Americans consume a lot of aspirin every year to alleviate all kinds of pain from headaches to the pain of arthritis. Some people, however, find that aspirin can upset their stomachs. White willow might be a good alternative, since it is not quite as potent — thought still effective — and really only seems to bother those who are aspirin-sensitive anyway.
White willow (Salix alba) is indeed the tree that many people like to include in their landscapes. It was the white willow, however, that actually gave us aspirin. One of the active ingredients in white willow is salicin from which aspirin was eventually created. The white willow, though, was used for pain relief as far back as 500 B.C. by Chinese physicians. This pain remedy finally reached Europe about five centuries later. Salicin was isolated in the 1820s by an Italian, who produced salicylic acid from the salicin. Later, a German produced a synthesized acetylsalicylic acid. It was then pretty much forgotten until a chemist at the Fredrich Bayer & Company named Felix Hoffman started looking for something to help alleviate his father’s pain from rheumatoid arthritis. At first, Bayer was not that interested; however, they eventually did put the new product that they called aspirin on the market. The rest — as the saying goes — is history.
Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, many people are looking for an all-natural alternative to the traditional over-the-counter aspirin. White willow is turning out to be the answer. White willow causes much fewer side effects than the more concentrated aspirin pills. White willow can be used to treat fevers, headaches, and muscle and joint pain. Studies have shown that white willow works almost as well for the treatment of osteoarthritis as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which some people have a problem taking. White willow is also an effective treatment for lower back pain. For those on a low-dose aspirin regimen for their heart, white willow bark tea can serve the same purpose. (You should, however, first consult your physician about including white willow in your treatment.)
You can make a decoction of white willow by soaking 1 teaspoon of the powdered bark in a cup of cold water for 8 hours. You can strain it if you want or take as is. It does taste bitter, so you might want to add some honey and lemon with it or add it to a better tasting herbal tea. Drink up to 3 cups per day. For heart therapy and stroke prevention, drink 1-2 cups per day. (Once again, first check with your physician.)
As mentioned earlier, white willow has few side effects, unless you are already aspirin-sensitive. It is recommended that pregnant women, since aspirin is sometimes associated with some birth defects. Do not give to children under the age of 16 due to the possibility of it causing Reye’s syndrome. In addition, people with chronic gastrointestinal problems, such as gastritis and ulcers, should also avoid white willow. As always, if you have any concerns, consult your primary care professional and/or a certified herbalist.
References:
Castleman, Michael. The New Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Inc., 2009.
Kowalchik, Claire, and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1998.
