Hot take: willow bark tea isn't the same as aspirin

I tried making willow bark tea last week for a headache thinking it would work just like aspirin since they both have salicin. I boiled about 3 tablespoons of dried bark for 20 minutes and drank the whole cup. Two hours later my stomach was in knots and my headache was still there. Turns out the salicin in willow bark has to go through your liver to turn into the active compound and it takes way longer. Also I probably used way too much bark for my first time. Just stick with actual aspirin if you got a bad headache unless you want to spend the afternoon on the bathroom floor. Has anyone else tried this and ended up in the same boat?

2 comments

2 Comments

rose_young1mo ago

Was it really that bad though or are you being dramatic?

fisher.mason1mo ago

Three drinks in and a broken pool cue says you're downplaying a full bar brawl.