Tag: Aspirin history

For millennia, humans have utilized plants rich in salicylates for medicinal purposes, with records of willow bark use dating back to 400 B.C. [1.3.1, 1.4.1]. This article explores the answer to 'What naturally produces salicylic acid?', uncovering its widespread presence in the plant kingdom.

For millennia, ancient civilizations used extracts from the willow tree for pain relief. This healing property is due to a compound called salicin, the natural precursor to salicylic acid, answering the question of what tree makes salicylic acid.

Archaeological evidence suggests medicinal plant use dates to the Palaeolithic age [1.2.6]. But when it comes to written records, which is the world's oldest medicine? The answer lies in ancient texts and millennia of human ingenuity.