Both the Ancient Greeks and Native Americans valued willow bark as a pain killer and the plant’s active ingredient, salicin, was one of the first therapeutic compounds to be isolated from plants, in 1852.
Both the Ancient Greeks and Native Americans valued willow bark as a pain killer and the plant’s active ingredient, salicin, was one of the first therapeutic compounds to be isolated from plants, in 1852. It proved to be an effective pain killer, but irritated the stomach so a similar but safer compound was developed and is now manufactured as aspirin.