White Willow (salix)

White willow bark has been used for centuries for natural pain and inflammation relief, as well as in the prevention of malaria. White willow contains a compound called salicylic acid. You may have heard this compound called by another name - aspirin! Scientists caught on to the powerful pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties of white willow and began to isolate and replicate this compound in a lab, creating what we know today as aspirin. Willow also contains a compound called salicin. Salicin contains an anti-malarial agent and has historically been used to cure malaria. 

Taking white willow extract, tea, or chewing on its branches will give you the benefits of salicylic acid without the side-effects of aspirin or NSAIDS. You can take it daily and it won’t harm your liver or stomach. It’s even great as a preventative for those with inflammatory issues and diseases. 

Willows are water-loving trees, and can be found in swampy, wet, and marshy areas in all parts of North America. To harvest, snip and peel smaller branches and twigs for usage in teas and tinctures.

Uses: anti-inflammatory agent, natural aspirin-like pain reliever, prevents malaria

Cautions: Do not take alongside anticoagulants/anti-clotting medications, aspirin, or other non-steroidal pain killers. Those with allergies to aspirin may also react negatively to white willow.