Tag Archives: aspirin

Poplar

Trees in the poplar family — including cottonwoods and aspens — contain compounds related to aspirin (salicylic acid) and have some anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties. However, the medicinal value of the poplar family varies greatly from one species of tree to another. In general, the more resinous the buds are, the more medicinally effective the tree will be. Populus balsamifera (balm of Gilead) is probably the best-known medicinal tree in the poplar family — the sticky, resinous buds and bark have a long history of use in treating a variety of ailments. Traditional medicinal uses for poplar include: A tincture … Continue reading →

Willow

There are around five hundred different varieties of willow; several of them are useful in herbal medicine. Since the beginnings of the current era (AD time), willow has been used for pain and inflammation. Historical evidence points to willow being used throughout Europe and North America for fever, pain relief, and easing swelling. Because the willow grows throughout the Northern hemisphere, many different people had relatively easy access to this healing powerhouse. So what makes willow so amazing? A chemical called salicin. Many plants contain it — salicin was isolated in the 1820s from a plant called queen of the … Continue reading →