White willow bark has been used as a medicinal herbal remedy for thousands of years. White willow bark has the same properties and chemicals as aspirin, so its common uses are for relieving pain, fevers and inflammation. Therefore, you should take the same precautions regarding willow bark as you would aspirin. Always discuss any herbal remedies with your physician before taking them to understand the potential risks, side effects and drug interactions.
Allergies
If you're allergic to aspirin, you may also be allergic to white willow bark. Like aspirin, white willow contains salicylates, which are the source of aspirin allergies, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Because white willow contains the same properties as aspirin, people who have asthma also shouldn't take the herb due to their potential sensitivity to salicylates, Drug Digest says.
Bleeding Risks
Like aspirin, white willow bark also poses certain bleeding risks. If you have a medical condition that makes you prone to bleeding, such as hemophilia, you shouldn't take white willow bark, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. This is because the salicylates in white willow bark can inhibit your blood's ability to form clots, Drug Digest explains. The blood-thinning effects of white willow aren't as prominent as aspirin, however, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Reye's Syndrome
You should avoid giving white willow bark to children, due to a rare but serious risk of Reye's syndrome, cautions the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Reye's syndrome is a severe condition occurring in children after taking salicylate-containing medications like and following an infection with a virus, Drug Digest explains.
Kidney & Liver Damage
Taking white willow bark may cause liver or kidney damage, but usually only if you already have a condition that affects these organs. White willow bark contains high amounts of tannins, which may exacerbate kidney or liver problems, leading to potentially severe damage, Drug Digest says.
Gastrointestinal Problems
White willow bark may cause the same types of gastrointestinal problems as aspirin, due to the salicylates. You may experience gastrointestinal upset and potentially bleeding and ulcers in your stomach, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have inflammatory bowel diseases, stomach ulcers or other gastrointestinal problems, you shouldn't take white willow bark because the herbal remedy may worsen these conditions, Drug Digest cautions.
Rash
You should avoid taking white willow bark while you're breastfeeding due to the potential side effects that can occur in your baby, Drug Digest says. Skin rashes in nursing infants whose mothers had taken white willow have been reported. Skin rashes in people taking white willow can indicate an overdose, along with vomiting, ringing in the ears, and stomach and kidney inflammation, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Drug Interactions
Don't take white willow bark if you take certain prescription or over-the-counter medications, due to the risk of potentially serious negative interactions from the herb's salicylates and tannins. Avoid taking white willow if you take anticoagulants, or "blood thinners," because the herb can increase the effects of these drugs, leading to bleeding risks, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. White willow can also boost the levels of Dilantin, or methotrexate and phenytoin drugs, which could cause poisoning. You shouldn't take white willow bark with anti-inflammatory medications, metoclopramide, probenecid, valproate or spironolactone, cautions the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Also, white willow may lessen the effects of beta blockers used to treat hypertension and diuretics. Taking white willow with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or "NSAIDs," like Advil, Motrin and Aleve, may cause stomach bleeding, the University of Maryland says.
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