willows

[cherig]

I just removed a willow stump to make room for a Bee Balm. Can the roots be used also? And how do you process the bark? peeling and drying?

[IdahoHerbalist]

The inner bark of young shoots is the medicine for willow. I am just now watching a video on how to collect willow. Warning, the camera work is quite bad.

While his method is valid, he actually does it the hard way using older branches and scraping the inner bark. This would be the “purists” way.

Patrick and I like to use the very young branch tips and just use the whole of the material. You can dry and grind it or you can make a tincture with it. Yes, there is some of the material that might not be medicinal, but who knows! You at least know you are getting ALL of the medicine out of the branch and not missing any in the scraping process.

[cherig]

thanks for the reply. :nod: Is spring the best time to gather willow? I have several bushes out front. I usually trim them back around Feb. They grow so profusely that by the end of the summer they are huge again. I also have choke cherry that needs a trim. When is the best time for harvesting the bark on chokecherries? I understand the leaves and outer bark are not the best. It is the inner bark on the choke cherry, right? I will watch the video you posted to see if it can give me any insight on how to get the “inner bark”

[IdahoHerbalist]

The willow will be best when it is freshly growing. Wait until the leaves are popping at least and for sure once they are fully out. The best time to harvest is when the part of the plant you want is full of itself! :LOL:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

I don’t know of any use for the root and would not be willing to do the work to get the inner bark form old growth. As Steven said, the young green bark from the new growth is the ticket.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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