and petroleum derivatives, according to a standard recipe given in many elementary chemistry
textbooks. Today it is known as common aspirin. The amount swallowed annually in the United States is
approaching 35 million pounds, or five tablets a week for every man, woman, and child. Modern aspirin
is of human invention rather than from nature’s goodness. Willow is highly recommended and largely used
in the treatment of spermatorrhea, nocturnal emissions, etc. Also relieves ovarian pain.
DOSE: Combine 3 grains willow (Salix nigra) and ½ grain Capsicum (cayenne) when there is great