How To Make Homemade Aspirin From A Tree

Aspirin may appear a bit outdated in the face of the advanced over-the-counter pain relievers that are currently on the market. And since 1899, when chemists figured out how to make salicylic acid, Bayer started making aspirin.

Although the procedure of creating a synthetic version of the active ingredient in aspirin was new, the wild medicine itself was not. Willow bark was used in Sumeria, and ancient Egypt first used it hundreds of years BC.

Some people, particularly those who prefer a more natural method of pain management, still use willow bark in place of aspirin today. Unlike the manufactured product, "homemade aspirin" is safe and easy to prepare at home or while hiking or camping in remote areas of the woods. You can prepare it as a tea or tincture.

Disclaimer: As I am not a medical professional, you should not interpret anything in this blog as medical advice. Before utilizing any of the plants and/or therapies listed in this article, please consult your physician. Please note that if you have a sensitivity to aspirin, even this homemade version may cause problems for you.

The first steps are the same when processing willow bark for tea or tincture.

Step 1: Choose an appropriate Willow tree. Look for long, slender, lance-shaped leaves with a bright green or silvery underside to properly identify a willow tree. You can find willows growing near water sources like marshes, rivers, and streams.

As the tree ages, its bark typically becomes deep-grooved and grayish-brown. One characteristic that sets the willow family apart is the flexibility of its younger branches. If you're unsure whether you have the correct tree, consult a field guide or tree identification app.

With more than 300 species of willow, you can choose from a wide variety of trees, whether you're in marshes, mountains, or at a high or low elevation. Black willows, crack willows, purple willows, white willows, weeping willows, bigtooth aspens, and quaking aspens are all suitable. You can harvest willow bark in the off-season, but it's best to do so in the spring when the sap is flowing.

Step 2: Remove the bark and trim a few young branches.

Always be careful to maintain the tree's health when harvesting willow bark. Avoid removing more than 10–20% of a single tree's limbs; instead, switch between nearby trees. Never remove the bark of a stressed or diseased tree because it could harm it more. Responsible harvesting guarantees a steady supply of willow for use in the future.

When you locate your tree, avoid the temptation to cut off the bark surrounding the trunk, since this might harm or even kill the tree. Instead, cut off a few branches that are a little larger than your index finger using a pair of pruning shears. To expose the therapeutic inner bark, carefully cut into the outermost bark with a sharp knife (even a pocket knife would work) and peel it off.

The bark should come off in long strips with ease in the spring and early summer. It can be more challenging to remove in the winter and fall, though. If the bark doesn't peel off in strips, use the edge of a sharp knife to scrape it off, saving it as you go.

Prepare The Bark For Either Tea Now Or Tinctures Later

To make it easier to measure out the bark for usage, let it completely dry up before cutting or breaking it into pieces.

Using Fresh Bark: Skilled survivalists recommend pealing and chewing a quarter-sized piece of bark to relieve a headache or other pains while hiking or camping; no processing is required.

For Willow "Aspirin" Tea Now

For every cup of water, add a spoonful of bark to make a tea.

After 10 minutes of boiling the bark in the water, turn off the heat and steep the brew for at least half an hour.

Note: You should add roughly 50% more water than you plan to use in the end due to the quantity of evaporation that will happen during the boiling and steeping phase. Therefore, use one and a half tablespoons of willow bark and one and a half cups of boiling water for each cup of tea you like.

Although the finished tea will taste bitter, it isn't too bad. If you are familiar with creating herbal remedies, it will taste familiarly medicinal. Earthy.

One cup of willow tea is considered a suitable dosage for general aches and pains. For pain relief, three to four cups of willow tea a day can be helpful, but don't drink more than that. You'll likely prefer a willow bark tincture that works at a much lower dosage if consuming a full cup of tea at once is too much.

If the bitter taste of willow tea is too strong, add a pinch of cinnamon, a teaspoon of honey, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. These may provide further anti-inflammatory and calming effects in addition to enhancing flavor.

To Make A Willow "Aspirin" Tincture

Fill a glass jar with fresh willow bark until it is about two-thirds full.

Pour clear, flavorless alcohol, such as grain alcohol or vodka, into the jar until it is full, and then seal it tightly.

After giving it a thorough shake, keep it somewhere cool and dark for two to four months, shaking daily if you can remember.

When it's ready, filter out the bark and pour the tincture into amber glass bottles with tight tops to keep the light out.

Eighty-proof tinctures will keep for five years, and 100-proof tinctures can stay much longer, so make sure to date and label the bottles. Four to six milliliters of tincture, up to three times a day, is the standard suggested dosage. Because homemade tinctures vary in strength, you may need to experiment to find the dosage that works for you.

Start with the smallest dosage (4 milliliters) when experimenting with homemade tinctures, and then monitor your body's reaction over a few hours. Never take more than three doses per day; if necessary, increase the dosage gradually up to 6 milliliters for each serving.

Always get medical advice, particularly if you have pre-existing medical issues or are on other medications.

To Make a Poultice: You can quickly make a poultice for external pain treatment if you don't have time to make a tea. To prepare one, crush dried willow bark with water to make a paste, or chew a small piece of fresh bark.

Wrap the paste with a fresh cloth to keep it in place after applying it directly to sprains, bruises, or aching joints. Before washing off, let the poultice sit for 20 to 30 minutes. This technique delivers targeted pain treatment right where it's required.

Nonalcoholic Willow Bark Extract

Glycerin-based extracts, sometimes referred to as glycerites, are an excellent substitute for alcohol for people who are sensitive to it. When used with fresh willow bark, this sweet concoction might help balance out the bitterness of the willow.

Add three parts glycerine and one part water to a jar half full of willow bark, then shake well.

Keep the jar somewhere dry and cool, and shake it up every day.

After six to eight weeks, sift the mixture through a sieve to remove the willow bark and store the glycerite in amber bottles out of direct sunlight.

Glycerine extracts have a two-year shelf life, so make sure you date and label your extract. Always keep your extracts in a cold, dark location, such as a pantry or cupboard, to prolong their shelf life.

Other Willow Tinctures

Willow Bark Oxymel: An oxymel is an extract that substitutes raw apple cider vinegar for alcohol for people looking for something a little unusual.

This natural pain reliever combines one part raw cider vinegar, one part raw honey, and one part dried willow bark.

Combine them in a jar with a wide opening, shake well, and shake frequently for 8–12 weeks.

Then, just like with any other extract, filter out the bark and bottle. The honey has antibacterial qualities, and the vinegar adds some probiotic qualities.

Since this will be weaker than an alcohol-based tincture, trial and error will once again determine the ideal dose.

Though none of these will have the same chemical makeup as lab-made aspirin, they are stomach-friendly and have been used for thousands of years to relieve pain.

Additionally, remember that not everyone can benefit from this pain relief method. Women who are pregnant or nursing, children under sixteen (due to the risk of Reye's syndrome), and individuals with kidney illness, ulcers, or bleeding disorders should steer clear of willow bark.

Furthermore, it may interact with NSAIDs, blood thinners, and other medications. Always seek medical advice before using willow bark for pain management on a regular basis.