Herbs and plantsWillow Bark — The Natural Aspirin That Was Replaced by a Pill?
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Henryk Różański states that natural salicin from willow bark does not irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum in the same way as synthetic salicylates.
- Salicylic acid was obtained from salicin, and in 1853 acetylsalicylic acid was produced, which is less irritating than pure salicylic acid.
- Willow bark contains 1 to 7% salicin, and salicylates and flavonoids are thought to have pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and fever-reducing effects.
- Modern products containing willow bark extract are commercially available, sometimes standardized for salicin content.
What the authors write
Henryk Różański
Pure salicylic acid was obtained from salicin, a glycoside found in willow bark.
„In 1838, Raffaele Piria (1814–1865) obtained pure salicylic acid from salicin, a glycoside found in willow bark. In 1853, Charles F. Gerhardt produced acetylsalicylic acid, which is less irritating than pure salicylic acid. In 1859, Hermann Kolbe (1818–1884) established the structural formula of salicylic acid and developed methods for producing it on an industrial scale.”W 1838 roku Raffaele Piria (1814-1865) otrzymał czysty kwas salicylowy z salicyny (glikozydu z kory wierzby). W 1853 roku Charles F. Gerhardt uzyskał kwas acetylosalicylowy, mniej drażniący od czystego kwasu salicylowego. W 1859 roku Hermann Kolbe (1818-1884) ustalił wzór strukturalny kwasu salicylowego oraz opracował metody jego uzyskiwania na skalę przemysłową.
Henryk Różański
In 1853, acetylsalicylic acid was produced, which is less irritating than pure salicylic acid.
„In 1853, Charles F. Gerhardt produced acetylsalicylic acid, which is less irritating than pure salicylic acid. In 1859, Hermann Kolbe (1818–1884) established the structural formula of salicylic acid and developed methods for producing it on an industrial scale.”W 1853 roku Charles F. Gerhardt uzyskał kwas acetylosalicylowy, mniej drażniący od czystego kwasu salicylowego. W 1859 roku Hermann Kolbe (1818-1884) ustalił wzór strukturalny kwasu salicylowego oraz opracował metody jego uzyskiwania na skalę przemysłową.
Henryk Różański
Willow bark contains 1 to 7% salicin.
„Willow bark contains 1 to 7% of the phenolic glycoside salicin, as well as the glycosides fragilin, salicortin, tremulacin, and populin. Other important active ingredients include flavonoids (quercetin, luteolin, eriodictyol, naringenin), salicylic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and tannins (8–20%).”Kora wierzby zawiera od 1 do 7% glikozydu fenolowego – salicyny, ponadto glikozy fragilinę, salikortynę, tremulacynę i populinę. Istotnymi składnikami czynnymi są również flawonoidy (kwercetyna, luteolina, eriodykcjol, naryngenina), kwas salicylowy, kwas ferulowy, p-kumarowy, kawowy i garbniki (8-20%).
Henryk Różański
Salicylates and flavonoids are credited with anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and fever-reducing effects.
„Salicylates and flavonoids have anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, anti-exudative, sweat-inducing, and fever-reducing effects, and thus may also help with rheumatism and arthritis. They ease the symptoms of colds and flu. They improve blood circulation, increase urine production, and speed up the excretion of toxic and unnecessary metabolites, including uric acid.”Związki salicylowe i flawonoidy działają przeciwzapalnie, przeciwbólowo, przeciwwysiekowo, napotnie, przeciwgorączkowo i przez to przeciwreumatycznie i przeciwartretycznie. Łagodzą objawy przeziębiania i grypy. Poprawiają krążenie krwi, zwiększają diurezę, przyspieszają wydalanie toksycznych i zbędnych metabolitów (w tym kwasu moczowego).
Henryk Różański
Modern products containing willow bark extract are commercially available, sometimes standardized for salicin content.
„Modern products containing willow bark extract are commercially available, sometimes standardized for salicin content. Traditional herbal medicine and earlier medical practice used water-based and hydroalcoholic extracts of willow bark. Powdered bark is not very effective because it is poorly extracted in the digestive tract.”W handlu znajdują się nowoczesne preparaty zawierające wyciąg z kory wierzby, niekiedy standaryzowany na zawartość salicyny. W tradycyjnym ziołolecznictwie i dawnej medycynie stosowano wodne i alkoholowo-wodne wyciągi z kory wierzby. Sproszkowana kora działa mało efektywnie, ponieważ jest słabo ekstrahowana w przewodzie pokarmowym.
Henryk Różański
Traditional herbal medicine used water-based and hydroalcoholic extracts of the bark, while powdered bark had little effect.
„Traditional herbal medicine and earlier medical practice used water-based and hydroalcoholic extracts of willow bark. Powdered bark is not very effective because it is poorly extracted in the digestive tract. The most valuable forms are liquid, thick, and dry extracts, as well as a decoction of willow bark.”W tradycyjnym ziołolecznictwie i dawnej medycynie stosowano wodne i alkoholowo-wodne wyciągi z kory wierzby. Sproszkowana kora działa mało efektywnie, ponieważ jest słabo ekstrahowana w przewodzie pokarmowym. Najwartościowsze są ekstrakty płynne, gęste, suche oraz odwar z kory wierzby.
Henryk Różański
Natural salicin does not irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum in the same way as synthetic salicylates.
„Unlike synthetic salicylates, natural salicin does not irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum.
Crack willow—Salix fragilis L.—is common in Poland, as are white willow—Salix alba L., goat willow—Salix caprea L., grey willow—Salix cinerea L., and eared willow—Salix aurita L.”Salicyna naturalna, w przeciwieństwie do syntetycznych salicylanów, nie drażni błony śluzowej żołądka i dwunastnicy.
Wierzba krucha – Salix fragilis L. jest popolita w Polsce, podobnie jak wierzba biała – Salix alba L., wierzba iwa Salix cuprea L., wierzba szara – Salix cinerea L., wierzba uszata – Salix aurita L.
Henryk Różański
In an old account, willow bark taken internally was said to help with conditions including rheumatism.
„I will also give a description of willow’s medicinal properties by Dr. Czarnowski, which gives a good picture of the medicinal use of willow in early 20th-century medicine: “A decoction or powder of the bark taken internally for whooping cough, mucus-filled and pus-filled catarrh, malaria, mucus congestion in the stomach and intestines, acute or chronic rheumatism, digestive disorders caused by overwork, bloody diarrhea, scrofula, swollen glands, and an enlarged spleen; externally, for invigorating baths, compresses, mouthwash and gargles, and also for washing the head to treat dandruff.””Podam jeszcze opis właściwości leczniczych wierzby wg dra Czarnowskiego, który dobrze odzwierciedla zastosowanie lecznicze wierzby w dawnej medycynie, z początku XX wieku: „Użytek z kory odważonej lub sproszkowanej wewnętrznie przeciw krztuścowi, śluzowato ropnym katarom, zimnicy, zaflegmieniom żołądka i kiszek, ostremu lub przewłocznemu (przewlekłemu, przyp.) gośćcowi, zaburzeniom w trawieniu skutkiem nadmiernej pracy, krwawej biegunce, zołzom, gruczołom, obrzękowi śledziony; zewnętrznie do krzepiących kąpieli, okładów, wody do ust i płukania gardła, a również do mycia głowy od łupieżu.
Henryk Różański
Pharmacopoeias list willow bark from the branches of several species and require at least 1.5% salicylate derivatives, calculated as salicin.
„Under the requirements of both pharmacopoeias, the bark must contain at least 1.5% total salicylate derivatives, calculated as salicin.
Willow flowers (catkins, Amentum Salicis) and leaves are materials used in folk medicine. It is worth adding, however, that the Paris Pharmacopoeia—Pharmacopoea Parisiensis, from 1758...”Zgodnie z wymogami obu farmakopei kora powinna zawierać nie mniej niż 1,5% sumy pochodnych salicylowych w przeliczeniu na salicynę.
Kwiat (bazie, Amentum Salicis) i liście wierzby to surowce stosowane w medycynie ludowej. Warto jednak dodać, że Farmakopea Paryska – Pharmacopoea Parisiensis z 1758 r.
Henryk Różański
White or purple willow bark is listed as an official medicinal material.
„The official medicinal material is obtained from white willow, Salix alba L., or purple willow, Salix purpurea L., from the family Salicaceae. The material is the bark—Salicis Cortex—and, less often, the branches or leaves alone—Turiones et Folium Salicis. I personally recommend young willow branches with young leaves, as these are richest in active ingredients.”Oficjalnie surowiec pozyskiwany jest z wierzby białej Salix alba L. lub wierzby purpurowej Salix purpura L., z rodziny Salicaceae. Surowcem jest kora – Salicis Cortex, rzadziej gałązki lub same liście – Turiones et Folium Salicis. Osobiście polecam młode gałązki wierzby wraz z młodymi liśćmi, bowiem te są najbardziej zasobne w składniki czynne.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 3 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 41.
A review indicates that a small number of clinical studies support the use of willow bark extract for chronic lower back pain, joint pain, and osteoarthritis.
Aim of the study: Willow bark extract has been used for thousands of years as an anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic. In spite of its long history of use, relatively few human and animal studies have been published that confirm anecdotal observations.
Results: In recent years, various in vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory activity of willow bark extract is associated with downregulation of the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-kappa B. Although willow bark extracts are generally standardized to salicin, other ingredients in the extracts, including other salicylates as well as polyphenols and flavonoids, may also play prominent roles in their therapeutic effects. Adverse effects appear to be minimal compared with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin. The primary cause for concern may be allergic reactions in salicylate-sensitive individuals.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studydiscussion of other studies
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A review describes the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects of willow bark, which may result from a combination of its ingredients rather than salicin alone.
Aim of the study: Many believe that willow is the natural source of aspirin. However, willow species contain only a low quantity of the prodrug salicin, which is metabolized during absorption into various salicylate derivatives.
Results: The multi-component active principle of willow bark provides a broader mechanism of action than aspirin and is devoid of serious adverse events. In contrast to synthetic aspirin, willow bark does not damage the gastrointestinal mucosa. An extract dose with 240 mg salicin had no major impact on blood clotting. In patients with known aspirin allergy, willow bark products are contraindicated.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studyother
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In a laboratory study, willow bark extract showed anti-inflammatory activity in activated immune cells.
Aim of the study: Willow bark extract is frequently used in the treatment of painful rheumatological diseases, such as arthritis and back pain. Its effect has been attributed to its main component, salicin, but pharmacological studies have shown that the clinical efficacy of willow bark extract cannot be explained by its salicin content alone. Therefore, different modes of action have been suggested for the anti-inflammatory effect of willow bark extract.
Results: STW 33-I and the water-soluble Fr E showed concentration-dependent and significant anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide-activated monocytes. Both inhibited the intracellular protein expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), as well as the mRNA expression of TNFα and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and the release of nitric oxide (NO). In addition, apoptosis of pro-inflammatorily activated monocytes was induced. Furthermore, treatment of activated macrophages with STW 33-I inhibited the nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of the nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB p65). The present in vitro investigations suggest significant anti-inflammatory activity of willow bark water extract STW 33-I and its water-soluble fraction, through the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα), COX-2, and nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-κB in pro-inflammatorily activated monocytes.
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studylaboratory study (on cells)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
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