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The white willow is a beautiful, silvery tree that prefers humid spots. It flourishes near brooks and pools, stretching its long leaves towards the water. This tree holds a significant place in the history of pharmacology. The whole plant, from leaves to the bark, contains a very famous compound, which is called, from the Latin name of the willow, salicylic acid, and possesses extraordinary properties against pain, fever and inflammations. Although this compound has been now synthesized and commercialized as 'Aspirin' for more than a century, the healing properties of the plant have been known since ancient times. It is amusing to imagine our ancestors sucking the willow bark to fight headaches. In the wild, the white willow is one of the commonest varieties, but in gardens the most appreciated and decorative is the weeping willow. |
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