What Are the Benefits of Willow Bark?

While there is little in the way of true research to support the variety of health claims made for willow bark, the long history of use traces back to 500 B.C when ancient Chinese healers began using it for pain relief. According to the website age-oldherbs.com, willow bark contains salicin, which is a natural form of aspirin, and has traditionally been used to relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, aches, pains, gout, fever and more.

Anti-inflammatory

• Willow bark is an option for those looking for an alternate to aspirin for relief from pain and swelling. The plant (commonly known as a "weeping willow" tree) contains an analgesic compound known as salicin in it's bark. Salicylic acid and acetylsalicylic acid were eventually derived from salicin, and the latter is included as a primary ingredient in aspirin. The natural version available in willow bark might not be quite as effective as aspirin but it also can come without the upset stomach caused by aspirin in some people.

Heart Care

• As a blood thinner, a low dose of aspirin is commonly prescribed by traditional doctors for heart attack and stroke prevention. The blood thinning action can help stop blood clots before they form. In the same manner, herbalists have long recommended drinking willow bark tea to achieve the same effect, though without the increased chance of stomach bleeding and ulcers that aspirin can bring. Aspirin does work faster, but given the chance to build up in your system, willow bark could be beneficial.

Skin Care

• Skin conditioning products make use of willow bark extract in their preparations, especially salicylic acid, which helps slough off old skin and stimulate the growth of new cells. As an extract of willow bark, Salix alba is the term of the actual extract from the willow plant used in products like Problem Skin Face Mask from Dermaxime, a company specializing in biological-based cosmetic products.

Other Benefits

• Like most herbal healing, actual claims of health benefits cannot always be substantiated by documented modern research. In most cases, detailed studies simply have not been conducted. Most claim of benefit is of the anecdotal kind, though western medicine is beginning to acknowledge more and more the possible healing effects of ancient Chinese recommendations. Towards that end, Chinese healers have also suggested willow bark be used for other conditions than the ones mentioned here, primarily uterine cramping, stomach and colon cancer and to reduce blood sugar.