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 sap onins 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, capreoside and salicapreoside.
Phenol glycosides present in the bark are: deiphinidin, cyanidin, pipecolic acid, fragilin, picein, salicin, salicortin, salireproside, triandrin and vimalin. Tannin content is reported to be 8—13%.
Salix daphnoides Vill. and Salix elegans Wall. (The Himalayas from Kash
572 Salix fragilis Linn
mir to Nepal) are also known as Jalavetasa.
Dosage Leaf, bark, root—50— 100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)
Salix fragilis Linn
Family Salicaceae.
Habitat Cultivated in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
English Crack Willow, Kashmir Willow.
Folk Tilachaang (Himachal
Pradesh).
Action Bark—antirheumatic.
Key application For relief of low back pain; symptomatic relief of mild osteoarthritic and rheumatic complaints. (ESCOP.) The bark
contains salicin 0.23%, salicase and tannin (6—12%).
