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Goat willow

Useful properties and applications of willow


Botanical characteristics of willow

Goat willow belongs to the willow family, it can be called a shrub or tree. In young plants the bark is greenish-grey as they Mature it becomes brown cracks the surface. Young shoots observed pubescence and large buds. The plant has a different shape and size leaves. They are ovoid, rounded, elliptical. In any part of the branches one can see oblong-lanceolate, wavy, subcarina leaves.

Different leaves and surface: can be thick, wrinkled, glabrous above, dark green, with felt gray bottom plate. Goat willow is blooming earlier than it leaves appear, yellow-white flowers, gathered in drooping inflorescence – the brush, like earrings. The fruit-capsule are wavy gray seeds. For growing goat willow chooses the streams, clearings in forests, loves the neighborhood variety of bushes. Used to treat parts of the plant – bark, leaves, flowers – are collected at different times.


The beneficial properties of willow

The bark of the willow contains a large amount of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, fenolglikozidy. These substances have in leaves, but in smaller part. Flowers and leaves contain vitamins, saponins, organic acids, lipids. Recorded the presence of nitrogen compounds, proanthocyanidins, catechins and essential oils.

Hidrolizat acid, which is endowed with IVA, is composed of lauric, myristic, pentadecanoic, margarine, arachidic, heneicosanol acids. Decoctions and infusions of willow have styptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Valued plant for its healing and tonic properties.


The use of willow

A decoction of willow bark is used in rheumatism, whooping cough, fever. Medical drugs successfully treat headache and neuralgia, are recommended for gout, various bleedings, gastro-intestinal diseases, malaria. Goat willow acts as Anthelmintics. Externally the plant is used for gargling. Lotions with herbal teas reduce inflammation of the skin with dermatitis. Raw materials in powder form helps from ulcers, wounds, boils, used as a powder.

Goat willow is also an effective remedy for highsweating. In this case, you can make local baths for underarms and make the broth inside too, normalizes the sweat glands.

In Asia, the willow in the form of decoctions and infusions are used to reduce fever in colds, infectious diseases. Sedative effect of plant materials affecting the quality treatment of the cardiovascular system, tachycardia. The diuretic properties of willow relieve edema of different origin, the decoction is recommended for people with hypertension and kidney diseases.


The bark of the willow

In many countries, goat willow replaces quinine and aspirin, which was derived from this medicinal plant. Bark brewed as a tea for sweating during the influenza and acute respiratory diseases. It has a universal tonic effect. For people with a number of diseases, the bark of a willow becomes a natural medication that promotes rapid recovery. It is recommended to take funds from the willow bark as a preventive measure. The raw material contains nutrients helping to keep the weight on the achieved results in the treatment of obesity.

A medicinal tea can be drunk for three to four weeks, the course should be conducted once in six months. A decoction of the bark of willow to treat gastrointestinal and peptic ulcer disease, neuropsychiatric disorders, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis. Rinse decoction or infusion to heal bleeding gums. receiving funds inside removes inflammatory processes in the liver, cures tuberculosis. Helps bark with the weakening of visual acuity and hearing.

A decoction of willow bark: 20 g bark crushed, pour 200 ml of boiling water, cook in a water bath 30 minutes, cool for 10-15 minutes, strain. To drink the medicine you need 2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day.

A decoction of willow buds: 10 g of inflorescences of willow pour 200 ml of boiling water, put in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes, cool 45 minutes, strain. Daily take 2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day until recovery.

Planting willow

Goat willow – an ornamental shrub, its weeping shoots on top of the trunk to form a tent. The plant light - and water-loving for his landing requires a well sunlit place. Goat willow is propagated by grafting. Tree trimming requires special, especially in the first years after planting. A plant without proper care, can not develop normally. Pruning is required after flowering (in June).

To crown formed correctly, should be cut youngshoots, leaving the buds, the tops looking up and to the side, then the crown will grow back in the form of an umbrella. Well willow is propagated by seeds, cuttings virtually no roots.


Goat willow "Pendula"

A remarkable variety of willow "Pendula"has weeping foliage with cascading branches, flowering period formed many incredibly beautiful decorative Golden-yellow catkins that appear before the blooming foliage. The plant has a hard brown-red shoots, slowly growing up quickly and growing in length. Elliptic matte green leaves with the underside covered with hairs. IVA"Pendula"resistant to frost.

Well grow this variety in any soil, demanding only to the conditions of irrigation. IVA – an excellent honey plant, its fluffy flowers are extremely attractive to insects by the large amount of nectar.


Goat willow weeping

Goat willow weeping in nature, it grows on the banks of ponds, streams, chooses to inhabit lowland rivers, prefers moist soil. Unremarkable at first glance, the plant like a goat. On plots planted standard male form of the plant, which reaches a height of 1.8 to 2.5 (sometimes 3) m. Crown with weeping willows hanging down to the ground branches, bark greenish-grey, smooth, base covered with cracks, shoots are greenish color.

Weeping willow has oblong elliptical leaves. In April but not every year there are fragrant, Golden-yellow inflorescence-earrings. The plant develops very quickly, frost.


Goat willow"Kilmarnock"

Gorgeous decorative tree will be a real decoration of any garden, small weeping foliage, hanging down to the ground and shoots charming flowers earrings will make any expressive landscape. Crohn's in adult shrub diameter equal to 1.5 m. the plant Blooms for up to two weeks, likes open Sunny areas, but also tolerates slight darkening. Nectar willow bee gives honey excellent bitter taste. honey has a healing effect in a variety of respiratory diseases, it can eat patients with diabetes.


Goat willow spherical

Goat willow spherical – low dwarf form, a special piquancy which is in spherical crown with an unusually graceful shoots, looking down.

The leaves are lanceolate, leathery. Lower side of leaves is grayish-white-tomentose, upper dark-green, leathery. The flowering period of willows spherical comes long before the appearance of leaves andlasts 20 days. Fluffy yellow catkins attract people's attention and attract nectar insects. Grows a willow of this species quickly, resists well to cold and drought. Ornamental plant adorns the alleys and lawns.


Contraindications to the use of willow

The use of willow is contraindicated in gastritis with high acidity, the unsupervised use of herbal teas can provoke constipation. You can't use goat willow, if diagnosed with low blood clotting and in case of individual intolerance.