Willow

Salix nigra(?)

Edible plant

Native American

Photo credit: Bruce Marlin

Toxicity: Low at customary doses; salicylate-class cautions.

Contraindications: Salicylate/aspirin allergy, children (Reye's syndrome risk with salicylates), bleeding disorders, late pregnancy.

Interactions: Additive with anticoagulants/NSAIDs; salicylate interactions.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Late pregnancy: caution (salicylate).

Evidence level

Clinical

Supported by clinical trials in humans.

poultice; bark chewed · inner bark

Part used: inner bark

Evidence:Folk

decoction/infusion (bark) · inner bark

Part used: inner bark

Traditional use: pain, fever, headache, toothache, inflammation (the 'aspirin' of many Native pharmacopeias); poultices for wounds

Proposed mechanism: salicin/salicylates -> anti-inflammatory/analgesic; standardized willow bark has modest clinical evidence for low-back pain

Evidence:Clinical

Edible parts: Inner bark and young shoots are a documented famine food (peeled, eaten/cooked); buds/leaves nibbled.

Confirm Salix ID; flavor bitter.

Inner bark: emergency carbohydrate; vitamin C in spring growth.

Native American

Sources (3)