Willow
Botanical: Salix Vitellina
Family: Salicaceae
Homeopathic remedy: Not used although other specimen of the genus Salix are used.
Description: Golden willow is a tall and graceful tree which grows to between 10 and 30 m tall. The trunk is well developed with the main boughs and branches ascending at a sharp angle to form a pointed or truncated crown, or a number of pointed "turrets". The bark has deep fissures and it is greyish-brown colored. The one year old twigs of Salix vitellina can be easily distinguished as they are bright yellow or orange making them very conspicuous in the winter months.
Medicinal uses: Anodyne, Antiinflammatory, Antiperiodic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Bach, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Hypnotic, Sedative, Tonic
Keywords: Self-pity, Resentment, Bitter, Grumbler, Faultfinding, Injustice
Compare: Holly
Dr Bach's description: For those who have suffered adversity or misfortune and find these difficult to accept, without complaint or resentment, as they judge life much by the success which it brings. They feel that they have not deserved so great a trial, that it was unjust, and they become embittered. They often take less interest and less activity in those things of life which they had previously enjoyed.
Essence: The most characteristic picture of a Willow remedy is a never-satisfied, faultfinding, old grumbler who concentrates only on the negative sides of everything. The Willow is never satisfied with anything. He always searches for mistakes and he never ceases to criticize everyone. This negativistic attitude does not concern only other people. Even if something goes well in the life of the Willow person, he always looks at the negative side of this improvement.
The difference between the Holly and the Willow is in the quality of emotions of these remedies. The Holly feels hatred and suspicion that are very intense. The Willow does not feel hatred towards others. It's only that his "modus operandi" is very critical towards everything. We can say that the Holly is very negative-thinking remedy, while Willow is a very critical-thinking remedy.
An important aspect of the Willow personality is the sense injustice. The Willow feels that he does not deserve all the negative things that happen in his life. He feels resentment and a great deal of self-pity. Yet the truth is, that the things that happen to Willow are not negative. It's just, that the Willow perceives everything in a very negative and fault-finding way and this perception modifies everything that happens in life. The Willow remedy will enable the person to see also the positive sides of everything and to feel hope and joy of life.