Would you like to make your own willow bark tincture, but are still unsure how to go about it? Then you've come to the right place! I'll explain step by step how to make this great home remedy and what you can use it for.
I have just completed a one-year training course to become a qualified medicinal herb teacher. Oh, what a thrill that was! I've always been a big fan of home remedies, but I was able to learn an incredible amount of new things. 🤩😊
Something that really fascinated me is how you can create a Make your own willow bark tincture can. And because I wanted to test it anyway, I've written down everything you need to know about it here.
So I have, for me, a great Home remedy for headache I'm sure I'll be making it more often now.
Today I'll explain how to proceed step by step and what you need to look out for. Plus, of course, how to use the tincture correctly and the ailments for which the ancient Egyptians swore by the willow. 🙂☝️
Willows were considered a magical tree thousands of years ago and were known for their healing properties. They symbolize eternity and the fact that they are constantly renewing themselves.
There are over 450 different species of willow worldwide - from small dwarf shrubs to 30-meter-high imposing giant trees.
Table of contents
What is a tincture of willow bark used for?
Even my grandmother knew about the healing power of willow and always made a tincture from it. She used the willow bark tincture as a household remedy:
- to reduce fever
- to inhibit inflammation
- and to relieve pain
Researchers were able to prove that the Effect the pasture already in the Stone Age was known. The first real recipes for home-made medicine were handed down on clay tablets from Ancient Egypt. The records show, that willow bark was used to treat inflammations, painful wounds and swellings.
The Germanic tribes and Celts boiled willow branches and used the brew to make Envelopes, around aching Limbs or poorly healing Wounds to treat.
Hildegard von Bingen's notes state that willow bark was used to treat bleeding, fever, gout, rheumatism and urinary problems.
Also for chronic pain such as Arthritis, gout or arthrosis it is taken by some.
We can make use of the effect of the willow if we use it as a Tea or tincture to us.
I use many of my grandmother's home remedies, which work very well for me. About dried blueberries against diarrhea or honey, sage and co. as Home remedy for a sore throat. And one of my favorites: Apple cider vinegar for blemished skin and spots!
If you would like to learn more about this topic, I can recommend this great book on home remedies, tinctures, oils, ointments and the like:
Instructions: Make your own willow bark tincture
For a tincture, fresh or dried plant material is placed in alcohol. This transfers the plant's ingredients to the alcohol. This tincture can then be consumed pure as drops or in a glass of water.
When you go to collect later: remove the leaves. We only need the bark.
Ingredients:
- Alcohol at least 70 %
- A handful of fresh willow bark
Also: a basket or small bag for collecting, a sharp knife, a screw-top jar and later a small Pharmacy bottle with pipette*.
Unfortunately, I can't give you exact quantities as I haven't weighed the willow bark. I peel off enough bark so that I have about a handful.
Preparation:
- Look out for willows. Cut off about the top 20 cm of young branches. I put them in a basket or a small bag.
- When you get home, peel the fine bark off the branches. I use a sharp knife for this. Peel the bark upwards from the cut and cut it into small pieces.
- You can also put very thin branches from this year in the jar as a whole, but cut them up small and finely.
- Put the bark in a screw-top jar and fill with alcohol.
- The plant parts must be completely covered with alcohol.
- After less than 30 minutes you will notice that the alcohol turns greenish.
- Place the glass in a bright (important(not sunny!) and shake the tincture every day.
- If you want to make your own willow bark tincture, you have to wait now. It takes at least 6 weeksuntil the active plant substances from the willow are transferred to the alcohol.
Filling:
- The alcohol should now have a greenish-brownish color.
- Pour the tincture through a sieve to remove the plant parts. It may be useful to pour the extract through a coffee or tea filter.
Important: dilute!
I dilute the tincture with tap water until it has an alcohol content of 40 %. Pure, the alcohol is far too pungent. However, you can also add the drops to a glass of water and dilute immediately before taking.
Store the willow bark tincture in a dark bottle with a pipette.
How do I take willow bark tincture correctly?
Good to know: I learned in my training that it takes a while for the effect of the pasture to kick in - but this varies from person to person. You have to reckon with at least 30 minutes, in the worst case up to two hours.
But it also works for a particularly long time. I'm already excited 🙂
This recommended use is only a guideline. If you need advice, you must consult a naturopath, doctor or pharmacist.
Attention allergy sufferers
Before making the tincture, please make sure that you are not allergic to willow. I am neither a doctor nor a beautician, but simply a huge fan of everything that nature provides us with.
All my statements about the effects and properties of willow are my personal experience and not a promise of a cure. I cannot guarantee that it will alleviate your problems.
My contribution is not a substitute for a diagnosis by a doctor or therapist. If you want to make this willow bark tincture yourself, you do so at your own risk - this also applies to taking the tincture!
What ingredients do willows contain?
At the beginning of the 19th century, chemists were finally able to prove why willow is such a great household remedy. They were able to identify the main active ingredient in willow bark - the Phenoglucoside salicin prove.
When we ingest salicin, it becomes in our Liver at Salicylic acid converted and thus activated. Here it unfolds its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic Effect.
Salicylic acid is the same active ingredient that you find in Aspirin find. This is a painkiller. For the tincture to work well, you need bark with a high salicin content. It must according to this study should be at least 1.5 percent. High concentrations of this can be found in purple willow (6 to 8.5 percent) and ripe willow (5 to 5.6 percent).
For a long time it was assumed that salicylic acid alone was responsible for the effect of willow. One Study by the University of Tübingen However, it was possible to prove that the interaction of salicylic acid and other secondary plant substances is.
These include the Flavonoids isoquercitin, kaempferol or quercitin. Flavonoids have an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cancer-preventing effect. The tannins give the bark its bitter taste and have an antimicrobial effect.
As soon as salicylic acid was researched in the 19th century, people turned away from natural medicine and produced drugs on a large scale and in a synthetic way. Today we know how many side effects drugs can have.
I would therefore like to go the other way for myself. I want to try to use more home remedies again.
One project that sounded particularly exciting to me is making this natural remedy for headaches from willow bark. I will be making my own willow bark tincture from now on and will let you know about my personal experiences a little later. Now I have to wait 6 weeks and hope that my tincture will be just as good as my grandma's.
FAQ - the most frequently asked questions
Can I prepare the tincture more quickly?
You don't want to wait 6-8 weeks until the tincture is ready, but want to make your own willow bark tincture quickly? Then I recommend chopping the bark with a vegetable chopper or a powerful food processor.
The smaller the plant parts, the faster the extraction. Here, 7 days is often enough to extract all the important herbal ingredients. However, I always leave my tinctures for longer, unless I need some of it in the meantime.
I also keep homemade tinctures with chopped plant parts for at least 4 weeks.
What does the tincture taste like?
If you want to make and take willow bark tincture yourself, you should be prepared for a tart and bitter taste. The many tannins are responsible for this. That's why I add the drops to a glass of water and drink it down quickly.
You can also add them to the tea, but make sure it is lukewarm at most.
Can I give my child willow bark tincture?
My grandmother always gave us willow bark tincture when we were children. I can still remember exactly: you take about one drop for every year of your child's life.
Because of the bitter taste, you can add the tincture to juice or tea. If you are unsure, consult your pediatrician.
How quickly does the headache tincture work?
According to research, it can take 30 minutes to 3 hours for relief to occur. As soon as I feel a headache coming on, I take the drops immediately.
The effect is supposed to last for 12 hours - I haven't paid that much attention to it yet, I will observe it next time and then report back.
I have collected too many willow branches, what can I do with them?
You can use the branches as decoration or plant support. If you stick them in the ground and don't let them dry beforehand, the willow will sprout quickly and take root. If you want to prevent this, place the branch on the radiator or in the sun to dry.
I have dried the excess willow bark and will use it to make a tea if I ever have a headache. To do this, I put it in the dehydrator for about 3 hours at a low temperature. I then put the bark in a screw-top jar and store it in a dark place.
My conclusion
It really isn't rocket science. I will certainly be making my own willow bark tincture more often in future. If, contrary to expectations, it doesn't work, you can always reach for painkillers from the medicine cabinet.
I'm a huge fan of home remedies of all kinds and will definitely reveal one or two more here. I'm delighted if I've been able to help you with this and hope that you've found a good home remedy for headaches with these drops. 😊
All the best to you and have fun trying it out!
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