White Willow Bark, Cut & Sifted Herb (Salix Alba)

Description ShareTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail White Willow Bark, Cut & Sifted Herb (Salix Alba) HERB COMMON NAME :  White Willow HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :  Salix Alba OTHER NAMES :  Cricket Bat Willow, Basket Willow, Crack Willow, Tree of Enchantment, Nature’s Aspirin, Witch’s Aspirin, Saille, Osier, Helice FAMILY :  Saliaceae Element: Water Planet: Moon, Venus Day: Monday Direction: West Zodiac Sign: Taurus, Cancer Chakra: 6th Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) Energy: Yin Gender: Feminine Tarot: the Hermit Tarot Candle Color: silver, white Sabbat or Holiday: Imbolc / Candlemas (Feb 1-2) ; Samhain (Oct 31 – Nov 1) ; Moon rituals Deity or God / Goddess Association: Brigid, Persephone, Circe, Hera, Hecate, Artemis, Ceres, Mercury, Belenos, Orpheus, Tefnut, Angel Bethnael, Angel Shelathiel   Parts Used:  Bark Description:  White Willow bark is well known as a natural source of salicylates, agents collectively serving as the forerunner of aspirin. It has many of the properties of aspirin but causes notably fewer side effects. Used for thousands of years in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America to relieve mild, general, and joint pain (including arthritic pain) and to manage fevers. For symptoms of menopause, White Willow Bark is believed to help reduce sweating and control night sweats and hot flashes. The wood of White Willow is tough, strong, but also light weight. It has minimal resistance to decay.  Charcoal made from the White Willow was once important for gunpowder manufacturing. The bark tannin was used in the past to tan leather. The wood is also used to make cricket bats. White Willow wood has a low density and lower transverse compressive strength.  This allows the wood to bend and this is why it is used to make baskets. Historical Uses:  mild pain relief, general pain relief, joint pain, back pain, muscle pain, fever, inflammation, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, menopause, night sweats, hot flashes Mystical Attributes:  The White Willow tree is sacred among Irish trees and the Druids. In Jerusalem, the worship of Jehovah at the Feast of Tabernacles was called the Day of Willows. Willow branches were carried in processionals and used to root small temporary shelters during the celebration. The branches were later burned in the Temples. Willows are believed to be witty and wise spiritual advisors that provide a meditative space and guidance, an emotional support and spiritual hug with her sweeping and swaying branches. Many wildlife find a comforting living space in Willow trees, including owls, robins, kingbirds, marsh wrens, hummingbirds, magpies, hawks, crows, woodpeckers, squirrels, porcupine, beaver, tree frogs and other amphibians, snakes, moths, butterflies, and even black bear. The Willow is truly perhaps one of the most powerful and safest sanctuaries. This makes this magnificent tree an incredible tether when performing astral travel and travel to the underworld, while also being a safe and warm protective motherly hug and trusted guide. This also makes White Willow beneficial for working with and guiding wandering spirits. Orpheus was said to receive his “gift” by touching Willows in a grove sacred to Persephone. Because of this, many types of artisans go to groves to touch the Willows to receive inspiration for their craft. White Willow Bark is used in dream magick divination. It is good for dream scrying and soothes fears and worries of nightmares. It is also protective during astral projection and spiritual journeys. All of the parts of White Willow (not just the bark) are used to keep evil spirits away in protection rituals. White Willow trees are known as the trees of enchantment, and the bark is used in love spells. It is said that if you toss your shoe up into a Willow’s branches and it stays in the tree, then love will arrive on the next Full Moon. The bark of White Willow is used to help communicate with the spirits of the dead. It is burned along with Sandalwood at a waning moon to conjure spirits. It is used to help feelings of grief related to loss of a loved one. Funerary flints shaped as Willow leaves have been found in graves from the Stone Age. White Willow Bark can help with recovering memories and accessing past lives. White Willow Leaves can be worn as a charm to protect against jealousy. Mystical Intentions: Moon rituals, shelter, sanctuary, refuge, security, protection, meditation, calm, mindfulness, centering, tranquility, spirituality, comfort, support, nurturing, safety, wisdom, home protection, protection from evil, astral travel, travel to the underworld, divination, dream magick, nightmares, calling ancestors, communicating with the dead, wandering spirits, lost spirits, conjuring, summoning, creativity, artistic inspiration, love spells, attraction, dating, enchantment, grief, bereavement, loss of a loved one, burial and funeral rites, conjuring, divination, clairvoyance, foresight, clarity, past life recall, jealousy, gossip, awareness, spiritual awakening, spirituality Taste & Smell:  White Willow Bark is strongly bitter and sour. Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  White Willow is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree native to Europe and western and central Asia, now commonly found along riverbanks and moist woodland settings in eastern North America, England, North Africa, and some parts of Asia. The tree provides dramatic flair in the landscape with its long and graceful, sweeping branches that sway with the wind. This fast-growing (although relatively short-lived) tree grows up to 10-30 meters (32-98 feet) tall, with a trunk up to 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter. Its irregular crown is often leaning. The bark is grey-brown, and in older trees is deeply fissured. Its shoots are usually grey-brown to green-brown. White Willow leaves are covered with very fine silky White hairs—particularly true for the leaves’ undersides ; making this tree paler in hue than most other Willows. The leaves are 5–10 cm (2-4 inches) long and 0.5–1.5 cm (0.2-0.5 inches) wide. In the early spring, the tree’s flowers are produced in catkins (flowering spikes, typically downy and pendulous) and are then pollinated by insects. The tree is dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate trees. Male catkins are 4–5 cm long; and the slightly shorter female catkins 3–4 cm long at pollination, though they will lengthen as the fruit matures. In midsummer when mature, the female catkins comprise numerous small (4 mm) capsules. Each of these capsules containing numerous minute seeds which are in turn embedded in White down, which aids wind dispersal. White Willow grows along sunny streams and rivers, marshes, woods and other wet areas. The plant succeeds in most soils including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils. However, it prefers a damp, heavy soil. The White Willow seed has a very short viability, perhaps as little as a few days, and it must be surface sown as soon as it is ripe in late spring. Can also take cuttings of mature wood of the current year’s growth, plant in November to February in a sheltered outdoor bed. Can also be planted straight into their permanent location. White Willow bark is harvested in the spring or early autumn. The bark is collected from branches 3-6 years in age, and is dried for later use. Store dried White Willow bark, cut pieces and dried White Willow bark, powder in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Contraindications & Toxicity: Do not use if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to aspirin. May slow blood clotting and prolong bleeding time. Do not use with bleeding disorders, if expecting surgery, or after surgery. Do not use if taking blood thinners, anticoagulant, antiplatelet, or other circulatory system-related medications. For some people, may cause diarrhea, heartburn, and vomiting. For those allergic, may cause itching, rash, and other allergic or more severe reactions. Do not use with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, gout, gastritis, hemophilia, stomach ulcers, hypoprothrombinemia, or kidney or liver issues. Using Willow Bark along with aspirin may increase the effects and side effects of aspirin.   Constituents:  Salicin     Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources **IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. No items we sell are for internal use and should never be ingested for any reason. Some may also not be safe for topical application, or even be safe to touch while unprotected. Always use proper safety precautions when using our products. We will not be held responsible for illness, injury, or death from the use of any product. PRODUCT IS NOT A TREATMENT. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. CAUTION : Do not use ANY product if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to any ingredients. Prior to use, consult with your professional health-care provider to ensure safe use and understand effects that ingredients may cause relative to safety, personal conditions, and medication interactions which may be harmful. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. By purchasing, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age. Keep out of reach of children and pets. 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