Aspirin is a salicylate that helps to reduce pain, fever and inflammation, explains Drugs.com. Aspirin is also used to treat cardiovascular conditions and to prevent heart attacks and strokes in some cases. Willow bark has been used to treat fever and swelling for thousands of years, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. The active component in willow bark is salicin, a chemical similar to aspirin, which is acetylsalicylic acid. Consult with your doctor before using aspirin or willow bark to treat any condition.
Step 1
Consider the symptom you wish to treat. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there is good medical evidence to support the use of willow bark to treat pain and inflammation and willow bark may help relieve pain and swelling from a headache, low back pain and osteoarthritis. Willow bark has not been proved to be more effective than aspirin in treating fever, however.
Step 2
Decide what method of delivery is best for you. Aspirin is commonly available in pill and powder form, while you can purchase willow bark as a dry herb to make a tea or as a tincture. You can also purchase capsules that contain powdered willow bark if you prefer a pill form, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Step 3
Determine whether you need immediate pain relief. White willow bark takes longer to provide pain relief, but pain relief from willow bark may last longer than relief from aspirin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Step 4
Choose aspirin if your doctor recommends a low daily dose for a cardiovascular condition or recommends having aspirin on hand in case of a heart attack or stroke. The American Heart Association only recommends aspirin for patients who have had a heart attack or a stroke caused by a blood clot.
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