BACK TO OUR ROOTS: WILLOW BARK

What is White Willow Bark?

White Willow Bark is the oldest recorded painkiller in human history. For over 4,000 years, it's been used to lower fever, stop vomiting, and relieve arthritis, tendonitis, sore muscles, headaches, cramping, general aches and pains, rashes, itching, and more.

The History of White Willow Bark: A Snapshot

Aspirin's active ingredient, salicin, is found in willow trees, which is how Willow Bark became infused into the medical traditions of ancient Sumer, Assyria, Egypt, Greece, China, the Native Americans and other cultures.

In 400 BC, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, recommended it for pain relief and childbirth. In the mid-18th century, it was discovered that Willow Bark could ease fever and inflammation. In 1853, Willow Bark was chemically synthesized creating acetylsalicylic acid and in 1897, the pharmaceutical company Bayer began marketing it as a pain reliever called Aspirin.

Medical Benefits

White Willow Bark offers a natural alternative to dangerous, synthetic chemicals and addresses discomfort associated with muscle pain, arthritis, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, headaches, cramping and more.

Its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties make it a popular ingredient in skincare products on the market today.

We took a page out of Mother Nature’s playbook on holistic medicine.

Our founder, Michelle, created Nature’s Willow in 2009 when she couldn’t find anything on the market that wasn’t full of harmful toxins, parabens, dyes and fragrances. Unfortunately for consumers, not much has changed since then.

About 20% of American adults - over 50 million people - are living with chronic pain and treating it with options that unfortunately (and in some cases, dangerously) only “work” by covering up or masking the pain. Most of the treatment options available are not meant for long-term use and contain ingredients that can cause severe side effects. They make claims that are not actually backed by research or scientific evidence.

Many creams and foams only use counter-irritant ingredients that trick the brain by burning or cooling the skin. Pills mask pain and deliver medication throughout the entire body when, in most cases, it isn’t necessary or optimal. In fact, the CDC recommends topical pain relief methods over pills for chronic pain sufferers.

The majority of over-the-counter products are full of harmful toxins, parabens and other ingredients that negatively affect hormones, especially with prolonged use. Don’t just take our word for it - Google the warnings and side effects of your current popular cream and see if they match any of the below:

Can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke.
Not safe to drink alcohol.
May cause vision changes, heartbeat changes, tremors and trouble breathing.
Made from the fat of a flightless bird.
Not safe to take while pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive.
Can cause severe dizziness or trouble breathing.
Can cause stomach or intestinal bleeding.
Can increase pain 24-hours after exercising.Do not apply this medication immediately before or after activities such as bathing, swimming, sun bathing, or heavy exercise.
Do not use a heating pad on the affected area.
May cause rash, itching and swelling, especially of the face, tongue and throat.
Prolonged use may irritate the skin, causing eczema, peeling, blisters, or other skin conditions.