the first thing to make note of is that it is not in the Salicaceae family, which all other willows are. those who know drug names may be familiar with the word salicylic acid, a product of metabolizing by oxidation the water-soluble glucoside salicin which is found in the bark of willow and aspen trees (both in the same family), and the main anti-inflammatory ingredient in Aspirin. instead of popping that synthetic tablet with nasty plastic smells every time you get a headache, just reach for that freshly fallen aspen branch or clip off a small twig of new willow growth, shave off the outer and inner bark and steep in hot water for a headache fighting cup of tea! but, I digress. the desert willow, although not a producer of salicin has many other incredible weapons against dis-ease.
in appearance she looks to have kinship with other willows, with her thin, swooping branches, and slender elongated leaves. her flower, though, is unmistakable a bignonia. a monotypic genus, meaning she is the only species is this sub-category. native to these southwest regions, she can be found along arroyos and river banks between 2000 and 5000 feet elevation. so where ever you see a desert willow growing you're also sure to find water just below the surface of the ground.
the flowers, bark and leaves have several uses, but it is most widely used for it's anti-fungus and anti-viral properties. even MORE specifically it is a wonder treatment for systemic candida, which can be difficult to treat due to diet restrictions and other pharmaceutical medications that aggravate such a type of suprainfection. tea and tincture are both effective, although tincture is probably the most available to the general public. if anti-biotic therapy is being taken and there is risk of vaginal yeast infections due to the inhibiting affects it has on pro-biotic flora, then desert willow is a good candidate for that type of candida as well...including a tea douche.
other uses: the leaves and bark in powdered form are a good topical aid for opened blisters and scrapes on the feet where foot fungus like to flourish. also, if you have sweaty feet or frequently wear shoes without socks, try sprinkling a little in the bottoms of your shoes to keep those potentially smelly kicks at bay. it's not a deodorizer so much as it inhibits bacteria growth which causes odor to occur in the first place.
lastly, if you ever have the opportunity to smell these flowers when they're at their blooming peak then you are in for a treat. Michael Moore describes it in Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West as "heavy, sweet, and sexy", and I couldn't agree more.
