THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WILLOW TREE

On Tsvetnitsa (Palm Sunday) Bulgarians carry willow twigs and have them blessed because they believe this will bring them good health. It transpired it is not accidental that the willow twigs replaced the traditional palm and olive branches, with which according to the Bible Jesus Christ was met upon entry in Jerusalem.

Although it is now part of the tradition, in the past it was a sign of the magic powers of the willow tree. The Sumerians, as far as they were the first to leave written evidence that they used the willow tree as a remedy. The Ebers papyrus contains recipes showing that ancient Egyptians used willow bark to treat joint pain.

In ancient times, during the negotiations with Pope Innocent III, the Bulgarian king Kaloyan insisted to keep some customs like using white willow bark to treat wounds and injuries. Nowadays, it is known that the health benefits of the willow bark is due to the salicylates it contains.

Vanyo Vezirov, a student in medicine explains that the origin of the word salicylates comes from the Latin name of the white willow – Salix Alba.

Healing waters of springs and streams owe their tremendous benefits to the salicylates in willow bark.

Miglena Aladzhova, a student in medicinal chemistry says that for centuries people have used the healing properties of waters and springs in areas with willow trees, known as ayazmos (ayazmo means “holy well”, from Greek ἁγίασμα (hagiasma) meaning holy water) and thought the water was miraculous.

The bark of the willow tree builds up salicylates in order to protect itself from diseases and damages. Similarly, it has health benefit for people. Despite the medicinal properties, it is not recommended to chew willow bark. It was widely used in the past, but the willow bark extract has unpleasant taste and upsets the stomach. To reduce these side effects, a German chemist, Felix Hoffman, synthesized the acetyl-salicylic acid known as aspirin, which is now one of the most prescribed products for treatment of a number of health conditions.