WHITE WILLOW BARK

 

Willow bark was in use as a medicine 6000 years ago when people chewed on the bark to reduce fever and inflammation. It's been used ever since for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions. The bark of white willow is particularly rich in salicin and in the 19th century salicin was used to develop aspirin. In combination with the herb's powerful anti-inflammatory flavonoids, salicin is thought to be responsible for willow bark's pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. It has also traditionally been used to reduce fever and promote peripheral blood flow.