White Willow bark extract has been used for centuries to treat various types of fever and inflammation and to relieve pain. By chemically modifying its active substance, scientists created acetylsalicylic acid, which became the first “hit” among drugs.
Like most natural raw materials, too white willow bark can boast a very long history in medicine. It is noteworthy that the use of white willow has a tradition of thousands of years and appears in all prehistoric civilizations. According to Greek mythology, the entrance to the cave where Zeus, the ruler of Olympus, grew up and was educated, was masked by a row of white willows. The god of medicine, Asclepius, taught his followers – doctors and healers – that a barren woman should be given a white willow branch in her bed, thanks to which the healing power of Asclepius’ snake would awaken at night and she would eventually recover and give birth. Asclepius is always depicted with a staff around which a snake is wrapped as a symbol of strength and health.
White willow is a versatile herb with a variety of uses.
Currently, this wonderful herb with medically proven healing properties is used in everyday health care. Firstly, it has been proven to have anti-fever properties, which is why it was called natural aspirin. And from there it was just a step to discovering its effects on promoting sleep. It is logical that patients with high fever received larger doses of white willow bark, thanks to which they fell asleep without any problems and slept until the morning. And their sleep was peaceful, which also confirmed another effect of willow, namely reducing irritability.
If you have ever been seriously ill and had a fever, you will agree that it is an unpleasant condition that is often associated with irritability. Therefore, white willow extracts and products should not be missing in any home medicine cabinet. They can also be successfully used to treat purulent wounds and various types of rashes. They also help treat oily skin and remove unpleasant dandruff. For this purpose, white willow bark and leaves are added to a warm bath. They contain a whole range of nutrients useful for the body.
What ingredients does white willow bark contain?
The main active ingredient of willow bark is salicylic acid and salicin. Once converted in the liver, they have the same effect as acetylsalicylic acid and are also known as the main active ingredients of aspirin®. Salicylic acid has well-known soothing and antipyretic properties and also prevents the formation of blood clots. Proper use of white willow bark can eliminate the negative effects of some products containing salicylic acid on the digestive system.
How white willow bark helps with pain and inflammation
Needless to say, many people (certainly initially out of curiosity) tasted willow leaves and young shoots. The tender, fresh shoots are sweet, but the thicker and older leaves are bitter and not very tasty. The older generation liked to use white willow leaf tea, which helps with various painful conditions, sometimes associated with fever, e.g. rheumatic ailments, urinary tract infections, inflammation of the digestive tract, kidney and respiratory diseases.
Many women with painful periods have also discovered this herb. They praise that it not only helps relieve severe and unpleasant pain, but also reliably relieves their discomfort, which is often unbearable and unpleasant and, as a result, adversely affects the quality of partner relationships and the family atmosphere.
How acetylsalicylic acid – aspirin was discovered
In 1897, the young German scientist Felix Hoffmann successfully synthesized it acetylsalicylic acid. It turned out to be such a stable compound that it could become a suitable raw material for the production of the named drug aspirinwhich was developed by Bayer, for which Hoffmann worked. This is how the first painkiller was born and its incredibly dizzying global career began. Who doesn’t know these pills? You can buy them at Indian markets on the edge of the forests of South America or at the famous floating markets in Thailand. The Apollo 11 crew carried them with them on the Moon.
What is the difference between aspirin and white willow bark?
Natural and gentle action without the risk of side effects
Every doctor, at one time or another, has encountered a patient who has a tendency to abuse medications. This is a common, almost everyday problem in academic medicine. The patient is prescribed 1 tablet, but he is impatient, takes 3 at a time and does not even think that it may harm him.
In the instructions for use of aspirin, the first thing is a warning that excessive consumption can cause bleeding, mainly from the gastrointestinal tract, but rare organ failures are also described. The same is true for other drugs with the same mechanism of action, i.e. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Salicin from white willow bark and leaves has a slower onset of action, but it works reliably and these unpleasant, undesirable effects are not described for it. Therefore, even academic medicine is beginning to realize that with the correct use of white willow bark, it is possible to eliminate the unpleasant negative effects of NSAIDs and drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid on the organs of the digestive system. To sum up, white willow bark is a natural rich source of salicylic glycosides, which are converted into salicylic acid in the human body without any negative effects on the digestive system. White willow bark has a beneficial effect on mental and physical health, hormonal balance, joint health, strengthening the body and its self-regeneration. Natural aspirini.e. capsules with white willow bark are recommended mainly as a supplement in the treatment of inflammation of the musculoskeletal system and in the prevention of thrombosis.
Who can use white willow bark extract?
The use of white willow bark is recommended:
- people who want their therapy to be effective and free of side effects.
- as an adjunct to arthritis therapy.
- helpful in the prevention of thrombosis, because the active substance of white willow bark, salicylic acid, reduces the risk of blood clots.
