Willow Bark
People have relied on willow bark for its painkilling properties for thousands of years. Traditional German medicine and treatments for naturopathy both use willow bark as a pain reliever for conditions including rheumatism, arthritis in the knees and hips, and back pain.
Salicin, the primary pain-relieving component in willow bark, is metabolized into salicylic acid. However, the flavonoids and other compounds may also affect the bark’s efficacy. Salicylic acid has the same analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties as its chemical relative, aspirin. The small intestines absorb salicin and convert it into saligenin. With the help of the circulatory system, saligenin may reach all body parts and turns to salicylic acid in the liver.
Willow may be taken as a pill, a capsule, a powder, or even as a liquid. Tinctures made from distilled willow bark are also commercially available. A daily dose of up to 2ml of this liquid may replace your aspirin treatment.
Willow bark tea is also sold at food shops, where it is promoted as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. Moreover, topical application of willow bark is suitable for individuals who often develop stomach ulcers since it is not absorbed digestively. However, patients with a history of medical conditions for which aspirin is contraindicated should not take willow-containing products.
