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Salix alba, the white willow, is a species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] The name derives from the white tone to the undersides of the leaves. It is a medium to large deciduous tree growing up to 10–30 m tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter and an irregular, often-leaning crown.
Herbal uses of willow have continued into modern times. [46] In the early 20th century, Maud Grieve described using the bark and the powdered root of white willow (Salix alba) for its tonic, antiperiodic and astringent qualities and recommended its use in treating dyspepsia, worms, chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. [47]
Salicin is produced in (and named after) willow (Salix) bark. It is a biosynthetic precursor to salicylaldehyde. [4] Salicin hydrolyses into β-d-glucose and salicyl alcohol (saligenin). Salicyl alcohol can be oxidized into salicylaldehyde and salicylate, both biologically and industrially.
Bartram's 1998 Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine [7] is perhaps typical when it states, 'in 1838 chemists identified salicylic acid in the bark of White Willow. After many years, it was synthesised as acetylsalicylic acid, now known as aspirin.' It goes on to claim that willow extract has the same medical properties as aspirin, which is incorrect.
The bark of white willow contains salicin, which is a chemical similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). It is thought to be responsible for the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects of the herb. In 1829, salicin was used to develop aspirin. White willow appears to be slower than aspirin to bring pain relief, but the analgesia may last ...
White willow is a natural source of salicylic acid. Willow has long been used for medicinal purposes. Dioscorides , whose writings were highly influential for more than 1,500 years, [ 30 ] used "Itea" (which was possibly a species of willow) as a treatment for "painful intestinal obstructions", birth control, for "those who spit blood", to ...
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