Part used

Young twigs and inner bark, scraped in spring

Gather

Creek and ditch willows. Green-gold catkins. Scrape thin new bark in April–May.

Tea

1–2 tsp dried inner bark simmered 10 minutes. Bitter. Honey helps.

Tincture

Dry bark 1:5 in 80 proof, 4 weeks.

Other

Same family of risk as aspirin: do not give to children or teens with a viral illness (Reye’s). Not if they have an aspirin allergy, a bleeding problem, or are on blood thinners. Not a substitute for a heart-attack aspirin chew unless that is all you have and they are an adult.