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Willow Flower Remedies

Pussy willows probably mean spring for must of us. The pale silvery, fluffy male catkins of the pussy willow or sallow, Salix caprea, appearing before the leaves, seem to confirm what the yellow catkins of witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, foretold.

But it is the golden willow, Salix vitellina (or Salix alba 'Vitellina'), that brings the best news of all. Its flowers can be collected to make a flower essence -- by the boiling method.

The Willow flower remedy is made from the flowers of the Golden Willow. In May, pick catkins of either sex together with about six inches of twig and from as many trees as possible. Male and female flowers grow on different trees.

Male Golden Willow Flowers
(Salix Alba var Vitellina)

Female Golden Willow Flowers
(Salix Alba var Vitellina)

Willow Flower Remedy

Use the boiling method to make 100ml (4 fl oz) of willow flower remedy.

Ingredients:

Willow Flowers
50ml (2 fl oz) Brandy
1 litre (34 fl oz) Spring Water
100ml (4 fl oz) Empty Amber Glass Bottle

Method:

Pick the flowers. You will need enough to three-quarters fill a large saucepan.
Place them in the pan and add the water.
Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Remove the flowers, allowing the sediment to fail to the bottom. Then filter 50ml (2 fl oz) into the glass bottle. Add brandy, label with name and date.

Willow flower remedy is used for rigid people who have become embittered and blame the world when things go wrong. They ask, "Why me?" and feel resentful and that life is treating them unfairly. Willow helps them to bend and move with the natural balance of the world.

Willow & Ginger Decoction

In this recipe, it is the dried bark from the white willow that is used. Make sure that the bark you buy has been responsibly collected. Trees are often pollarded and then the bark is stripped from branches of trees that are between 2 and 5 years old. This is sustainable collection. Do not strip bark from living, complete trees.

Ingredients:

2 Tsp Dried Willow Bark, Salix alba
1 Tsp Ginger Powder, Zingiber officinale
2 Cups Water

Method:

Simmer together for 10 minutes, strain and add honey to taste and drink.

Dosage - Take freely, as needed, for chills, chronic diarrhoea and as a strengthening drink in convalescence.

Notes - Willow is probably best known for its use in treating rheumatic conditions. It is an anti-inflammatory and that action is helpful here. However, willow is also a bitter digestive tonic -- making it doubly good in convalescence and after serious gastric upsets.

Ginger is the 'universal medicine' in Ayurvedic medicine. Its warming antispasmodic and carminative actions are applicable here. Remember you can chew ginger to cure travel sickness or to clear the head and unblock sinuses.

To learn more about flower remedies readers may like to read one of the books below.

Coming Next Month.....

Learn about simple ways you can ease the irritation, dryness, and tiredness of your eyes from everyday irritations and pollution using herbs as treatments for the eyes.

This recipes above are courtesy of Christopher Hedley, AHG and Non Shaw. The Herbmonger first appeared on the Herb Society website in 1998 and continued until about 2002. It is the creation of Christopher Hedley AHG and Non Shaw. And reappears back on the Herb Society website with the kind permission of Chris and Non.

Both are practising medical herbalists in London and have co-authored Herbal Remedies: A Practical Beginner's Guide to Making Effective Remedies in the Kitchen. Parragon Press, 1996 ISBN-10: 0752577514 .

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