While willowherb is commonly used to treat respiratory and urinary tract infections, it has a few other healing properties you may not be as familiar with. Known in the West for its tonic and astringent properties, in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), willowherb is recognized for its ability to Clear Heat and Resolve Phlegm.
Here are three cool facts about willowherb:
- It is often used with the herb saw palmetto to treat prostate problems.
- Native American Indians prepared a tea from the root to use as an enema to treat infant constipation, and they used the peelings off the dried stems to make strong cords for fishing.
- Willowherb is a genus in the Onagraceae family containing about 160-200 different species of flowering plants. While there are around 197 species of its genus Epilobium, only a few are designated as medicinal and edible. Three of the most commonly mentioned as edible or for medicine are Epilobium augustifolium (aka rosebay willowherb), Epilobium brachycarpum (hairy willowherb), and Epilobium palustre (marsh willowherb).
Find out more about this culinary and medicinal herb.
