Soothe Arthritis Pain with White Willow Tea

White Willow Bark is an ancient herb that’s in the Salicaceae family. It was used in the time of Socrates when people would chew the bark to relieve pain or fever. It has many medicinal uses including treating arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and pain relief. Its properties include analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antirheumatic. It contains both salicin and tannin.

Salicin converts to salicylic acid in the body. Traditional aspirin contains acetylsalicylic acid which is obtained from salicylic acid. So white willow bark is used as an herbal aspirin.

This is Claire’s simple recipe for White Willow Bark tea.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon of powdered or chipped white willow bark
• 1 cup water
• Honey, ginger root or lemon (optional)

Directions

1. Bring water to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Add powdered or chipped white willow bark and let infuse for 10-15 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and let the tea steep for another 30 minutes, then strain. The flavor is quite bitter, so  feel free to add honey and lemon to taste. A slice or two of ginger root is a nice touch as well.

This recipe for White Willow Bark tea is from Claire’s new book, The EveryDay Roots book. The book has 215+ Home Remedies, Natural Beauty Recipes, and DIY Household products. You can get more information about Claire’s book HERE.

Also, you can buy organic, cut & sifted White Willow Bark here at Amazon.

Note: Please consult your doctor before using this tea. Other sources caution that people with aspirin allergies should not use White Willow Bark. Also, children under 16 who have a viral infection like the flu or chickenpox, should also not use White Willow Bark in any form. If you have kidney disease, or are pregnant or nursing, don’t use this tea. If you’re planning surgery, stop drinking this tea at least 2 weeks before surgery. You can learn more about the side-effects, drug interactions and other information for White Willow Bark here.