Salix purpurea

The inner bark of Salix purpurea has long been used in infusions and decoctions as a traditional remedy for pain and fever, chiefly in Europe and the British Isles. In medieval and early modern Europe, the bark was scraped, dried, and brewed as a tea to treat headaches, muscle aches, and colds, and an official British herbal record lists bitter tea of the bark as a treatment for fevers and rheumatism (British Herbal Compendium, 1992). The bark is also macerated in alcohol to make tinctures, with the British Herbal Compendium noting a typical 1:5 ethanol preparation (1 part dried bark to 5 parts 45% ethanol), and the European Pharmacopoeia recognizes a solid extract (1–2.7:1) of willow bark (European Pharmacopoeia 10.0, 2019). Indigenous communities in southern Chile have also prepared teas and decoctions of purpurea bark for fever and sore throat, a practice documented in a recent ethnobotanical survey (Bennett et al., 2021).

A concise recipe for a mild tea uses roughly 1–2 grams of dried inner bark per 200 ml of water; the bark is simmered for 10–15 minutes and the decoction is strained before drinking, typically at a dose of 1–2 cups per day for adults (British Herbal Compendium, 1992). A practical tincture can be made at a 1:5 strength by macerating 20 g of dried bark in 100 ml of 45% ethanol for 2–4 weeks, shaking daily and then filtering; common adult serving is 2–4 ml up to three times daily (Phytotherapy Research, 2017). As with other willow species, the bark contains salicin and related salicylates that convert to salicylic acid in the body and may cause mild irritation of the stomach; it is contraindicated in salicylate allergy, in children or teenagers with viral infections, and in late pregnancy, and it may interact with anticoagulants (European Medicines Agency, 2016; Natural Medicines Database, 2022).

Well-established constituents in S. purpurea bark include salicin, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoids such as catechin and quercetin, which together support the recognized use in pain and fever (European Pharmacopoeia 10.0, 2019; Journal of Chromatography A, 2008). While many contemporary references address willow bark collectively, analytical studies that analyzed authentic S. purpurea material confirm that its bark has a comparable salicin profile to the medicinal willows commonly used in herbal practice (Journal of Chromatography A, 2008). Today, purpurea bark extracts remain available in Europe and are a traditional active ingredient in standardized fever‑reducing and musculoskeletal pain products, reflecting a lineage of use that continues from the medieval to modern era.

Common products:
Willow shoots (coppice poles) are harvested from Salix purpurea for energy and material applications. Woodchips are used for residential and district heating; short-rotation coppice systems yield biomass for solid-fuel boilers. As a fast-growing Salix, it is cultivated for bioenergy when cultivated for short-rotation coppice. Coppice poles also serve as plant supports and garden stakes. Energy and material uses are supported by documented SRC cultivation and associated bibliographic summaries. Composted or anaerobically digested residues can be used as soil amendments.

Industrial and craft applications:
Living-willow structures—planted frameworks for screening, fencing, and outdoor sculptures—are produced by training live shoots into woven forms. The technique uses flexible Salix stems and is documented with Salix purpurea as a commonly planted species. Wood is small-dimension and used for craft items such as stakes and wicker, particularly where living willow is practiced.

Scientific/model-organism uses:
S. purpurea is used in willow genome research and breeding. It appears as a model Salix in comparative genomics resources such as Salix Genome Database and林业科学 forestry databases; these host gene models, pathways, and community data. The International Willow Collection catalogs material and enables marker-assisted selection, gene function studies, and climate/phenology research.

Colorants and tanning:
Willow bark contains tannins historically used for tanning leather. Sources on Salix species and industrial chemistry describe the presence of hydrolyzable and condensed tannins and their extraction into tanning baths. Bark tanning is documented for Salix and is associated with natural brown dye processes; Salix bark yields brown dyes for protein fibers.

Wood and fiber:
Tough, pliable shoots are used as wicker in living-willow craft. Willow is a source of bast fiber, with Salix species including S. purpurea documented among willows supplying fibers for paper and textiles. Wood is amenable to small-tool woodworking, including carving and turning for craft objects.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
Some willow bark extracts are used as fragrance components or fixatives and appear in the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) standards; however, use claims must meet IFRA transparency and safety documentation requirements.

Properties relevant to use:
Wood and shoots are fast-growing and high in cellulose with moderate lignin content (typical of Salix), enabling pulping and biomass use. Sapwood moisture is elevated; suitable seasoning reduces dimensional instability for craft. High-energy woodchips are valued in SRC feedstocks. Bark tannins provide brown dye/colorant and leather tanning capacity.

Standards and regulation:
Timber certification follows Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards for sustainable sourcing. IFRA standards govern fragrance use; bark extracts used as cosmetic ingredients are regulated under EU cosmetics rules for cosmetic ingredients (incl. toxicological data and labeling).

Sustainability and sourcing:
Fast growth and coppicing enable frequent harvests (1–3 years) with resprouting, supporting high yields and reduced soil disturbance. Materials are sourced from plantations, short-rotation coppice, and conservation/wild sources. Attributes of S. purpurea include tolerance of varied sites and nitrogen removal, supporting sustainable production.

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