Educational information, not medical advice — ask your doctor or midwife.
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White willow is the dried bark of the white willow tree, Salix alba. It is sold as a herbal remedy for pain, fever and stiff joints. Its main compound, salicin, is a natural cousin of aspirin.
American folk healers and 19th-century Eclectic doctors used the bark for fevers, headaches and aching joints. Similar use goes back thousands of years in Europe and the Middle East. Long use does not prove that a remedy works, and it does not prove that it is safe.
The short verdict on evidence: a few small human trials suggest modest, short-term relief of low back pain. Support for other uses is thin. Because it acts like aspirin, many people should not take it at all.
Willow bark works mainly through salicin, an aspirin-like plant compound.
In people, the gut and liver turn salicin into salicylic acid. That is the same active form aspirin becomes. This step is well documented in human studies.
In laboratory work, salicylic acid blocks COX enzymes (proteins that make pain and swelling signals). This is the usual explanation for pain relief. How much of it happens after a dose of bark extract is not fully mapped.
The bark also holds polyphenols and tannins (bitter plant compounds). In cell and animal studies these appear to calm inflammation. Whether they add anything in people is unknown.
One likely difference from aspirin: willow bark seems to have a weaker effect on platelets (blood cells that help clots form). This has been seen in small studies. It does not remove the bleeding risk.
Most research used capsules or tablets of bark extract set to a fixed salicin amount.
Common forms on sale: - dried cut bark for tea or a simmered decoction - powdered bark in capsules - standardised dry extract tablets, labelled by salicin content - liquid tinctures made with alcohol - blended joint or back formulas that mix willow with other herbs
Bark tea is weak and very bitter. The amount of salicin in a cup is hard to judge. Tincture strength varies with the maker.
Standardised extracts are the most consistent choice. Their labels state salicin per dose. Blended products often hide how much willow bark you actually get.
Willow bark was used as a pain and fever remedy for thousands of years.
Writings from ancient Greece and Egypt described willow for aches and fevers. European village medicine used bark teas in much the same way.
In 19th-century America, Eclectic doctors listed willow bark as a bitter tonic and fever remedy. It also appeared in home medical guides of that era.
Chemists isolated salicin from willow in 1828. That work led to salicylic acid, and then to aspirin in 1899. Aspirin soon replaced the bark in regular medical practice.
Stop taking it and get emergency care if you have: - black, tarry stools, or blood in your stools - vomit with blood or dark grains like coffee grounds - swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or trouble breathing - a sudden widespread rash
Stop and call your doctor if you notice: - ringing in your ears or hearing changes - stomach pain, heartburn that will not settle, or nausea - easy bruising, nosebleeds or cuts that keep bleeding - less urine than usual, or swollen ankles
Also see a doctor if your pain has not eased after one to two weeks. See one sooner if a fever lasts more than three days, or if back pain comes with numbness, weakness or loss of bladder control.
In the United States, willow bark is sold as a dietary supplement, not as an approved drug. In the UK and EU, some products are registered as traditional herbal medicines, and Germany's Commission E listed the bark for pain and fever.
Evidence grades and traditional-use labels are explained in our methodology. Nothing here is medical advice.
What it is typically used for, usual dose, cautions, and the study behind it where real trial data exists.
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