Botanical: Salix babylonica
Family: Salicaceae (willow/osier)
Other common names: European Willow, White Willow Bark, Common Willow

Headache? Back Pain? Toothache? Try Willow Bark for effective pain relief!  Ingredients in Willow Bark contain compounds from which aspirin was derived, and this natural painkiller contains the beneficial effects of aspirin without the side effects typically associated with synthetic aspirin products.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History:
The Willow encompasses more than three hundred species. The White Willow is a low-growing deciduous tree that is native to Europe and northern Asia and naturalized in North America. It grows in damp, low places, especially along riverbanks, and thrives in moist-to-wet, heavy soil in sun, rising to a height of eighty feet. Willow branches were once regarded as a symbol of desolation and grief and were displayed by those who experienced "lost love," but it has more often been called one of nature's greatest gifts to man because of its natural painkilling effects. In the first century A.D., the Greek physician, Dioscorides, appears to have been the first to note the use of Willow Bark to ease pain and reduce fevers, and he even specifically prescribed a mixture with the bark to treat lower back pain. During the Middle Ages, Willow Bark continued to be used in Europe to reduce fevers and relieve pain. The plant contains salicylic acid, which was first synthesized in 1838, and provides the basis of aspirin; and in 1899, the Bayer Company of Germany introduced a drug composed of a synthetic chemical compound, similar to the active compound in Willow Bark, the "aspirin." Native Americans knew of the benefits of Willow Bark when they used it as a painkiller, a cure for fever, and to induce sweating. Some tribes used Black Willow Bark to quell sexual desire and also made good use of the stems for basket-weaving. The stems are still used to create baskets and in the manufacturing of wicker furniture and artists' charcoal pencils. Over the centuries, Willow Bark's growing list of medicinal applications has risen to include remedies for insomnia, colds, rheumatism, and dysentery. Some of the constituents included in Willow Bark are apigenin, beta-carotene, catechin, lignin, rutin, salicin, salicylic acid, tannin, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, B-vitamins and vitamin C.

Beneficial Uses:
Willow Bark has been employed for thousands of years as a reliable painkiller. It is used to relieve the pain of headaches, migraines, backache, nerve pain, menstrual cramps, toothache, and the pain of minor injuries. The analgesic actions of Willow Bark may be slower-acting than synthetic aspirin, but the results last longer, as the painkilling compounds remain at stable levels in the bloodstream longer (usually for several hours) than synthetic aspirin products. Unlike aspirin products, Willow Bark has no affect on blood platelets and does not increase bleeding, nor will it irritate the lining of the stomach, common side effects of aspirin.

Willow Bark is a bitter, astringent, cooling herb that reduces fever, increases perspiration and cools the body. It is good for minor feverish illnesses, chills, colds, etc.

As an anti-inflammatory, Willow Bark has been used to relieve the painful inflammation and joint pain of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, neuralgia, osteoarthritis, osteroporitic and lower back pain, and the inflammatory stages of autoimmune diseases. It may also be an effective alternative for people who cannot tolerate non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Willow Bark is an antiseptic. The salicin in the herb is converted into salicylic acid and other related compounds by the liver and is excreted as such in the urine, which makes it helpful for treating kidney, urethra, bladder, and other urinary tract irritations. It has also been used as a remedy for diarrhea, dysentery and minor infections.

Used externally, its antiseptic properties extend to its help in treating cuts, burns, wounds, sores, sweaty feet, dandruff, and as a mouthwash to ease tonsillitis, sore mouth and sore gums.

Willow bark is high in tannin content, and it is believed to help with gastrointestinal disorders, such as sour stomach and heartburn.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Those who are allergic to aspirin should not use Willow Bark, and the herb should not be taken in combination with aspirin. It is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women without first consulting a health care provider. Children under the age of sixteen years of age with symptoms of flu, chicken pox, or other types of viral infection should not use Willow Bark, because, like aspirin, there may be a risk of developing Reye's syndrome. Chronic use may result in diminished sexual interest.

Capsule Size:
We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. (click here for size comparison)

• Willow Bark (sold as White Willow Bark) - Standardized Extract -- Approximately 600 mg. each.