Willow Bark Against Pain, Fever, And Inflammation

Willow bark is one of mankind’s oldest remedies and has been used for thousands of years against a wide variety of ailments. Modern scientific studies have now confirmed that willow bark has a pain-relieving effect, e.g. B. for chronic back pain or headaches. The willow bark also provides relief for arthrosis and inflammatory rheumatic diseases. While willow bark is the mother of aspirin, it’s clearly a better alternative as it doesn’t come with any dangerous side effects.

The Willow: Magic tree with healing powers

Trees have always had a special attraction for us humans – be it because of their delicious fruits, their often imposing appearance, or their healing properties. Thousands of years ago, the willow (Salix) was considered a magical tree and a symbol of eternity because it has the ability to constantly renew itself. Even a broken branch can grow back into a tree simply by sticking it in moist soil. Her name also indicates this enormous adaptability: the Old High German word “wîda” means something like “the flexible one”.

Whether in the temperate zone of Central Europe, in the tropics of Latin America or in the far north of the Arctic: the adaptability of the willow is also reflected in the fact that it can be found all over the world. There are around 450 willow species worldwide. Some are dwarf shrubs three centimeters small, others are giant trees up to 30 meters high – they have all managed to integrate perfectly into their respective habitats.

In Europe, three species of willow, in particular, have made a name for themselves as medicinal plants: willow (Salix daphnoides), white willow (Salix alba), and purple willow (Salix purpurea). The leaves and flowers, but primarily the dried bark of 2- to 3-year-old twigs, are used in the form of teas and extracts.

Willow bark (Salicis cortex) is one of the rare remedies that combine three healing properties: It has been proven to reduce fever, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Willow Bark: An ancient remedy

The healing properties of willow bark were discovered as early as the Stone Age – valuable knowledge that has been passed down through generations to the present day. The oldest sources come from ancient Egypt. Hieroglyphs on clay tablets tell of willow bark recipes for inflammation, painful wounds, and swelling.

Hippocrates of Kos, the most popular physician of antiquity, prescribed willow bark infusions for joint inflammation or fever, while the healer Pedanios Dioscurides recommended willow bark tincture for ear and eye ailments. The Germans and Celts boiled willow twigs and made poultices to treat aching limbs or poorly healing wounds.

In the Middle Ages, it was the itinerant doctors, midwives, shepherds, basket weavers, and herbalists who were very familiar with the use of willow bark. The abbess Hildegard von Bingen put them z. B. for bleeding, fever, gout, rheumatism, and urinary disorders.

Willow bark: The doctrine of signatures

Since humans are by nature very inquisitive beings, they tried to find out early on what the healing effects of plants are based on. Even in the ancient world, scholars were no longer satisfied with mystical and religious attempts at explanation. The doctrine of signatures came about.

The motto was “Ubi Morbus ibi remedium” (where the disease originates, the right remedy can also be found). Since fever was associated with swampy, wet locations and the willow feels particularly good when it is “knee-deep” in water, it was considered the ideal medicinal plant for feverish illnesses. In addition, the effectiveness in stiff joints and limbs (e.g. rheumatism) was analogously attributed to the flexibility of their branches.

In the meantime, theories like these are no longer taken seriously. It is all the more astonishing that not a few areas of application of the doctrine of signatures are repeatedly confirmed by modern scientific studies.

Willow Bark: The mother of aspirin

In traditional folk medicine, willow bark was very often used up until the 18th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, chemists finally succeeded in discovering and isolating the main active ingredient in willow bark – the phenol glucoside salicin.

However, it quickly became clear that the substance, painstakingly extracted from willow bark, was not particularly promising as a remedy. On the one hand, it led to severe nausea and stomach problems. On the other hand, a shortage of raw materials soon became apparent. At that time, willow branches were urgently needed to produce wicker goods (e.g. baskets).

As a result, various attempts were started to obtain a corresponding active ingredient synthetically at a low cost. Finally, it was possible to produce salicylic acid from carbon dioxide and sodium phenolate. This is the very first industrially produced and packaged drug in the world. But unlike salicylic acid, which is naturally converted from salicin in the body, the synthetic variant led to intolerable side effects such as stomach damage and bleeding.

In 1897, the chemist Felix Hoffmann synthesized the now well-known acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) from salicylic acid in a laboratory of the Bayer company. This apparently had fewer side effects, was roughly equivalent to willow bark in terms of effect, and soon conquered the world under the brand name Aspirin.

ASS claims many victims worldwide

ASA is not quite as problematic as salicylic acid. However, over time, more and more studies have shown that ASA is not quite as harmless as it was made out to be. For example, the Medicines Commission of the German medical profession points out that ASA – if taken regularly – can lead to irritation of the mucous membranes, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, and stomach ulcers.

It seems particularly fatal that many healthy people take aspirin every day to protect themselves against heart attacks and strokes. Taking it increases the risk of internal bleeding by 30 percent. Numerous doctors are now criticizing the fact that ASA products are available in pharmacies without a prescription.

Because this inevitably gives the feeling that taking it – even in the long run – is completely harmless. Whether against headaches, toothaches, or a flu-like effect: in Germany alone, 40 million packs of aspirin are sold every year – and the trend is rising. For the pharmaceutical company, this means annual sales of around 800 million euros, but death for many patients.

As early as 1999, a study at the Boston University School of Medicine found that in the USA the number of deaths in connection with aspirin and similar painkillers was 16,500. Ten years later, Swedish researchers from Lidköping Hospital, involving more than 58,000 subjects, have shown that aspirin increases the risk of serious bleeding by almost 50 percent in diabetics with no signs of cardiovascular disease and, as a result, also dramatically increases the risk of death.

Willow bark: Hardly any side effects and therefore better tolerated than ASA

In contrast to ASA, willow bark has a very low rate of side effects. For example, willow bark extracts do not affect blood clotting. They do not have a blood-thinning effect – like ASA – and can therefore also be used to treat pain before and after operations. This is due to the fact that the natural salicin of the willow bark has no anti-aggregation and thus anti-coagulant properties.

A study at the Rambam Medical Center in Israel has shown that even the daily use of willow bark extract (240 milligrams of salicin) does not result in an increased tendency to bleed.

Willow bark preparations used in studies were generally well tolerated, only 5 to 10 percent of cases had slight side effects, which were also observed in the placebo group. Hypersensitivity to salicylates can cause hives, asthma, runny nose, and bronchospasm (spasms of the muscles that line the airways) – but these affect only two in 1,000 Europeans.

In addition, a connection between willow bark extracts and gastrointestinal complaints has occasionally been found. However, it is not the salicin that is responsible for this, but the tannins contained in the bark. But unlike ASA, the gastrointestinal mucosa is not attacked by willow bark applications, as a study at the University of Freiburg has shown.

Salicin: An active ingredient alone is not enough

Another essential difference between ASA and willow bark is, of course, that willow bark does not contain a single but numerous active ingredients that influence each other and only together make up the special potential of the remedy.

In addition to salicin, willow bark contains derivatives of salicin such as salicortin, tremulacin, and populin, the composition of which varies depending on the parent plant. In order for the desired effect of the willow bark to be achieved, the salicin content must be at least 1.5 percent. High levels show e.g. B. the purple willow (6 to 8.5 percent) and the ripe willow (5 to 5.6 percent).

In addition, there are a lot of secondary plant substances in the willow bark. These include in particular polyphenols, including flavonoids such as isoquercitrin, kaempferol, and quercetin, which u. antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. The tannins (procyanidins) not only give the willow bark its bitter taste but also have an antimicrobial effect, as they remove the breeding ground for bacteria (e.g. on the mucous membrane).

For a long time, it was assumed that the healing properties of willow bark were based exclusively on the active ingredient salicin. But then, based on some studies – e.g. B. at the University of Tübingen – that salicin alone is not responsible for the effects of willow bark and only “works” in combination with the other ingredients.

Willow bark has a pain-relieving effect on arthrosis

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease worldwide – around five million people are affected in Germany alone. Joint wear is accompanied by increasing difficulty in moving the affected joint. The recurring inflammations lead to pain, overheating, redness and swelling.

German researchers have investigated whether willow bark extract could be helpful in treating osteoarthritis. The 2-week, double-blind study involved 78 subjects who were divided into two groups. 39 patients received a willow bark extract (240 mg salicin per day), 39 a placebo.

In the willow bark group, the restriction of movement was improved and the pain was reduced by 14 percent. In the placebo group, however, the pain increased by 2 percent. The scientists and study participants alike came to the conclusion that willow bark extract has an analgesic effect on osteoarthritis.

Willow bark helps with knee and hip arthrosis better than medication

In another German study at the Ruhr University, the tolerability and the effect of willow bark extract in relation to knee and hip arthrosis in comparison to conventional medication (e.g. synthetic painkillers) were closely examined.

90 patients were treated with willow bark extract and 41 patients received the standard therapy prescribed by the respective doctor. 8 subjects underwent a combined treatment. After 3 and 6 weeks, the effect and tolerability were checked by the attending physicians. Patients reported how they felt about pain, stiffness, and general health.

Both the patients and the doctors initially judged the effectiveness of the willow bark and the standard treatment to be comparable. However, after 6 weeks, the willow bark therapy was judged to be better than the conventional treatment. Although the willow bark extract worked less quickly, it was well tolerated by the patients because there were no side effects.

The researchers came to the conclusion that willow bark extract is suitable for both mild and severe knee and hip arthrosis and is just as effective as conventional medical therapies.

Willow bark is a better alternative, especially for those patients who are constantly dependent on painkillers due to their severe ailments. Because this damage the organs, in the long run, e.g. B. the liver, the stomach, the kidneys, and the heart, and overdoses can even lead to death, which we have already reported for you here: Painkillers damage the heart.

Willow bark relieves rheumatic pains

At the Institute for Naturopathy, University Hospital Zurich, it was examined how well a willow bark extract (Assalix) works and whether it can be associated with side effects.

A total of 204 attending physicians and 877 patients with various types of rheumatic pain took part in the six to eight-week study. A follow-up check was carried out after 3 to 4 weeks. During the course of the study, the pain intensity, the severity of the symptoms, how severely they affected everyday life, the effectiveness of the extract, and its tolerability were observed.

In 68 percent of the cases, the subjects had been suffering from the respective symptoms for more than 6 months and more than 80 percent had already been treated with conventional medication beforehand. Around 40 percent of the patients received anti-inflammatory drugs at the same time as the willow bark extract.

The pain intensity could now be more than halved with the help of the willow bark extract, and 14 percent of the study participants even experienced complete freedom from pain. Thirty-eight patients (4.3 percent) – particularly those who were also taking anti-inflammatory drugs – experienced side effects that primarily affected the digestive system and skin.

The researchers came to the conclusion that the willow bark extract tested was well tolerated and had good efficacy in dorsopathy, soft tissue rheumatism, inflammatory polyarthropathies (joint disease of several joints), and arthrosis. The term dorsopathy defines a group of very different diseases that can affect the bones and joints, the connective tissue, and the muscles and nerves of the back.

Willow bark in folk medicine

Willow bark has been used successfully in traditional folk medicine for thousands of years. The most important areas of application at a glance:

• Fever
• Pain in degenerative joint diseases (arthrosis)
• Inflammation (e.g. in rheumatic diseases)
• Chronic back pain
• headache

There are different ways to prepare or consume dried or powdered willow bark. The average daily dose is around 5 grams of willow bark, which corresponds to around 45 milligrams of total salicin. In many cases, of course, a higher dosage is necessary.

The following information corresponds to current recommendations and only represents a guideline. Let your naturopath advise you on the ideal dosage and duration of treatment in your individual case.

Willow bark cold water extract:

The willow bark can be used as a cold water extract for fever, inflammation, and headaches. Pour 2 cups (300 milliliters) of cold water over 2 teaspoons (about 7 grams) of willow bark and leave the mixture to steep overnight (8 to 9 hours). The next morning you can filter off the bark and drink the extract twice a day throughout the day.

Willow Bark Tea:

Willow bark tea has proven itself in the treatment of feverish colds, headaches, joint diseases, and rheumatic complaints. The preparation is always the same. Dosing is as follows (if using in children, please ask your alternative practitioner or pediatrician):

• Colds and joint problems: 12 grams of willow bark
• Headache: 8 to 15 grams of willow bark

Add 1 teaspoon (about 3.5 grams) of finely chopped willow bark to 250 milliliters of cold water. Slowly heat the mixture to the boiling point, then strain through a fine sieve. Another way to prepare it is to infuse 1 teaspoon of willow bark with 1 cup of boiling water, let the tea steep for 20 minutes, and then remove the bark.

Drink 2 to 3 cups of willow bark tea throughout the day.

In addition, it can be useful to combine willow bark with other medicinal plants to increase the scope of action – e.g. B. with a cold with linden and elderflowers or with rheumatic complaints with devil’s claw root and birch leaves.

Willow Bark Powder:

Willow bark powder is used in particular for fever and rheumatic diseases. The preparation is the same as when infusing tea, but here too the area of application determines the dose:

• Fever: 1 to 2 grams per day
• Rheumatic complaints: 8 to 10 grams per day

Willow bark extracts/prepared medicinal products:

Like dried and powdered willow bark, willow bark extracts are available in pharmacies and drugstores and can be taken in the form of drops, tablets, capsules, or dragees. Since the active ingredients are not completely transferred into the tea when the tea is prepared and because it tastes quite bitter, standardized ready-made preparations are often recommended. The correct application can be found in the respective package insert.

What should be considered when using willow bark internally?

Many people use the willow bark for a few days for acute pain, then classify it as ineffective and therefore refrain from further applications. This is because the conversion of salicin in the body is slow and therefore does not take effect as quickly as with synthetic painkillers.

Since it can take about 14 days for the willow bark to develop its full effect, it is not suitable for the treatment of acute pain, but it is a recommended remedy for chronic pain. In addition, the effect lasts longer than with conventional painkillers and – as already explained – does not damage the body in comparison.

If you are hypersensitive to ASA, suffer from asthma, gastrointestinal ulcers, or impaired kidney or liver function, you should only take willow bark preparations after consulting your doctor or naturopath. As with many other herbal remedies, the same applies to pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under the age of 12.

Willow bark is good for skin and hair

In addition, willow bark is also used externally in traditional folk medicine to do something good for the skin and hair. The areas of application include e.g. B.

• shed
• psoriasis
• acne
• cornea
• corns

Externally, salicin has a keratolytic (horn-dissolving or scaling) effect, so it helps to remove the dead cells from the horny layer and to dissolve the cornea. This property of the willow bark can be used by people with different skin problems.

Salicin also inhibits the production of fat and counteracts inflammation of the skin, so it has a positive influence on the mechanisms that cause pimples and acne to develop. This is where there is increased sebum production and inflammation of the hair follicles.

American researchers have also shown that salicin activates the very genes that are associated with the youthful appearance of the skin, while those genes that cause the skin to age are suppressed. The study revealed that salicin is able to positively influence the structure, moisture, pigmentation, and differentiation of the skin.

If tea is used for external treatment, you need about 3 grams of willow bark per 100 milliliters of water. Usually, however, a willow bark tincture (alcoholic liquid extract) is used.

Make your own willow bark tincture

Tinctures have a great advantage that they contain both water- and fat-soluble ingredients. Because alcohol removes both, while in tea only the water-soluble substances and in oil only the fat-soluble substances go over.

You can buy your willow bark tincture, but you can also make it yourself:

Ingredients:

• 1 part dried and crushed willow bark
• 4 parts potable, hard alcohol (about 60 percent)

Preparation:

• Place the willow bark in a screw-top jar of the appropriate size.
• Fill the glass all the way up with alcohol.
• Leave the mixture tightly closed in a dark place at room temperature for 3 weeks.
• Shake the jar once a day so that the active ingredients dissolve better.
• Filter the willow bark tincture through a coffee filter and pour it into dark vials.
• Don’t forget to label the vials (contents and date) and store them in a dark place.
• Tinctures can be kept for years.

Apply willow bark tincture

Willow bark tincture should be used externally several times a day. If it is used for rubbing (e.g. for joint problems) or as a pad, it should not contain more than 25 percent alcohol and should be diluted with water before use. If the affected skin area is only dabbed with a cotton ball, pure tincture can be used.

If your skin is very sensitive, it is advisable to cover the neighboring skin areas well with a fatty ointment. Since alcohol dries out the skin, it should always be washed after use – e.g. B. with marigold cream – to be cared for.

In addition, willow bark tincture can also be taken orally, pure, or diluted with a little water. When treating pain, 20-30 drops 3 times a day are recommended.