The medicinal properties of willow bark

25 February 2025

The use of medicinal plants in healing is a tried and trusted practice that people have been doing for generations. Botanical remedies have been passed down for years, evolving into modern medicine as we know it.

Willow bark and willow leaves have many medicinal uses. Read on to find out what medicine comes from willow bark, and what willow is used for in medicine.

How is willow used in medicine?

Willow bark contains a chemical called salicin, which has antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. In fact, the compound which aspirin was created from was first isolated from willow. The active ingredient in willow bark was discovered from refining willow bark into yellow crystals. This was named salicin (after Salix, the genus of the willow tree).

Salicin can be converted by the human body into salicylic acid, which was a commonly used pain reliever originally known as ‘spiric acid’. This has contributed to the discovery of acetylsalicylic acid, now distributed as aspirin.

What medicine comes from willow bark?

The inner bark of willow is most often used in herbal medicine. It is usually harvested from the young branches of a mature willow tree. The young leaves, on the other hand, are thought to be less potent therapeutically. Willow bark and willow leaves are then prepared for use as a variety of different homeopathic medicines.

IMPORTANT: With all the below willow medicines, it can be very difficult to ensure the correct amount is taken (both too little or too much). It is also important to keep in mind that different varieties of willow have different levels of salicin in them. No herbal remedy should be taken without first consulting a healthcare professional. Consult the NHS website for advice on herbal remedies.

Tinctures

Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts. They are made by soaking the bark, berries, leaves (dried or fresh), or roots from one or more plants in a solution of alcohol or vinegar. The solution pulls out the active ingredients of the plants, and concentrates them as a liquid.

Decoctions

In a decoction, the more robust parts of a plant – such as the bark – are boiled for a period of time. This releases the flavors and beneficial compounds of the plant, creating a concentrated liquor. This decoction can either be drunk (hot or cold) or applied as a compress.

Herbal teas

Fresh or dried willow leaves or bark can be used to create tea by pouring boiling water over them, and steeping/brewing the liquid for a few minutes. The resulting drink can then be drunk hot or cold.

Infusions

A willow bark/leaves infusion can be water or oil based. A water-based infusion is created in the same way as a herbal tea, using fresh or dried willow material. However, it can instead be applied topically rather than ingested, for example as a willow leaf hair rinse.

An oil-based infusion must be made with dried botanical material (not fresh). The material is placed in a clear jar and filled with a suitable oil: sweet almond oil or an infused oil suitable for a salve. This mixture should then be left in a warm sunny spot for 6 weeks or more to infuse (this can also be done using gentle heat instead). Once infused the botanical material is sieved out and discarded, and the resulting oil is ready to be used.

Willow flower remedies

Willow was also used in the making of flower remedies, or ‘flower essences’, a homeopathic treatment created by Edward Bach, a British physician, in the 1930s. These are not essential oils, but are drained decoctions cut with brandy. Bach believed the energy of flowers could balance emotions, bringing about mental, physical, and spiritual wellness. Interestingly, he believed willow flower remedies could be applied to treat inflexibility and resentment. There is no modern scientific evidence to support his theories.

Soaps and cosmetic products

Willow bark extract can be used in cosmetic applications and is widely used by one of our tutors in her own, professionally certified, skincare range. It can exfoliate your skin, reduce excess oil, clear up your pores, and keep your skin hydrated.

Willow bark was traditionally used to treat skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. It is often used in high end anti-aging creams, cleansers and toners, and for sensitive skin products. Willow bark is high in tannins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and various minerals, all of which help soothe the skin and aid in cell regeneration.

To find out more about how you can use willow bark in cosmetic products, why not join us on our Willow Soap Making Course? Held at our Somerset farm, during this course you will learn how to make soap from a number of willow varieties (grown right here on the farm). The course is suitable for beginners, and you will go home with all the soap you make with us, plus guides on how to make it again at home.

Experts on all things willow

As suppliers and growers of top quality willow, we’ve been helping people get started with willow projects for many years. Sign up to one of our willow courses today, and just contact us if you have any questions.