Linn.
Family: Salicaceae.
Habitat: North-western Himalayas, up to an altitude of 2,400 m.
English: White Willow, European Willow.
Ayurvedic: Jalavetasa.
Unani: Bed Saadaa.
Folk: Vivir (Kashmir).
Action: Analgesic, antiinflammatory, febrifuge. Used for rheumatic inflammation, painful muscles, spondylitis, lumbago, sciatica, neuralgia, gout and fever. (In 1838, chemists identified salicylic acid in the bark. Afterwards, synthesized it as acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin, in 1899.)
Key application: In diseases accompanied by fever, headache, rheumatic ailments. (German Commission E.) The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia reported anti- inflammatory action. The British Herbal Compendium additionally reported analgesic, antipyretic, antirheumatic and astringent actions of the willow bark.The bark contains phenolic glyco- sides; salicin, picein and triandrin with esters of salicylic acid and salicyl alcohol, acetylated salicin, salicortin and salireposide; tannins; catechin; p- coumaric acid; flavonoids and polysac- charides.Salicylic acid inhibits prostaglandin production, relives pain and brings down fever.
(Latin) From the highlands Albia, Alby, Albina, Albah, Allba, Allbah... alba
Basil (Ocimum basilicum).Plant Part Used: Aerial parts: leaf, stem, flower.Dominican Medicinal Uses: The aerial parts or leaves are traditionally prepared as a tea and taken orally for stomach ache, indigestion, gastro-intestinal pain, internal cleansing and women’s health conditions.Safety: This herb is generally regarded as safe for human consumption in moderate amounts and widely used as a culinary seasoning.Contraindications: The essential oil should not be used during pregnancy, lactation or in small children.Drug Interactions: Synergistic effects may occur with drugs that share similar pharmacological activities as those described for this plant in the “Laboratory and Preclinical Data” section; metabolism of one of basil’s active constituents, estragole, may be hindered by concomitant use of medications metabolized by UGT2B7 or UGT1A9 phase II enzymes.Clinical Data: No human clinical trials of this plant have been identified in the available literature.Laboratory & Preclinical Data: The following biological activities of this plant have been investigated in laboratory and preclinical studies (in vitro or animal models): analgesic, antifungal, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, anti-ulcerogenic, gastric anti-ulcerogenic, glutathione S-transferase and smooth muscle relaxant.* See entry for Albahaca in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... albahaca
Linn. (The Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim) is known as Basket Willow and the Osier.The bark contains 8.2%-8.8% tannin and phenol glycosides, fragilin, picein, salicin (0.13%), salicortin, salireposide, triandrin and vimalin. Salicase, and calcium and potassium nitrates are also reported from the bark.Dosage: Bark—59-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... salix viminalis
Linn.
Family: Salicaceae.
Habitat: Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
English: Sallow, Goat Willow, Common Willow.
Ayurvedic: Vetasa, Vaanira, Vidula, Vanjula, Vaanjulaa. In Kerala Homonoia riparia Lour., Euphorbiaceae, is used as Vetasa or Jalavetasa.
Unani: Bed Mushk.
Action: Distilled water from flowers—cordial, stimulant; externally applied to headache. Stem and leaves—astringent. Leaves—decoction used as febrifuge. Bark and twigs—astringent, applied to piles. Ash of wood—used in haemoptysis; mixed with vinegar, applied to piles.
Alkaloids, glycosides and saponins of male racemes increase the amplitude and slow the heartbeat and act more rapidly than digitalis on isolated frog heart.Flavonoids present in the male racemes are: diometin, isorhamnetin, cap- reoside and salicapreoside.Phenol glycosides present in the bark are: delphinidin, cyanidin, pipe- colic acid, fragilin, picein, salicin, sal- icortin, salireproside, triandrin and vimalin. Tannin content is reported to be 8-13%.Salix daphnoides Vill. and Salix ele- gans Wall. (The Himalayas from Kash mir to Nepal) are also known as Jalave- tasa.
Dosage: Leaf, bark, root—50- 100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... salix caprea
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