Hi, CR -

White Willow is tree bark that contains naturally-occurring salicin, plus tannins; the body turns the salicin into salicylic acid. Aspirin begins with salicylic acid - dunno where they get it - and is turned into acetylsalicylic acid in the lab.

Wikipedia lists these cautions about aspirin:

Common side effects include an upset stomach. More significant side effects include stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding, and worsening asthma. Bleeding risk is greater among those who are older, drink alcohol, take other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or are on blood thinners. Aspirin is not recommended in the last part of pregnancy. It is not generally recommended in children with infections because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. High doses may result in ringing in the ears. Aspirin works similar to other NSAIDs but also irreversibly blocks the normal functioning of platelets.[3]

Found here:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/04/aspirin.risk.heart.attacks/index.html?iref=24hours

...this is in context of discussion of daily low-dose aspirin use:

Although aspirin can prevent clots, which cause about 80 percent of strokes, it may increase the risk of hemorrhagic strokes, which are caused by bleeding in the brain.

Found here:

https://compoundingtoday.com/Compliance/FDAPre1938Drugs.cfm

In 1938, a bill was passed to revise the 1906 Food and Drugs Act. This Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act required that drugs be shown to meet certain safety requirements prior to their being marketed. Drugs that were already on the market were "grandfathered" and allowed to remain on the market without further regulatory approval if they were labeled with the same conditions of use. Many of these products remain on the market today. Technically, these products have never been approved by the FDA and do not appear in the "Orange Book" because they are not approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations.

Both Aspirin and Acetaminophen are included in the listing there, as elements in compounds a pharmacist might put together.

(Interestingly, further down the list there's mention of Sodium Fluoride; perhaps this is why FDA has nothing to say about addition of fluoride to drinking water.)

Found here:

http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail62.php

White willow has been used to combat fevers and pain for thousands of years. Willow bark may be the oldest herb known to treat pain and inflammation, the oldest recorded use is by Chinese physicians in 500 B.C. White willow was also used in ancient Assyrian, Egyptian, and Greek medicine as well as by Native American healers in North America.

The inner bark of the white willow tree contains salicin, which is changed to salicylic acid in the body. The compound in aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, is derived from salicylic acid. (Duke,James, Ph.D.) Herbalists use white willow much the same as aspirin, ie; to reduce fevers, pain, and inflammation in conditions such as painful menstruation, arthritis, and neuralgia. White willow works slower but lasts longer than aspirin and has less side gastronomic side effects due to the large amounts of tannins that protect the stomach. Newmark, Thomas M. Willow is used mainly in weight loss formulations to enhance the actions of other herbs. This is sometimes referred to as "stacking" in body building.

[big snip]

White Willow Side Effects: Do not take willow bark if you are allergic to aspirin, are currently taking anti-platelet or anticoagulant drugs as this may increase the chance of stomach bleeding.

And, found here:

https://thepeopleschemist.com/hidden-truth-aspirin/

Identifying Aspirin Actions Gets Nobel Prize

It was pharmacologist John Vane who discovered the good and bad actions of aspirin. On one hand, he found that it blocks the production of an enzyme known as COX (cycloxygenase). Downstream, this prevents inflammation, swelling, pain and fever. But, he elucidated a risky trade off.

Aspirin also stifles the formation of healing compounds. Crucial for physiological support, they protect the stomach from damage by hydrochloric acid, maintain kidney function and stop internal bleeding. Vane won the Nobel Prize for his work.

Bayer wasn’t concerned about the findings…Or they ignored Nobel Prize winning science.

Expanding their market reach, they pushed “baby” aspirin to protect against heart attack and stroke. But, the “little bit” is still harmful. Writing for The New York Times, Dr. Neena S. Abraham said, “If your physician has suggested you take aspirin to reduce your risk of heart disease, it is important to remember that even small doses of daily aspirin — including “baby aspirin,” at a dose of 81 milligrams daily — can increase your risk of ulcers and bleeding.”

…buffered or enteric-coated aspirin won’t protect you.

Judith P. Kelly of the Slone Epidemiology Unit at the Boston University School of Medicine warned that “all forms of aspirin carry risk.” Protective covering or not, it still paralyzes the production of physiologically-important compounds in our body.

Safe Alternatives

White willow bark doesn’t contain ASA or “aspirin.” Therefore, it won’t accidentally kill you. Adults and children can use it for all types of pain and also high fever. Concerned about deadly blood clots? In Over-The-Counter Natural Cures, I showed how the natural medicine hawthorn busts clots on contact, without side effects! Trash aspirin, use White willow bark and hawthorn.

--hobie

*****************************************************************************