Salicin from Willow Bark.

  seminal trace...Willow Bark extract.Willow extract.White Willow Bark Extract. D-Salicin 15%20%98%.M.F.:C13 H18O7.CAS.NO:138-52-3.Salix alba Extract.Black Willow extract,Crack Willow extract.CAS No.084082-82-6.Salix alba Linn.,stem bark extract;Willow,Salix alba,ext...

   


 Botanical Data of white willow Bark:
 History and property of uses about wihte willow:
 Scientific Support:White Willow Bark and Salicin:How white willow works?
 Who need White Willow Bark and Salicin and what are symptoms of deficiency?
 White Willow Bark and Salicin:How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?
 Preparation of white willow bark:.
 Safety Factory and Toxicity.
 Uses of White Willow Bark:
 Suggestions and Administration:
 Research update of Salicin,white Willow Bark.:
 How Search engine think about White Willow and Salicin:

   Botanical Data of white willow Bark:

 Botanical Name:Salix alba
 Family:Salicaceae
 Common names:Salicin willow,Willow withe,Withy,Basket Willow, Crack Willow, Salix, Salix fragilis, Salix purpurea

 Habitat:Native of Europe and of the northern and temperate parts of North America.

  What Is White Willow Bark?

 White willow (Salix alba) is a large tree that grows in Central and Southern Europe, Asia, and North America. Also known as European willow or baywillow, this tree prefers to root near streams and rivers and grows to a height of 35-75 ft (11-25 m). In the spring the slender branches first sprout tiny, yellow flowers and then long, thin green leaves.
 White willow belongs to the Salicaceae family. There are over 300 species of willow, but only several species are used medicinally: white willow (S. alba), purple willow (S. purpurea), violet willow (S. daphnoides), and crack willow (S. fragilis).
 The bark of the stately white willow tree (Salix alba) has been used in China for centuries as a medicine because of its ability to relieve pain and lower fever. Early settlers to America found Native Americans gathering bark from indigenous willow trees for similar purposes.
 The active ingredient in white willow is salicin, which the body converts into salicylic acid. The first aspirin(acetylsalicylic acid) was made from a different salicin-containing herb--meadowsweet--but works in essentially the same way. All aspirin is now chemically synthesized. It's not surprising, then, that white willow bark is often called "herbal aspirin."
 Although white willow is the species of willow tree most commonly used for medicinal purposes, other salicin-rich species are employed as well, including crack willow (Salix fragilis), purple willow (Salix purpurea), and violet willow (Salix daphnoides). These all may be sold under the label of willow bark.
 It is a deciduous tree found along stream banks, shores, and rich, low woods. White willow grows up to 75 feet high and is covered with a rough, gray bark. The leaves are alternate, wide at the base and tapering to a point, covered with short hairs on both sides. Male and female catkins grow on separate trees.

 Medicinal parts:Bark
 

  Drug Interactions & Precautions:

 White Willow Bark Has Analgesic, Antipyretic Properties
 The analgesic, antipyretic, antiseptic and disinfectant properties of white willow bark have been known to physicians for hundreds of years.
 Research throughout the last century identified and isolated salicin as the primary active ingredient, though other components also possess mild analgesic properties. From salicin, salicylic acid and finally acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) were derived.
 The latter substance has a more concentrated action than salicin, but its action is no different. There is currently some debate over how much active analgesic substance is available in a typical sample of dried, processed bark.

   History and property of uses about wihte willow:

 White willow bark is the original source of salicin, a weaker forerunner of aspirin. Through the ages, long before the discovery of its constituent salicin, white willow bark was used to combat many painful conditions, including rheumatism, headache, neuralgia, arthritis, gout, and angina.

 White willow bark is mentioned in ancient Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek manuscripts, and was used to treat pain and fever by ancient physicians Galen, Hippocrates, and Dioscorides. Native American Indians used it for headaches, fever, sore muscles, rheumatism, and chills. In the mid-1700's, it was used to treat malaria.
 

 Extracts of the bark were first tested between 1821 and 1829, during which time salicin was isolated and identified, but it wasn't until 1874 it was conclusively shown to reduce the aches and soreness of rheumatism. In 1838, salicylic acid was derived from salicin; this product was demonstrated effective against rheumatic fever.

 Independent studies later produced acetylsalicylic acid from salicylic acid. This new product, aspirin, was subsequently proven effective against general pain, as well as the pain of rheumatism, gout, and neuralgia. Other derivatives of salicylic acid have likewise been proven effective.

 Salicin, the original component of white willow bark, is converted to salicylic acid within the body. The concentration of salicin in the bark is small, but effective, at least for certain individuals and certain conditions. Used in its raw form, the bark yields other decomposition products of salicin that may enhance the analgesic, antipyretic, disinfectant, and antiseptic properties of white willow bark.

  Scene One:
 The year is 1614; the place is now eastern Massachusetts. Four members of the Wampanoag tribe have developed high fevers. The shaman ventures out into the forest, where he carefully collects some leaves, roots, and bark from a willow tree. He returns home, grinds up the plant material, and brews it in water. The patients drink the hot herbal tea, and bathe in a cooled solution of the ground bark. Within hours, the fevers are lower, and the sick people are resting comfortably.

  Scene Two:
 The year is 1846; the place is London, England. On the day of the Prince's annual ball, the Grand Duchess is suffering from severe arthritic joint pain. She sends for her doctor, and is given oil of wintergreen to swallow. In a short time the inflammation in her joints lessens, and she can move without pain. The duchess attends the ball, and fulfills her social obligations.

  Scene Three:
 The year is 1999. A high school student, diligently studying for an exam, develops a headache after several hours of intense concentration. She goes to the medicine cabinet, takes out a bottle marked "aspirin", and swallows two pills with a glass of water. In less than an hour, her headache is gone.
 Taking medicine to relieve pain, fever, and inflammation is a ritual that has been repeated through most of recorded history. Willow tree bark extract, oil of wintergreen, and aspirin are similar in molecular structure and metabolic effect. All three belong to a group of chemicals called salicylates, and are some of the oldest and most frequently used drugs. Willow trees contain salicin, oil of wintergreen is methyl salicylate, and aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid
 
 Salicylates have been used as painkillers since ancient times. salicin can be extracted from the bark of willow trees, and methyl salicylate is found in wintergreen plants or teaberry. Aspirin was first prepared by the acetylation of salicylic acid.

  Painful Discoveries:
 Many cultures have a history of herbal medicine. Studying the chemistry of medicinal plants, however, began in the 1800s. Imagine the difficulties the early chemists faced! Identifying the active ingredient in a mound of willow tree bark was a formidable task. From the hundreds of chemicals contained in the bark, it was nearly impossible to purify the single chemical capable of relieving pain and fever.
 In 1859 German chemist Hermann Kolbe synthesized salicylic acid in his laboratory by heating phenol with carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, salicylic acid is irritating to the stomach so much so that many patients preferred their aches and fever to the severe heartburn caused by the remedy. So the search was on for a chemical that was similar to salicylic acid but without the side effects.
 In 1899, another German named Felix Hoffman suggested acetylsalicylic acid as a good alternative to salicylic acid. He had been searching for a drug that would give his elderly father relief from arthritis, and he stumbled upon acetylsalicylic acid after trying phenyl salicylate and sodium salicylate without success. The new drug was named aspirin. Hoffman was an employee of the Bayer Company, which marketed the new remedy with great success. Today, Americans swallow nearly 50 million tablets a day.
 Aspirin can be made by reacting acetic acid with salicylic acid to produce acetylsalicylic acid, the same procedure used by Dr. Hoffman nearly a century ago. When acetylsalicylic acid ages, it may decompose and return to salicylic acid and acetic acid. If you have an old bottle of aspirin around the house, open it and take a sniff. It may smell like vinegar, because vinegar is dilute acetic acid.
 

   Scientific Support:White Willow Bark and Salicin:How white willow works?

 The inner bark contains tannins, flavonoids, phenolic glycosides, and anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing salicylates. The high concentration of tannins may be responsible for relieving gastrointestinal disturbances and reducing tumors of the esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum.
 White willow's analgesic effect works to inhibit the production of prostaglandins, a hormone-like chemical that is produced by the body in response to injury and causes aches, pains, and inflammation. Thus, white willow is beneficial in treating acute and chronic pain and inflammation in conditions such as painful menstruation, arthritis, and neuralgia. White willow is best when used over long periods of time and can take days to improve conditions.
 The active ingredient in white willow is salicin and along with various compounds are gradually converted to salicylic acid in the intestine and liver. Because of this conversion process, white willow generally takes longer to act than aspirin, but the effects may last for an extended period of time. As a result, white willow is mild on the stomach and usually does not cause bleeding or other gastrointestinal discomfort that often occurs with aspirin usage.

 When ingested, salicin (the active glycoside in white willow) is converted into salicylic acid. (This compound has been synthesized into acetylsalicylic acid, otherwise known as aspirin.) Salicylic acid is believed to be the consitutent responsible for mediating white willows analgesic (pain relieving) effects.
 White willow has been used successfully as a natural alternative to synthetic salicylic products because of its ability to act as an antiinflamatory, its effectivness in treating fevers, colds, headaches and infections, its ability to relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis,and its ability to relieve general pain. White willow also has the ability to stay in the body longer than synthetic salicin products, thus providing longer and more stable pain relief.
 White willow has been shown to be an effective addition to widely used herbal weight-loss supplements.
 

   Who need White Willow Bark and Salicin and what are symptoms of deficiency?

 Everyone can benefit from supplementing with white willow.

 Because of its general pain relieving abilities, white willow offers a natural alternative to commercially prepared synthetic salicin (aspirin) preparations. White willow's greater half-life provides even, consistent, pain relief that is longer in duration compared to pain relief offered by synthetic products.

 Athletes can benefit from supplementing with white willow, not only because it provides pain relief, but because peace of mind can come from knowing that white willow will not result in liver problems typical of some synthetic salicin products.
 

   White Willow Bark and Salicin:How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?

 In its natural form salicin is relatively harmless, but synthetic commercial preparations can cause stomach upset if consumed in high doses.

 Many of the known side-effects of commercially prepared salicin products are absent when consuming natural white willow. However, just because white willow is a "natural" version of salicin, it does not follow that the natural substance is completely harmless. Herbal preparations are drugs; about this there should be no mistake. Abuse will lead to the same symptoms present when abusing commercially prepared synthetics.

 If one were to abuse salicin at all, one would be better off abusing the synthetic versions, as many of these drugs have a shorter half life than white willow. A shorter half-life will expedite the removal of the substance from the body and side-effects would terminate more quickly. Thus, by abusing white willow (a longer-acting natural salicin) one may suffer worse effects. It should be noted, however, that tolerance for natural salicin is generally much higher than tolerance for the synthetic versions, and thus one would have to far exceed label directions to notice toxic effects.
 

 Signs of overdose or side-effect can include nausea, ringing of the ears, fatique and irritability.

 Persons who are sensitive to salacin products should not supplement with white willow, nor should individuals suffering from ulcers or gastric disorders. Those who suffer from allergies to salicylates should avoid white willow as supplementation can increase the risk of anaphylactic reaction.

 Under no circumstances should white willow be mixed with other pain relieving substances, nor should white willow be administered to children (persons under the age of 18).

 Standardized extracts of white willow bark are available ¨C where total salicin intake is typically 60-120mg per day for relief of acute pain, fever or inflammation. For longer-term consumption as an adjunct to weight management and thermogenesis, smaller doses are generally tolerated much better.
 

   Preparation of white willow bark:

 Three times a day
 Dried bark:1-3 grams
 Tea:made from 1/2-1 tsp dried bark
 Fluid extract:1:1 in 25% alcohol, 1-3 ml
 Note-: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
 

   Safety Factory and Toxicity.

 The toxicity level of white willow bark has not been determined at this time.

 White willow; salix alba; nature's aspirin.White Willow

 reduces fever, relieves pain and inflammation, wards off heart attack and stroke, combats certain cancers, prevents migraine headaches

 Mention "willow," and most people say "weeping." But the graceful tree should actually be seen as a source of joy. White willow is Nature's aspirin. In fact, pharmaceutical aspirin was originally created from a chemical very similar to one found in white willow bark.

 Today there are more reasons than ever to use this herb. Medical research shows that this chemical in white willow (called salicin) not only reduces fever and relieves pain and inflammation but also may help prevent heart attack, stroke, digestive tract cancers and migraine headaches.

 Chinese physicians have used willow to relieve pain since ancient times, but it took 2,000 years for this use to catch on in the West -- an event that occurred almost by accident. During the mid-1700s, British minister/physician Edmund Stone was trying to find a cheap substitute for cinchona bark, the rare, costly South American herb used to treat malaria (and later shown to contain the antimalarial drug, quinine). Cinchona was a bitter-tasting bark, and near Stone's Oxfordshire home, he found another bark that looked and tasted similar-white willow. As an experiment, he gave willow bark tea to people with fevers. Their fevers and pain subsided.

 Never mind that by today's scientific standards, Stone's experiment left a great deal to be desired. The thermometers of his day were so crude that he couldn't be sure if his subjects really had fevers to begin with. Nonetheless, the herb quickly became the treatment of choice for fever and subsequently for pain and inflammation as well.

 During the early 19th century, European chemists created aspirin from white willow bark's active chemical, salicin. Aspirin hit the market for the first time in 1899, and within a few years, it was one of the most popular drugs on earth.
 

 Bark still packs a punch:Herbal experts say that white willow bark will work on almost anything you take aspirin for-most likely, fever, pain and inflammation. It will stand in for aspirin, but perhaps not quite as well.

 "The salicylate content of willow bark varies considerably," says Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University School of Pharmacy in West Lafayette, Indiana, and author of The Honest Herbal. "You may need several cups of white willow bark tea to approach the effectiveness of two standard aspirin tablets."

 Recent studies show that taking about half an aspirin a day can significantly reduce risk of heart attack and stroke by reducing the likelihood of the internal blood clots that trigger these medical emergencies. Studies of aspirin's effectiveness have not been duplicated for willow bark, but Dr. Tyler says that in the body, "they become the same thing, salicylic acid."

 The problem with using willow bark to prevent heart attack and stroke is uncertainty about the herb's salicin content. "But the preventive dose is quite low," Dr. Tyler says. "Many willow bark samples should contain enough. If you have a willow bark sample that helps reduce pain, it probably contains enough salicin to produce aspirin's preventive benefits."

 James A. Duke, Ph.D., a botanist retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and author of The CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, agrees: "I have used willow bark for toothache pain, and if I were at risk, I would drink willow bark tea for heart attack prevention." How much is enough? Given adequate salicin content, a cup or two a day should be enough, says Dr. Duke.

 According to American Cancer Society researchers, the same low aspirin dose that helps prevent heart attack and stroke also significantly reduces deaths from four digestive tract cancers: tumors of the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum. According to Dr. Tyler, if willow bark contains enough salicin, it should produce the same effects.

 The herb may also help people who suffer from migraine headaches, since use of low-dose aspirin has been shown to significantly reduce attacks.
 

 Putting the herb to work.

 To take advantage of the healing powers of white willow bark, soak one teaspoon of powdered bark per cup of cold water for eight hours. Strain it and drink up to three cups a day. White willow tastes bitter and astringent. To improve the taste, you can add sugar or honey and lemon. You can also mix it into an herbal beverage tea.

 Aspirin upsets some people's stomachs, but most herbalists say white willow bark rarely causes this problem. If stomach upset, nausea or ringing in the ears develops, reduce your dose or discontinue use. Pregnant women and those with chronic gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, colitis or Crohn's disease should not use this herb.

 When children under 18 who have colds, flu or chicken pox take aspirin, they are at risk for Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. White willow has never been linked to Reye's syndrome, but because of its aspirin-like action, do not give it to children with fevers from those conditions. For complaints not involving fever, start children over 2 on low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary. People over 65 should also begin with low-strength preparations.

 Heart attack, stroke, cancer and migraines are serious conditions requiring professional care. If you'd like to use white willow bark in addition to standard therapies, discuss it with your doctor.

 Introduced from Europe into eastern United States, this tree does not have the characteristics of the Weeping Willow (salix babalonica) and its limbs do not "weep" but are more upright, somewhat akin to an elm. The tree grows to 80 feet tall and to 3 feet in diameter. The leaves are typical willow shape, long and thin (described as finely toothed, lance-like), about 2 to 4 inches long and averaging 1 inch wide at the widest. The leaves grow from a whip-like slender stem that is greenish when small. Older bark is furrowed and grayish brown. The leaves are pale green above and silvery below and covered with fine hairs.
 

  Safety and Acute Toxicity:Salicin.
 Chemical Name: beta-D-Glucopyranoside,2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl-
 CAS No.138-52-3. Molecular Formula:C13-H18-O7. Molecular Weight: 286.31
 Synonyms:2-(Hydroxymethyl)phenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside;Salicin;Salicine;Salicoside;Salicyl alcohol glucoside;Saligenin beta-D-glucopyranoside.

 LD.lethal dose.Intraperitoneal.Rodent-mouse.>500 mg/kg.
 Details of toxic effects not reported other than lethal dose value.
 Reference:CBCCT*"Summary Tables of Biological Tests,"National Research Council Chemical-Biological Coordination Center.(National Academy of Science Library,2101 Constitution Ave.,NW,Washington,DC 20418).Volume(issue)/page/year:6,63,1954.

   Uses of White Willow Bark:

  General use of White Willow Bark:
 Chinese physicians have used white willow since 500 B.C. to relieve pain and lower fevers. White willow was also used in ancient Assyrian, Egyptian, and Greek medicine as well. Greek physicians Dioscorides, Hippocrates, and Galen recommended white willow to remedy fevers and pain. Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Blackfoot, Iroquois, and Eskimo peoples, created a tea from closely related species of the bark to relieve headaches, fever, sore muscles, chills, rheumatism, and general aches and pains. White willow was used in Europe to stop vomiting, remove warts, and suppress sexual desire in addition to treating fevers and pains.
 In the mid-1700s, white willow was used in Britain as a remedy for malaria since the bark was similar to cinchona bark, a South American bark used to treat malaria. In 1828, European chemists extracted the constituent salicin from white willow bark and converted it to salacylic acid. At the end of the nineteenth century, acetylsalicylic acid was synthetically produced and aspirin was born. Due to the cheap and easy production of aspirin, white willow eventually lost its popularity as a pain and fever reliever.
 In modern times, however, white willow is being recalled as nature's aspirin and gaining popularity around the world as an alternative treatment for fevers and inflammatory and painful conditions such as bursitis, tendinitis, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis , back pain, osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, and muscle aches. White willow has been approved by the German Commission E for treating fevers, rheumatic ailments, and headaches. In France, white willow is used to remedy headaches, toothache pain, tendinitis, and muscle sprains. The British Herbal Compendium has administered white willow as a treatment for rheumatic and arthritic conditions, colds, and influenza.

 White willow bark is used in the same manner as is aspirin. In fact, aspirin was originally created from research into White willow bark. As nature's aspirin, White willow continues to be an important herb to be kept in our awareness if not in the medicine chest (aspirin is just too easy to keep and use). White willow bark reduces fever, relieves pain, prevents migraine headaches, aids in reducing the onset of some cancers, reduces the frequency of heart attack and stroke, relieves inflammation, and tastes simply awful. The active chemical in White willow is called salicin.

  History:

 Chinese physicians used willow to reduce pain and inflammation from before the time of Christ. It was not until about 1750 that Rev. Edmund Stone md. of Oxfordshire, England experimented with White willow in an attempt to treat malaria with a local source rather than the expensive and difficult to obtain cinchona bark which contains quinine, an effective antimalarial drug. The good Reverend used the bark from White willow because it tasted similar to the bitter cinchona bark. When he gave it to the local patients, their pain and fever were reduced even though it did not control the malaria. Medicinal applications of the herb caught on quickly and word spread of its effectiveness against pain, inflammation, and fever. White willow trees began to be transported throughout Europe and the Americas for medical purposes. Today, the willow goes largely unidentified because of the introduction of aspirin in readily useable form in 1899.
 

  Physiology:

 The inner bark of the tree was once harvested for salicin which was converted to salacylic acid, however, acetylsalicylic acid was eventually synthetically produced so the tree lost it popularity to aspirin. The salicylic acid in white willow bark lowers the body's levels of prostaglandins a hormone like compounds that is responsible for aches, pain, and inflammation. Many physicians and herbalist still prefer the use of White willow to that of synthetic aspirin because of the lower incidence of side effects associated with the herb. The bark also remains popular secondary to its content of tannins, flavonoids, phenolic glycosides. The high content of tannins are believed to be responsible for relieving gastrointestinal complications.
 The active ingredient in White willow, salacylic acid, has a synergistic effect when combined with Ephedra to promote the thermogenic process. Thermogenesis is the rapid conversion of the food we digest into heat before the calories can be stored as fat.

  Current Status:

 White willow bark still has a usefulness that should not be ignored. Aspirin upsets some people's stomachs, but white willow bark seems to be free of this problem. Experts point out that white willow bark will work on almost anything you take aspirin for. The dosage is just more difficult to control from bark than from the pharmaceutical company's brewed up standards. It will likely require several cups of white willow bark tea to give the effectiveness of two standard aspirin tablets. If your willow bark reduces pain and fever, the same dose will act to produce the preventive benefits of aspirin which include warding off stroke and heart attack, combating certain types of cancer (digestive tract), preventing migraine headaches, reducing the frequency of internal blood clots, and reducing toothache.

  Brewing some healing:

 If you grow your own, you may use fresh if you strip and chop into fine particles to get the most fresh surfaces available to the water. You may steam fresh bark to make the chemical available also (do not boil). From the local store, you will likely get powdered bark. This works well and will store well, in addition, you may dry and powder your own bark for future use. To make a tea, soak one teaspoon of powdered bark in a cup of cold water for eight hours. This allows the salicin to dissolve into the water (it is slow to get into solution). Strain out the bark and drink. You may make as much as you want in advance but refrigerate no more than 48 hours after which it will lose its effectiveness. This stuff really tastes nasty (commonly called bitter and astringent) so you may want to add whatever you can think of the make it drinkable.

  Health Benefits of White Willow Bark:

 The salicylic acid in white willow bark lowers the body's levels of prostaglandins, hormonelike compounds that can cause aches, pain, and inflammation. While white willow bark takes longer to begin acting than aspirin, its effect may last longer. And, unlike aspirin, it doesn't cause stomach bleeding or other known adverse effects.
 Specifically, white willow bark may help to:
 Relieve acute and chronic pain, including headache, back and neck pain, muscle aches, and menstrual cramps. The effectiveness of white willow bark for easing these and other types of discomforts results from its power to lower prostaglandin levels.
 Control arthritis discomforts. Some arthritis sufferers taking white willow bark have experienced reduced swelling and inflammation, and eventually increased mobility, in the back, knees, hips, and other joints.
 Today, White willow is prescribe by physicians and herbal specialists for a host of conditions including the following:
 Chronic dysentery;Prevention of strokes and blood clots;Arthritis - the herb reduces the swelling and inflammation associated with the arthritis, promoting increase mobility;Fever and chills - the aspirin type properties can help break a fever;headaches,Toothaches,Tendonitis and neuralgia,Treatment of eczem,Menstrual cramps,Muscle aches,Natural diuretic
 

  Cosmetic Application of White Willow Bark:

 A vacuum distilled extract of the black willow (Salix nigra) tree containing 10% salicylic acid. It is an all-natural method to achieve cosmetic benefits including:
 A botanical alternative to synthetic salicylic acid.
 Enhancement of skin cell turnover to improve the health and appearance of photoaged skin.
 Antimicrobial activity against P. acnes makes it a good candidate for skin cleansing products.

   Suggestions and Administration:

  Precautions:

 If nausea or ringing in the ears develops, reduce your dose or discontinue use. If you are pregnant or have a chronic gastrointestinal condition such as ulcers, colitis or Crohn's disease use caution with this herb. Children under 18 who have colds, flu or chicken pox and take aspirin, are at risk for Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. Although White willow has not been linked to Reye's syndrome, use caution here also and do not give it to children with fevers from those conditions. For other symptoms, children over 2 may use low-strength preparations, increasing strength if necessary. People over 65 should also begin with low-strength preparations to gain the benefits listed above.

 Hangover cure information:White Willow bark contains Salicin

 The bark of the common Willow tree, also known as the Pussy Willow, is a source of a wide range of phenolic glycosides, the most important being salicin. Willow Bark extract is used like Aspirin, treating mild fevers, colds, infections (influenza), acute and chronic rheumatic disorders, headaches, and pain caused by inflammation.

 In many studies performed in Denmark, this herb has been used with Thermogenic herbs like Ephedra to document the effectiveness in weight loss. This Aspirin and Aspirin-like compound containing herb has been extensively studied and has established its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting bioactivities.

 Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), a synthetic replacement for salicin, has potentially dangerous gastrointestinal side effects. In its natural form, salicin passes harmlessly through the gastrointestinal tract, becoming saligenin and glucose. The saligenin is then converted to salicylic acid in the blood and the liver. The conversion process takes a few hours, so results will not be felt immediatel, but are normally sustained for several hours.

 Individuals with preexisting medical conditions should consult with their physician particularly if they are taking prescription or over-the-counter-medications or supplements. Women who are pregnant or breast feeding and children should also consult with there physician prior to taking any new supplements. More specifically, individuals history of tinnitus (a sound in one or both ears, similar to a ringing, buzzing, whistling, etc. occurring without a an external stimulus should not use White willow. This condition is usually caused by a specific cause i.e. ear infection, the use of certain medications, blocked auditory tube/canal or head trauma), In additions individuals with the following preexisting conditions i.e. stomach irritations, bleeding disorders, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, liver/kidney disease diabetes or children under 16 years of age should definitely consult with their physician prior to taking the White willow.

 White willow bark should not be taken with aspirin or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) i.e. naproxen and ibuprofen. Combining White willow and these medications may increase the chance of side effects such as stomach bleeding. Higher than commonly recommended doses of this White willow may result in stomach upset, tinnitus, nausea, etc.
 

  Major Side Effects:

 Although few side effects have been reported from the oral use of white willow, products that contain aspirin or tannins may possibly cause kidney, liver, or stomach damage -- especially when taken in high doses or for extended periods.

 A case study has been published concerning several people who regularly used large amounts of an oral product containing tannins comparable to those in white willow for many years. Generally, this group had a higher incidence of tongue and lip cancer than expected. Cancers of the nose and esophagus may also be more likely in people who take large amounts of tannin-containing products for a long time.

  Less Severe Side Effects:

 Side effects attributed to the use of oral aspirin products include: Blood in the stool.Nausea.Ringing in the ears.Upset stomach.Vomiting,Rarely, applying white willow to the skin or handling the fresh or dried bark may cause a rash.
 

  Interactions:

 The tannin content of white willow products may interfere with the way that prescription drugs such as theophylline and codeine, non-prescription drugs such as pseudoephedrine, dietary supplements such as iron and some foods are used by the body. Individuals who take drugs or other supplements and white willow should allow as much time as possible (at least 2 hours) between taking the white willow and taking the other drugs.

  Interaction with Prescription Drugs:

 The salicylates in white willow may increase the time blood needs to clot. When it is taken with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, the effect of the drug may be increased, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding.
 Antiplatelets include clopidogrel and Ticlid;Anticoagulants include heparin and warfarin;
 Aspirin may lower blood sugar levels slightly.If it is taken at the same time as a drug from the sulfonylurea group that is used to treat diabetes, blood sugar levels may get too low. Since white willow has some of the same chemicals as aspirin, it may also increase the effectiveness of sulfonylureas, which include:
 Glimepiride (Amaryl);glipizide (Glucotrol XL);glyburide (Glynase);Glyset
 Although no reports of a similar interaction have been reported with white willow, aspirin may reduce the effectiveness of beta blockers, drugs used to decrease high blood pressure and treat other heart conditions. Beta blockers include:
 atenolol;metoprolol;propranolol

  Interaction with Non-prescription Drugs:

 If white willow is taken at the same time aspirin is taken, the effects of aspirin and the potential for side effects may both increase. Additionally, white willow can decrease the ability of blood to clot after an injury. Aspirin can also delay clotting, so white willow should not be taken orally at the same time as aspirin.

  Interaction with Herbal Products:

 Certain other herbal products, such as black cohosh and wintergreen, also contain salicylates. If one of these products is taken with white willow, the amounts of salicylates in the blood may increase, possibly increasing the risk of side effects.

 Theoretically, if white willow is used with other herbs that affect blood clotting, bleeding may occur. Some of the most common herbal products that might inhibit blood clotting are:

 Danshen;Devil's Claw;Eleuthero;Garlic;Ginger (in high amounts);Gingko;Horse Chestnut;Panax Ginseng;Papain;Red Clover;Saw Palmetto

  Interaction with Foods:

 If aspirin and alcohol are used together, the chances of stomach upset or damage to the stomach lining may increase. White willow may also cause the body to absorb alcohol faster -- potentially leading to physical or mental impairment or even intoxication more quickly than expected, even at relatively low levels of alcohol ingestion.

 Additionally, the tannins in white willow may interfere with the absorption of iron and other minerals from foods. A dietary deficiency of these minerals is very rare in the United States, but taking large amounts of white willow may result in less mineral absorption from foods.

  Careful of taking:

 White willow products contain a relatively high percentage of tannins, a group of chemicals that have been associated with kidney or liver damage. Therefore, individuals who have kidney or liver conditions should avoid using white willow because it may worsen those conditions.
 Individuals who are allergic to aspirin may also be allergic to white willow and they should not take products containing white willow or salicin.
 For reasons that are unclear, many individuals who have asthma also have aspirin allergies or sensitivities. Since white willow contains many of the same chemicals as aspirin, white willow should not be taken by individuals with asthma.
 Individuals who have hemophilia or other disorders of blood clotting should avoid taking white willow because the salicylates in white willow possibly may interfere with blood clotting.
 Due to the possibility that tannins and other chemicals in white willow may irritate the lower gastrointestinal tract, individuals with stomach ulcers or inflammatory bowel diseases should not use it.

 White willow should not be given to children due to the chance it may cause a rare but serious condition called Reye's syndrome. Usually occurring after a viral illness such as chicken pox or flu has been treated with aspirin, Reye's syndrome may have early symptoms such as confusion, prolonged vomiting, and rapid breathing. Coma may result, if immediate treatment is not provided.


  Scientific References:

  1.Salicin from Willow Bark.