Goat willow (Latin name - Salix caprea) according to the botanical description is a fast-growing tree, as a rule, a small height, although in some cases it can reach 15 meters, and sometimes, on the contrary, form into a tree-like shrub. Easily crossed with different types of willow, forming new varieties. In common people, the tree is known under the names of rakita, tala, red vine and goat willow. The adjective "goat" in the name of the plant is explained by the fact that its leaves and young vine are a favorite delicacy of sheep and goats.
Did you know? Either because of the external "weeping" species (branches romantically bent over water), or for other reasons, but the willow in the folklore of different ethnic groups was often associated with witch forces. She attributed the magic properties of breaking love, bear grief, sadness, sterility and loss of male power. Many nations believed that willow wood could not be burned, otherwise there would be trouble. On the contrary, sorcerers and magicians made their magic wands from this very tree. In ancient Greece, the willow was also associated with darkness, death, and unkind passions. But the more "advanced" ancient Romans believed that the willow is able to heal and ward off trouble. True, instead of preparing medicines from the bark and leaves of the willow, they searched for the stern tree, climbed into the middle, and read spells.
In fact, any fairy tale has certain scientific roots. The beneficial properties of willow in general and goat willow in particular were noticed by medieval healers. Young willow bark was used internally to treat fever, chills and malaria, and externally to get rid of warts and corns. Later, many other healing qualities of this amazing tree were discovered, defining its ever-increasing use in traditional medicine. The reason for this miraculous power of willow became clear when the chemical composition of the plant was studied in detail.
The chemical composition of goat willow
The active substances that make up goat willow, as well as their effects on the human body, can be presented in tabular form.
| Substance | In which parts of the plant is contained | Action on the body |
| Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) | Leaves, inflorescences |
|
| Flavonoids | Bark, to a lesser extent - leaves |
|
| Phenologlycosides (salicin and its derivatives) and other alkaloids | Bark, to a lesser extent - leaves |
|
| Saponins | Leaves, inflorescences |
|
| Essential oils | Leaves, inflorescences |
|
| Organic acids: (lauric, myristic, pentadecyl, etc.) | Leaves, inflorescences |
|
| Lipids | Leaves, inflorescences |
|
| Proanthocyanide | Bark, to a lesser extent - leaves |
|
| Tannins (tannins) | Bark, to a lesser extent - leaves |
|
| Catechins | Leaves |
|
The therapeutic and beneficial properties of goat willow
The healing properties of goat willow, and more specifically, the substances that enter its leaves, inflorescences and bark, allow the use of preparations made on the basis of this plant as an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, tonic, wound-healing, antiseptic and hemostatic agent.
Did you know? A decoction of willow bark has long been used by healers to relieve symptoms of fever. However, such drugs, for all their obvious antipyretic effect, had very unpleasant side effects, manifested in severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The fact is that the glycoside salicin contained in the willow, when entering the body, under the influence of various gastric enzymes, undergoes complex splitting processes, as a result of which salicylic acid is formed. In 1838, the Italian chemist Raphael Piria managed to isolate salicylic acid from willow bark, which could be purified and synthesized aspirin known to everyone. Salix in Latin means "willow", respectively, salicylic acid is nothing else than willow acid (willow acid).
Goat willow is widely used in traditional medicine. Its bark is used to prepare various decoctions, teas and tinctures, which are subsequently used as a remedy for rheumatism, whooping cough, tuberculosis, gout and malaria (instead of quinine). These drugs help to relieve headaches and even migraines, reduce fever, stop bleeding, eliminate the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, kidney pathologies and liver inflammation, get rid of excess weight. They are also used as a sedative and anti-worms drug. Rinses, powders and lotions are prepared from willow bark to heal wounds, ulcers and boils, treat acne and dermatitis, as well as treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
In some Asian countries, in addition, goat willow is used to prepare diuretic and astringent agents, and alcoholic extracts from inflorescences are used for tachycardia, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Goat willow, in addition to healing, has other beneficial properties. For example, the great flexibility of a young willow vine makes it indispensable material for weaving. Of these rods can make baskets and baskets, chairs and tables, as well as a beautiful fence, for example, for the gazebo.
Goat willow is a great honey plant, and its early flowering allows the bees to satisfy their nutritional needs at the beginning of the season, when many other plants begin to wake up after winter.
Peculiarities of willow breeding and growth make it a good helper for securing slopes, ravines and steep banks (it is not for nothing that goat willow can often be found just above the water). To this end, it is enough to stick a willow twig into the ground, - and it will take root, take root and grow into a healthy tree. By the way, goat willow is a very ornamental plant, therefore it can be use simply to decorate the yard or the dacha.
Preparation and storage of medical raw materials
Medicinal raw materials at goat willow are its bark, and also inflorescences.
The bark should be harvested in early spring, until the tree has not budded buds and there are "earrings."
The technology of removing the bark is as follows: first, a branch is cut, and the bark is removed from it with a knife or an ax.
Important! In no case do not peel the bark from a living tree - this can lead to its death!
The collected material is dried in a well-ventilated place (outdoors or indoors). It is impossible to dry willow bark in direct sunlight. You can lay out pieces of bark on a towel or gauze, and you can hang out, but pieces of bark should not come into contact with it. It is also allowed to dry in the oven or a special dryer, but the temperature in it should be no higher than 50 degrees. The readiness of raw materials is indicated by the appearance of fragility. Externally, the dry bark should be grayish on the outside, and on the inside - smooth and light, the taste should be bitter, and besides, there should be an astringent feeling in the mouth.
Store dried bark in unsealed material (wood, paper, cloth). It is important that the raw material has access to air. The term of application for medical purposes is no more than four years.
Willow catkins are harvested from male trees (goat willow flowering period is April), dried and stored just like bark. The only caveat is that flowers should be dried in a cold place; the oven should not be used for this purpose.
The use of goat willow in folk medicine
Above were listed diseases and symptoms that goat willow helps to cope with. Consider some recipes of traditional medicine based on the use of this amazing plant.
Goat willow bark tea
As mentioned, it is the goat willow bark that has the maximum amount of healing properties.
Tea made from such bark causes active sweating, as a result, it is often used in various respiratory diseases and colds. In addition, it can be drunk and for the purpose of prophylaxis as a general tonic. This drink is also used for rinsing for diseases of the throat and mouth.
Important! Goat willow bark tea should not be drunk regularly. After a month of taking such a drink, you can resume its use no earlier than six months.
Brew tea from willow bark should be like this: 3-4 tablespoons of dried raw material is poured into 1 liter of boiling water, cooked for another 5 minutes, covered and infused for at least a quarter of an hour. It can be taken both hot and cold.
Goat Willow Honey
Goat willow honey has a golden color in liquid form, but when it crystallizes, it becomes creamy. Very gentle and tasty product.
The main property of such honey (relative to other bee products) - antipyretic effect. Other healing properties of willow (hemostatic, astringent, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, analgesic, etc.) are also stored in this product.
Hepatitis is helped by a drug made from goat willow honey, carrot juice, beetroot and horseradish (just one glass each), two lemons juice and a glass of vodka. This drug should be drunk three times a day, half an hour before meals, one tablespoon per month. Next, be sure to take a break.
From regular headaches, you can use a decoction of nettle (1 tablespoon to 1 cup of boiling water), diluted with willow honey - three times a day and 1 tablespoon.
Willow honey helps to get rid of arthritis, radiculitis and rheumatism.
Outwardly, this product is used for boils. Honey needs to be caramelized in a frying pan, pre-mixed with sugar and water (all components in equal parts), cool slightly and applied to an abscess so that it explodes.
Willow honey can be taken by people suffering from diabetes.
Broth willow goat
Broths can be prepared from both the bark and inflorescences of goat willow.
For cooking bark decoction you need to grind 20-25 g of dried raw materials, brew a glass of boiling water, simmer for 30 minutes in a water bath, cool a little, strain. Dosage - 2 tablespoons 3 times a day.
Broth goat willow flowers it is prepared in the same way, but you need to take only 10 g of raw materials, keep it in half the water bath, and, on the contrary, it is longer to insist for at least 45 minutes. The dosage is the same as for the decoction of the bark.
A little differently preparing a decoction of goat willow bark for the treatment of jaundice. 60 g of crushed bark pour 1 liter of water and boil for 20 minutes. The resulting mixture is infused for 24 hours in a warm place, only after that filter and take half a cup before meals three times a day.
Important! Acceptance of goat willow decoction in excess of the recommended doses can lead to constipation.
Infusion
15 g of chopped goat willow bark is poured with a glass of boiling water, covered and insisted for 60 minutes. Then the infusion is filtered and consumed 1 tablespoon up to five times a day for the treatment of gout and rheumatism.
When gastric disorders preparing a similar infusion, but to the willow bark, you need to add the same amount of dried chamomile flowers. The finished medicine is drunk in small doses over the course of an hour.
Powder
Powder made from goat willow bark, used as an external agent (powder). It is indicated for hemorrhoids, bleeding (if nasal bleeding - the powder is simply drawn into the nostrils), ulcers and boils. A single dose - 1 gram.
Internal use of such a powder is similar to the indications for taking decoctions and tinctures.
To prepare such a powder is very simple: the dried bark of a willow goat must be ground with a coffee grinder or blender.
Ointment
On the basis of the goat willow bark powder prepared by the above method, it is also possible to prepare an ointment.
The powder is mixed with any fat in the ratio of 1 part of powder to 5 parts of fat. Application - external.
Herbal collection with willow goat
Goat willow is part of a huge amount of medicinal fees.
To remove painful conditions in the legs, use the following collection:
- 3 tbsp. goat willow bark;
- 2 tbsp. l nettle root;
- 1 tbsp. rose flowers;
- 1 tbsp. lavender.
With the same purpose inward, you can apply this collection:
- 3 tbsp. goat willow bark;
- 2 tbsp. Hypericum;
- 1 tbsp. strawberry root.
Anti-cold qualities has such a collection:
- goat willow bark;
- linden flowers;
- coltsfoot (leaves);
- raspberry berries;
- feminine (fruit).
Antipyretic collection (also helps with muscle pain):
- 20 g of goat willow bark;
- 5 grams of raspberry;
- 10 g of poplar buds;
- 10 g of birch leaves;
- 5 g of chamomile flowers;
- 25 g of linden flowers;
- 25 g of meadowsweet flowers.
Dandruff can be fought using this collection: chopped goat willow bark and burdock root in equal parts fall asleep in 1 liter of boiling water, boil for 10 minutes, insist for two hours and drain. Use for shampooing.
Medicinal properties of baths
Baths with the addition of goat willow bark, help fight excessive sweating. To get rid of sweating feet, apply local baths, for the armpits, you can use the general. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to combine bathing with an internal reception of goat willow in the form of decoctions or tinctures - this stabilizes the functioning of the sweat glands.
Also baths with willow bark help with dermatitis, boils and boils, bedsores, as well as rheumatism and pain in the joints.
Contraindications
The use of drugs based on bark and flowers of goat willow has and certain contraindications.
You can not use infusions and decoctions of this plant with high acidity, as well as with the exacerbation of gastrointestinal disorders. Poor blood clotting, a tendency to constipation, as well as hypersensitivity to any of the substances in the plant (for example, an allergy to acetylsalicylic acid) is also a reason to refuse this treatment.
It is not recommended to use goat willow in any form to children under 16 years of age and pregnant women, especially in the period of 2-3 trimesters.
In addition, it is excluded the combination of taking drugs based on goat willow with other medicines containing aspirin, therefore, when choosing cold remedies, it is necessary to carefully read their composition.
Summarizing, we can say that goat willow knowingly love goats. This is truly an amazing tree, in addition to its decorative qualities, possesses a huge number of medical and other useful properties, making its bark and inflorescences a necessary component in any home first aid kit.
