Aspen, also called trembling poplar or silver poplar, belongs botanically to the willow family. A total of 35 species of poplars are known, but aspen or aspen is the most common in Europe.
Occurrence and cultivation of aspen
From the external appearance, aspen resembles its botanically closest relative, the willow. Quaking aspen is native throughout Europe, as far north as Siberia and Asia Minor. It is not uncommon for aspen to reach an age of 100 years or more; older specimens are still viable, but are mostly heart rotten. An aspen tree can reach a height of up to 35 meters, and the trunk has a diameter of up to one meter. Even when black poplar or silver poplar is mentioned, aspen is meant. From the external appearance, the aspen resembles its botanically closest relative, the willow. This is because the flowers of the quaking aspen also form so-called male and female catkins. A well-known characteristic feature of the aspen is that the leaves move in a clearly audible and visible manner, even in the presence of a slight breeze. This is the origin of the popular expression “shaking like aspen leaves”, which is still in use today. Trembling aspen trees grow very quickly, like all willow plants. An aspen is considered mature at the age of 60 years, so compared to other tree species, aspen reaches adulthood quickly.
Effect and application
The trunk of an aspen tree can grow bolt upright or slightly inclined. The crown of the aspen tree may be irregularly multipart or cone-shaped or roundly broad. The aspen bark is initially almost completely smooth at the beginning of the growth phase and does not form a typical gray-black, thick and longitudinally cracked bark structure until adulthood. Preparations from different parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. Preparations from aspen are classified in the pharmacological group of antirheumatic drugs. The best-known plant antirheumatic drug from the willow family is salicylic acid from willow bark; there is a close botanical relationship to aspen. The bark, fresh shoot tips and leaves of the aspen tree are used for medicinal purposes. The bioactive pharmacological constituents remained almost unchanged even when the plant parts were dried or heated. Similar to willow bark, aspen also contains different chemical compounds with high salicylic acid content. This results in the main applications of the pharmacological preparations. Clearly empirically documented and proven are analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. A tea decoction can be prepared from the leaves. Other parts of the plant, such as bark or shoot tips, must be boiled in clear, soft water for at least 30 minutes to allow the individual salicylic acid compounds to transfer into the boiling water. The use of products from aspen is exclusively naturopathic. Pain medicines do not contain original components from aspen, but only chemically recreated derivatives. It is also known to be used as a rheumatic bath for muscular exhaustion, to help with colds or to relieve pain in the musculoskeletal system. In addition to a full bath with aspen addition, partial baths as a cold preparation are also possible, for example, for knee arthritis or tennis elbow. In addition, the leaves of aspen probably also contain tumor-inhibiting substances, because in animal experiments on mice a regression of certain tumors could be observed under the application of active substances from aspen. However, the research results are not readily transferable to humans, so there is still a long way to go before cytostatic agents from aspen are ready for the market.
Significance for health, treatment, and prevention.
Aspen contains highly potent bioactive substances in all parts of the plant and also in the root system. Therefore, trembling aspen rightly has a high phytotherapeutic importance with a high curative potential. Although the main focus is on the salicylate compounds, by no means all of the aspen’s valuable constituents are yet known. There are also physicians who generally warn against self-medication because, in their opinion, the safety and efficacy of preparations from aspen have not been sufficiently proven. Herbal salicylates should never be used on children under 12 years of age.Even those who use aspen products and preparations to support their rheumatic complaints should not do so over a longer period of time and should consult their doctor before use. Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding should also be avoided. Quite a few people also suffer from hypersensitivity to salicylates. In this group of people and in those with a tendency to allergies or asthma, preparations from aspen should also not be used. Severe, sometimes life-threatening side effects could occur. Patients with the hereditary disease glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, which is rare in Germany, must not take salicylates orally under any circumstances. In addition to the phytotherapeutic preparation with concentrated doses from the ingredients of aspen, the homeopathic preparation from plant parts of trembling aspen has also become established. Here, the active substances are present in a very diluted form, which is why their use is far less risky. The homeopathic preparation from aspen from the potency D23 can also be used as so-called globules in pediatrics. Especially psychologically caused abdominal pain with a tendency to cramps often respond well to this gentle form of therapy. In addition to salicylic acid as the main active ingredient, trembling poplar also contains essential oil and flavonoids. In naturopathic urology, an attempt at therapy is also recommended for benign enlargement of the prostate gland, benign prostatic hyperplasia.
