February 8, 2001 – The therapeutic virtues of willow (Salix alba) have been known for at least 5,000 years. The salicin it contains is the active ingredient in aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).
The researchers wanted to know the effectiveness of an extract of willow, a plant often used in Europe, against back pain. The 210 subjects in the four-week, double-blind study were divided into three groups receiving either a placebo or a willow extract containing 120 or 240 mg of salicin. The participants all suffered from exacerbated chronic back pain and could use a pain reliever (tramadol) if the medication (or the placebo) did not relieve their pain.
The success of the treatment was primarily measured by the number of participants who had no pain for at least five days during the last week of the experiment. Of the 191 patients who completed the study, 39% of the group taking the 240 mg dose of salicin no longer had any pain during the last week of treatment compared to 21% of the patients taking the 120 mg dose and 6% of those taking the placebo.
According to the researchers, the success of the treatment was noticeable after only a week in the group taking the 240 mg of salicin. One patient had a severe allergic reaction, possibly due to the extract. But, according to the researchers, this in no way negates their conclusion that “willow extract may be an effective and safe treatment for chronic back pain pain.”
HealthPassport.net
Chrubasik S, Eisenberg E, Balan E, Weinberger T, Luzzati R, Conradt C. Treatment of low back pain exacerbations with willow bark extract: a randomized double-blind study. Am J Med. 2000 Jul; 109 (1): 9-14.
