Anne Stobart<p>Two-year-old sprouting willow stems on a pollarded willow, planted as an ornamental, so maybe violet willow (Salix daphnoides) or purple willow (Salix purpurea). This darker-coloured bark will be rich in salicin, giving us anti-inflammatory salicylic acid when ingested. But incredibly bitter tasting! This is one of a group of willows being pollarded on a four-year cycle so there is always plenty of fresh bark as a <a href="https://c.im/tags/herbalharvest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>herbalharvest</span></a>. Stay safe, if you suffer with chronic arthritis or joint pain don't try it yourself without finding a local medical herbalist or clinical herbal practitioner to advise on herbs alongside orthodox medication - they will do a full consultation and advise on safe use. Professional bodies include the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy (<a href="https://thecpp.uk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">thecpp.uk</span><span class="invisible"></span></a>). <a href="https://c.im/tags/herbalmedicine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>herbalmedicine</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/pollarding" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>pollarding</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/medicinalplants" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>medicinalplants</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/treesthatheal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>treesthatheal</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/permaculture" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>permaculture</span></a></p>