White Willow Bark

Identity

Common Name

White Willow Bark

Scientific Name

Salix alba

Botanical Family

Salicaceae

Native Region

Europe and Asia

Cultivation Regions

Europe, Asia, temperate regions

Plant Parts Used

Bark (dried inner bark)

Synonyms

Salix, Willow Bark, European Willow

Caffeine Level

Caffeine Free

A deciduous tree with narrow lanceolate finely serrated silvery-green leaves and deeply furrowed gray-brown bark; the dried inner bark is used.

Historical Background

White willow bark has been a pain and fever remedy since ancient Egypt and Greece, its salicin-rich bark the natural blueprint for modern aspirin. Sipped as a decoction for centuries, it remains one of the best-evidenced herbal pain traditions, with a clear pharmacological basis.

Earliest recorded uses: Egyptian, Greek, and European traditions for millennia; the original source of salicin, the blueprint for aspirin.

Traditional Uses

These uses document historical traditions and do not imply proven effectiveness.

Flavor & Aroma

Aroma: Earthy, slightly bitter, woody, astringent

Tea Information

Research Summary

White willow bark has moderate evidence for low-back and joint pain, owing to salicin (a salicylate prodrug); it is not a substitute for medical pain care and carries salicylate-type risks. It is not a treatment for fever, headache, or any disease, though its pain tradition is among the best-supported in herbalism.

Evidence levels reflect the currently available scientific literature and may change as new research emerges. Where evidence is limited or conflicting, this is stated plainly.

References & Sources