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Willow Bark For A Painkiller?

Willow bark is an ancient alternative medicine. We know this from the ancient manuscripts of the Assyrian, the Egyptian and the Greek. The Egyptians used it as a remedy for inflammation. Hippocrates, Dioscorides and Galen the Greek physicians used Willow bark to reduce fever and sooth lower back pain, inflamed joints and other pains. Since 500BC the Chinese have used it to relieve pain and fever. Willow bark was also used by the American natives to control sexual desire.

By Paulina Jenkins

Willow bark is an ancient alternative medicine.  We know this from the ancient manuscripts of the Assyrian, the Egyptian and the Greek.  The Egyptians used it as a remedy for inflammation. Hippocrates, Dioscorides and Galen the Greek physicians used Willow bark to reduce fever and sooth lower back pain, inflamed joints and other pains. Since 500BC the Chinese have used it to relieve pain and fever. Willow bark was also used by the American natives to control sexual desire.

Willow bark is also known by the names of Salix alba and White willow.  This tree is a native of southern and central Europe, and central and western Asia. It is often called nature’s aspirin.  Aspirin contains an active ingredient called salicylic acid to give pain relief.  Willow bark is also found to be rich in this same component.

Willow bark is effective in killing pain associated with of inflammation. Some of these are joint pain, back pain, rheumatism, gout and arthritis. It can give relief to headache, colds and flu and reduce fever.  Willow bark can help with weight loss by boosting metabolism.  Americans of the colonial days used Willow bark as a treatment for food poisoning, gout, fever and inflammation. It gives relief to heartburn, colic, sour stomach and other gastrointestinal disorders. This herb is an antiseptic and excellent for burns, wounds, cuts, sores, dandruff and tonsillitis.

Willow bark is usually safe and well tolerated.  It is not a recommended herb for pregnant and nursing women.  If you are allergic to aspirin, avoid using Willow bark.  It must not be taken by people who are undergoing operation two weeks before and after the surgery. Willow bark may cause complications with wound healing and bleeding disorder.  This herb is known to interact with some medications.

Sufferers of gastritis and ulcers should avoid using Willow bark. For those who have any liver or kidney conditions Willow bark will aggravate the problem. This herb is not recommended for people with blood clot disorders. Children with chickenpox, viral infection and fever must also not be given this herb. Continual or long term use of Willow bark is not advisable. This could affect sexual desire and damage stomach, kidney and liver.

Willow bark is available as tablets, capsules, tea or tincture.  The standard dosage is 400mg 3 times daily.  You can make a tea by pouring 250 ml of boiling water over 1000mg of Willow bark leaves.  Then let it steep for at least 5 minutes before drinking. Clinical studies have found that for a minority of migraine sufferers, using feverfew and Willow bark together produce better results.

Today for arthritis, fevers, inflammation, headaches, body pain and heart disease herbalists continue to use Willow bark as the preferred remedy.  It is found by researchers to be more potent than aspirin.  Willow bark contains more other active ingredients than that in aspirin.  Willow bark is gentle to the stomach and has a longer lasting relief than aspirin.

About the Author: Paulina Jenkins has a blog with information on plants, herbs that are used as alternative medicine. Willow bark kills pain and reduces fever and Willow bark is more powerful than aspirin.

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