White willow, for pain and fever

The white willow (Salix alba L) is a tree of the Salicaceae family, native to Europe, northern Asia and Africa. It grows in humid places, close to rivers, streams and other water sources. It has long been used to relieve pain and inflammation and to lower fever. In the East it is a symbol of immortality and resurrection, and it is considered a symbol of eternal life.

Plant

It is an evergreen tree that can reach up to 25 m in height. The trunk is erect with dark gray bark covered with large furrows. The crown is narrow, and branches into a large number of narrow branches that are soft to the touch when young. The leaves are elongated, about 10 cm long, serrated, covered with hairs, silver-gray in color, they shine when they reflect the light they receive.

Have flowers in catkins (racemes) As spikes articulated at the base, male and female, the male ones reach up to 8 cm long and are yellow in color and the female ones up to 6 cm long are green at the beginning that is lightening to white when filling with seeds; appear on the tree at the same time as the leaves.

The part used as medicinal is the bark of the tree.

Your name

Some authors argue that the Latin name Salix It seems that it was formed from the Celtic words "sal" which means near and from "lis" which means water, suggesting the relationship that exists between the tree and its natural habitat always close to water.

A little history

In Assyria, Sumeria and Egypt, it was used as a remedy against pain and fever and was already mentioned by Hippocrates (5th century BC) who described its medicinal properties. Native Americans used it for the same purposes.

In 1763, the English physician Edward Stone presented a report to the Royal Society of English Medicine on the therapeutic properties of the white willow bark (Salix alba), highlighting its antipyretic effect (to reduce fever) after having administered it successfully in 50 patients suffering from feverish states.

From willow to aspirin

At the beginning of the 19th century, a French pharmacist named Henry Leroux first isolated salicin in crystalline form in an extract of willow bark, and the Italian chemist Raffaele Piria separated salicylic acid. Salicin was also found in other plants such as Spiraea ulmaria. Although salicin and isolated salicylic acid had a stronger effect, they were highly irritating to the digestive system.

As early as 1897 Felix Hoffman, commissioned by Arthur Eichengrün, director of the Bayer Company research group, achieved the acetylation of salicylic acid and the synthesis of. Felix Hoffmann's father suffered from chronic rheumatism treated with salicylic acid and it seems that this fact stimulated Hoffmann to successfully solve his investigation. The name of aspirin comes from the word "Spiraea", which designates the family of plants to which the aforementioned Spiraea ulmaria belongs and hence the syllable "spir". The letter "A" indicates the acetylation process that salicylic acid undergoes to become acetylsalicylic acid.

Current uses

The uses referred to in the willow bark monographs are the symptomatic treatment of febrile states, mild and mild pain including headache and menstrual pain.

How to take it?

Official monographs recommend using, for adults:

• Daily dose of aqueous or dry extracts, tinctures or fluid extracts, equivalent to 60-120 (up to 240) mg of total salicin.
• herbal tea: 1 to 2 g of crushed bark in decoction up to 3 times a day.

It is prepared by cooking 1 to 3 grams per 150 ml of water, for 15 minutes. It can also be prepared with 20 g of crushed bark per 1 liter of water and distribute the resulting liquid in 3 doses a day. In this case, it should not be allowed to boil when it is heated to take in successive doses.

Contraindications, adverse effects and recommendations

Willow preparations are contraindicated in those who have an allergy to aspirin or salicylates.

Its use is not recommended in children when they have viral illnesses (colds, flu, chickenpox, etc. due to the possibility that they may develop Reye's syndrome)

The side effects described are mild and refer to mild gastrointestinal disorders.

«Informative note: the contents included in this section offer information related to existing therapies explained by specialists with experience in the field with an informative objective. MAPFRE does not intend under any circumstances to position itself on its suitability or expressly promote its use. "

• From the extract of the willow bark it was possible to arrive at aspirin.
• It is used for the symptomatic treatment of feverish states, mild rheumatic conditions and mild pain including headache and menstrual pain.
• It can be taken in extract, tincture or herbal tea.