White Willow Extract

White willow extract is a natural oil derived from a type of tree. As a medicinal remedy, natural medical practitioners have recommended white willow since 400 B.C. when Hippocrates recommended chewing the bark of the tree to relieve fevers and inflammation, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Function

• White willow extract contains a chemical similar to aspirin known as salicin, reports RxList.com. In your body, it prevents the production of chemicals called prostaglandins that cause inflammation.

Uses

• Reported uses of white willow extract include the treatment of headaches, low back pain, osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, fever, flu symptoms, tendonitis and bursitis, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Clinical Evidence

• A 2001 study at the Pharmazeutisches Institut at the Universität Tübingen in Germany, and published in the Phytotherapy Research journal found that patients with osteoarthritis who used white willow extract for two weeks experienced a reduction in pain and inflammation in their affected joints.

Risks

• Some patients develop gastrointestinal irritation or nausea from taking white willow extract. Infrequently, use of the herb results in severe allergic reactions, causing shortness of breath, chest pain, hives and swelling of the face or extremities, warns the Physicians Desktop Reference.

Considerations

• White willow extract is not safe for use in children under 16 or in pregnant or nursing women. If you have a history of aspirin allergies, asthma, ulcers, diabetes, gout, hemophilia or other blood disorders or kidney or liver disease, it may not be safe for you to take white willow extract, cautions RxList.com.