У цій статті будемо говорити про те, як отримати аспірин в польових умовах, а саме - з кори верби. В результаті ви отримаєте відмінний засіб від головного болю чи похмілля.
Aspirin sold in pharmacies is acetylsalicylic acid. Herbal tea can be obtained from willow bark, which contains salicylic acid, the raw material for producing acetylsalicylic acid.
In tablets, the content of the active substance is naturally high, which accelerates the action of the drug. In willow tea, the concentration of salicylic acid is low and completely safe. Unlike commercial aspirin, the aspirin derived from willow bark is a very mild analgesic.
Step 1: Find the Right Willow
If you have any doubts and are not 100% sure about the species of a particular plant, never use it. This can be life-threatening, cause illness, or even premature death. There are 4 main types of willow: weeping, black, golden-haired, and white or silver willow.
Silver willow contains the highest amount of salicylic acid. Moreover, it is the easiest to find. It usually grows near water. Next, make sure that it is indeed a true willow. First, pay attention to the leaves; they should look approximately like this:
The edges are not curled downwards, with a pointed tip, 5-15 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, covered with pressed silver hairs.
Secondly, look at the bark of the willow. It should be dark gray, and on old trunks, it is coarsely longitudinally cracked.
Thirdly, take a handful of leaves, crush them a little, and smell the scent. Remember this peculiar sweet aroma. You will be able to identify the willow even in winter by it.
Step 2: Take a Piece of Inner Willow Bark
Once the correct willow is definitely identified, you can proceed to the process of obtaining aspirin. For this, we need the inner bark of the tree. With a reliable sharp knife, carefully cut a square in the bark. Make sure the knife goes deep enough. Remember, we need the inner bark, not the outer one. Holding the knife in one spot, carefully peel the bark outward.
Proceed in this manner around the entire perimeter of the square. Do not pull too hard. If you do, the bark will break into pieces, and all your efforts will be in vain. Ideally, you need to scoop out this very square.
Note that the bark is partially white and partially pink. The pink streaks are exactly what you need. Carefully clean the square piece from the outer bark.
Do not worry about having stripped the tree of its bark. This small scar will heal quite quickly and will not harm the overall condition of the tree. However, there are two rules for dealing with willows:
1. Never take bark from the same tree twice a year.
2. Never strip the bark around the entire trunk perimeter. A square piece about the size of your palm is quite enough.
Otherwise, your actions may severely harm the willow, or even kill it.
Final Step: Prepare Willow Tea
Place the pieces of bark in a coffee filter. Wrap it into a bundle. Next, place it in another coffee filter and wrap it again. Secure the bundle with thread. You should end up with a large tea bag. By the way, using two coffee filters is not necessary; one will be sufficient.
Then place the willow bag in a pot of boiling water. Stirring occasionally, watch the color of the water. It will slowly take on a reddish-brown color.
After about 20 minutes, the tea should be ready. Once it boils, do not keep it on the fire for too long; a few minutes will be enough. Do not forget to filter the tea from unnecessary impurities and solid particles. This can be done, for example, using a tea strainer, cloth, or cheesecloth. After that, you can add a little sugar to the drink (if desired) and drink. Surprisingly, willow tea has quite a pleasant taste.
An undeniable advantage of this remedy is its 100% naturalness. As they say, no additives, colorants, or preservatives. Willow drink is an excellent remedy for combating minor pains. However, it is not recommended to use it too often, as immunity to it may develop.
Try not to drink more than one glass at a time. If you feel quite strong pains, this treatment will likely not be effective, but it can still alleviate the condition. And one last piece of advice: if you do not have the opportunity to prepare tea (or are just too lazy), then at least just chew on willow bark. It will be better than nothing.
References used: https://lifehacker.ru/2013/02/20/kak-...
