Tag: Wintergreen

Willow bark has been used for medicinal purposes by civilizations for millennia, with ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, and Assyrians all documented as using it for pain and fever relief. This tradition of using botanical remedies leads many to ask **what herbs have salicylic acid in them**.

A single teaspoon of concentrated wintergreen oil contains as much salicylate as roughly 22 adult aspirin tablets and can be fatal if ingested. This potent compound, known as methyl salicylate, is the primary source of the serious side effects of wintergreen, which range from minor skin irritation to life-threatening poisoning.

For centuries, traditional healers have relied on specific plants for their pain-relieving and fever-reducing properties, and we now know that many of these herbs contain salicylic acid, or a related compound called salicin. This article explores the various natural botanical sources of this well-known chemical, highlighting key herbs and spices that have long been used in herbal medicine.