10 White Willow Bark Remedies that Work Better than Aspirin

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Many people find that when they have a headache or body ache, they immediately reach for the bottle of aspirin in their medicine cabinet. This popular over the counter drug has been one of the most popular pharmaceuticals for more than 100 years, but before this became a commercial drug, its natural equivalent was used for thousands of years. White willow bark is called “nature’s aspirin.”

You can actually chew bits of white willow bark for pain relief; however, there are more modern ways to consume this healing agent, such as tinctures, powders, and teas. A typical dose of white willow bark is 240mgs each day, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

However, like commercially made aspirin, overconsumption of white willow bark can bring its own set of side effects and problems. Overconsumption can lead to painful gastric ulcers. The presence of gastric ulcers has been associated with a higher risk of digestive cancers. Overconsumption of white willow bark can also cause Reye’s syndrome in children, which causes swelling of the brain, liver damage, and even death.

Consumed in moderation, white willow bark is an excellent alternative to commercially produced aspirin and can eliminate the side effects of those aspirin tablets.

If you have used white willow bark for its analgesic compounds, you might be surprised to know that this bark can be used for a multitude of health complaints and is safer to use than regular aspirin. Studies show that white willow bark has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antipyretic, and immune boosting compounds,.

Because it can be such a powerful healing compound, many countries in the European Union have approved the sale of white willow bark for treating rheumatic symptoms and other types of pain conditions.

Let’s take a look at the 10 natural remedies where white willow bark excels!

1. Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

A study that was performed in Germany showed that when subjects who suffer from osteoarthritis took white willow bark extract for two weeks (240mg daily) they had as much as 14 percent reduced levels of pain. This study, and others, shows that white willow bark is an effective remedy in fighting the pain of osteoarthritis and rheumatic disorders.

2. Stops Acne

You can actually find white willow bark extract as an active ingredient in many cosmetic and personal care products due to its salicylic acid, a natural exfoliator used in many over the counter acne treatments, as it can help the skin shed dead cells and clears clogged pores. This bark also has phenolic acids such as tannins, flavonoids, salicortin, salicin, and minerals, which help the skin to rejuvenate itself.

The journal Clinical Therapeutics found that those with mild to moderate acne can be helped with a nonprescription form of salicylic acid, the active ingredient in white willow bark. Salicylic acid has been shown in studies to be superior to benzoyl peroxide when it comes to reducing acne. The salicin in white willow bark turns to salicylic acid when processed by the body.

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