Willow

Therapy. This to an extent is antimalarial and like the other agents of this class it improves the tone of the gastro-intestinal tract and the glandular organs. It corrects impaired conditions of all mucous membranes and is thus of value in excessive catarrhal discharges from these membranes, being freely given in bronchorrhea, gastric catarrh, catarrhal diarrhea and in leucorrhea, in all cases acting more promptly if malarial conditions have caused the existing debility.

Properties and Uses. This bark is among the distinct and rather intense tonics, with a fair portion of astringent power, though less absolute in its astringency than many have represented. The chief use made of it is for chronic diarrhea, atonic forms of dyspepsia with looseness of the bowels, passive hemorrhages, atonic menorrhagia, and scrofulous maladies with curdy diarrhea.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. Gently stimulant, diaphoretic, and astringent. Used in warm infusion wherever a stimulating diaphoretic is required; also in diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera infantum, etc. In decoction or syrup it forms an excellent tonic to restore the tone of the bowels, after an attack of dysentery. Said to have been used in gravel and female obstructions. Oil of birch will produce a drunken stupor, vomiting, and death. It has been used in gonorrhoea, rheumatism, and chronic skin diseases. Dose, 5 to 10 drops.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. Wintergreen possesses stimulant, aromatic, and astringent properties. It is used in infusion as an astringent in chronic mucous discharges, as a diuretic in dysuria, as an emmenagogue, as a stimulant in cases of debility, and is said to augment the flow from the lactiferous vessels of nursing women, but this is doubtful.