Where does aspirin come from?

The word "Asprin" was at one time a trademark , like Kleenex, or PEPSI, however the chemical make up of what we today call "ASPRIN" came from the inside of the bark of a tree. As missionaires noticed when the natives ate the inside bark of the tree, their pains went away. Years later the chemical compounds from this tree bark were able to be manufactured using various chemicals and it became known as 'ASPRIN'.

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

80 Comments

Tim McDonald

Many years ago, the Indians knew that a head ache could be relieved by chewing the interior bark of a willow tree.

Zahra Ali Y'sra El

...go figure...where does aspirin originally come from? well let me tell you...the bark of the willow tree!

dick aspel

The chemist I would have thought.

delfing

And the pharmaceutical companies covet it all

ukmcfry

So pharmaceutical companies could charge a fortune for a natural product.

Shell

I just finished a book in which willow bark tea was used to lessen fever.

Chris Brown

Yes, willow bark.

emt37786

Great question!

Lisa

The willow tree should have been added in the explanation

It's the bark and leaves of the willow tree. That's why you shouldn't have a pond under a willow. The leaves dropping into the pond, kill the fish

Alexandrite

I only knew this because I am allergic to aspirin and have many tree allergies!

Naked Kitty Slave

Wrote a question here about the white willow tree, which has the highest levels of Salicylic acid, the active pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory component that is used to make aspirin.