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The bark of the Willow tree (willow bark) has a lot of medicinal properties. It contains salicin that works no less than aspirin, but naturally. The bark was used for various treatments in the ancient times for therapeutic values. Willow bark contains flavonoids, catechins, tannins and glycosides which act like anti inflammatory and analgesic and help in healing various internal and external problems.

==Special Precautions of Willow bark==
* Gastrointestinal Issues : White willow bark is known to cause gastrointestinal issues, cautions the University of Maryland Medical Center. This includes upset stomach, ulcers and even stomach bleeding. Taking more than the recommended dosage can elicit nausea, vomiting and stomach inflammation, which may produce abdominal pain or cramping.
*Tinnitus : The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center warns that the ingestion of white willow bark may cause tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears when no noise is present. Tinnitus can manifest as a ringing, buzzing, clicking, hissing or whistling in one or both ears. It may become so intense that it disrupts concentration and sleep. Ringing should subside after discontinuing use.
*Renal Damage : Though rare, white willow bark may also cause kidney damage, advises the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The National Institutes of Health explains that kidney damage can lead to nausea, vomiting, fever, sweating, fatigue, drowsiness, abdominal pain or swelling, back or flank pain, increased heart rate and urinary difficulties.
* There's some concern that white willow bark may be harmful to people with an aspirin allergy or sensitivity. White willow bark should also be avoided by people with peptic ulcers, kidney disease, gout, or asthma.
*In addition, taking white willow bark in combination with ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, or garlic may increase your risk of bleeding. It's also important to avoid use of white willow bark within two weeks of undergoing surgery.
*When taken in excessive doses, white willow bark may cause ringing in the ears, ulcers, stomach burning, pain, cramping, nausea, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver toxicity, rash, dizziness, and/or kidney.

==The benefits of Willow bark are==
*Head Ache - For migrane head aches, willow bark is very beneficiary. The aspirin property of the bark helps in reducing migrane attacks. Drinking the concoction of the willow bark will gradually bring relief.
*Flu - One of the health benefits of the white willow bark is that it can cure high fever like flu. Drinking the tea of the bark daily can bring down the temperature and build immunity in the body. Willow bark can also cure common cold.
*Heart Attacks - Willow bark is also good for the heart's health. Drinking the bark everyday, would prevent heart attacks and strokes.
*Back Ache - As we told you willow bark contains salicin which helps in relieving back ache. The capsules of willow bark contain upto 250 mg of the bark and is usually advised by doctors to consume for nearly a month.
*Arthritis - The bark extract can also be a good remedy for arthritis, particularly rheumatic arthritis. Drinking a teasppon of the bark extract can keep these bone problems at bay.
*  may have a moderate pain-reducing effect on osteoarthritis patients.
*it can successfully cure any type of body pain 
*works like a good antiseptic as well as like an antipyretic. 
*It is also suggested during menstrual cramps and even during tooth ache. 
*All in all, it works like a natural boon to pains and aches.
* May cut Risk of Hereditary Cancer.
[[Category:Treatments]]
[[Category:herbal medicine]]