The genus Salix, or Willow, consists of around 400 species of trees and shrubs which can be found in nearly every continent, save for Australia and Antarctica. The wood of willows is light and therefore easily molded, and the plants versatility has lead to it developing a variety of applications ranging from basket-weaving to fire-starting. The near ubiquity and widespread applicability of willows has lead to the plant developing symbolic meaning as well, with the plant featuring prominently in the Bible and various English superstitions. Willows have been featured in a number of works of fiction as well, with their legacy eventually culminating in pivotal roles in Shakespeare 's Hamlet and JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The willow’s renown is well-deserved, as it has aided the human species in numerous fields. However, one of the most notable contributions of the willow is often overlooked in favor of the plant’s romantic appeal. In addition to their numerous other talents, willows possess a number of healing properties with a compound found in willow bark being one of the key components in Aspirin. Aspirin isn’t the only means by which the willow has played a key role in human history, however it is one of the most applicable to our daily lives. Willow bark has been used medicinally throughout human history, with the earlest records of its usage tracing back to Sumerian stone tablets and the Ebers papyrus. Willow bark has also been used in Native American, Greek, South African, and Chinese medical traditions in medicinal teas and salves. The medicinal properties of the willow include fever reduction, anti-inflammation, and pain relief. The first study of willow bark took place in 18th century England. A reverend, Edward Stone, took note of the similarities between the bitterness of the willow bark and that of the bark of the cinchona tree, which was a known treatment for malaria at the time. He also noted that willows grew in “moist or wet soil” similar to the conditions which caused malaria, and felt that the similar environments in which both malaria and willows flourished might be key to finding a cure. Stone administered powdered willow bark to 50 of his infected congregants and noted the alleviation of their symptoms. He proceeded to send a letter detailing the results of his study to the Royal Society, who then published it. The medicinal characteristics of willow bark are a result of salicylic acid, or salicin, a compound which is contained in the tree’s sap and can also be found in plants such as myrtle. The first rigorous clinical trial regarding salicin was conducted in 1874 by the Scottish physician Thomas MacLagan, whose results confirmed those of Stone’s study. Salicin was first isolated from willows years prior to McLagan 's study in 1829, by Henri Leroux, a French scientist. Once an inexpensive method for synthetically producing the compound was perfected in 1857 by the German chemists, Kolbe and Lautemann, salicin enjoyed a degree of success as a anti-inflammatory medicine. It’s comparative cheapness also contributed to its popularity, as its primary rival, quinine, had to be obtained from cinchona tree bark which was in far less readily available than willow bark and far more expensive than the synthetically derived salicin. A 19th century edition of the British Medical Journal notes that:
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Still, Aspirin and its derivatives enjoyed widespread success until the advent of acetaminophen and Ibuprofen as cheaper Aspirin alternatives in the mid 20th century. Aspirin 's popularity was dealt another severe blow in the 1980’s, after a study was published which suggested a connection between aspirin consumption in children and the development of Reye syndrome, a disease which causes death in 20-40% of cases and may leave survivors with severe brain …show more content…
In all these experiments (and in those of many other workers), the “release” of prostaglandins must in fact amount to fresh synthesis of prostaglandins. That is, prostaglandin output in these experiments, though very low, was still far higher than the tissues ' initial content of the hormones. Evidently, then, the various stimuli, mechanical and chemical, which released prostaglandins, were in fact “turning on” the synthesis of these compounds. A logical corollary was that aspirin might well be blocking the synthesis of
Still, Aspirin and its derivatives enjoyed widespread success until the advent of acetaminophen and Ibuprofen as cheaper Aspirin alternatives in the mid 20th century. Aspirin 's popularity was dealt another severe blow in the 1980’s, after a study was published which suggested a connection between aspirin consumption in children and the development of Reye syndrome, a disease which causes death in 20-40% of cases and may leave survivors with severe brain …show more content…
In all these experiments (and in those of many other workers), the “release” of prostaglandins must in fact amount to fresh synthesis of prostaglandins. That is, prostaglandin output in these experiments, though very low, was still far higher than the tissues ' initial content of the hormones. Evidently, then, the various stimuli, mechanical and chemical, which released prostaglandins, were in fact “turning on” the synthesis of these compounds. A logical corollary was that aspirin might well be blocking the synthesis of