Efficacy
1. Treats Fever, Cold and Infection
As "natural aspirin", salicin is used to treat mild fever, colds, infections (influenza), acute and chronic rheumatic discomfort, headaches and pain due to inflammation. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), a synthetic substitute for salicin, has potentially dangerous gastrointestinal side effects. In its natural form, salicin passes harmlessly through the gastrointestinal system and is converted to salicylic acid in the blood and liver. The conversion process takes hours, so the results are not immediately felt by the body, but the general effect lasts for a few hours.
2. Relieve Arthritis Pain and Low Back Pain
Salicin is thought to be the source of white willow bark's anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving abilities. White willow bark's pain-relieving power is generally slower to act but lasts longer than regular aspirin products. One trial found that a product of a herbal compound containing 100 ng of salicin was effective in improving pain relief in people with arthritis after two months of continuous administration. Another trial found that daily intake of 1360mg of white willow bark extract (containing 240mg of salicin) for two weeks was more effective in the treatment of joint pain and/or arthritis. Using high-dose white willow bark extract may also help relieve low back pain. A four-week trial found that a white willow bark extract containing 240 mg of salicin was effective in reducing the exacerbation of low back pain