Make your own aspirin, naturally.

Head aching? Out of Aspirin? Or just pissed off at Bayer? The elegant willow tree is your friend. (Ditto the birch!)

Weeping willows (which are also great indicators of underground water AND sources of whip-like branches that can be turned into baskets) are the original source of salicin, which our bodies convert into salicylic acid. It’s been a medicinal remedy for thousands of years (we’re talking ancient Assyria, Sumeria and Egypt) , and lacks some of the unpleasant side effects of synthesized medicines. And, in North America, First Nations people found birch bark useful for building boats AND fighting fevers and pain.

Unlike many other herbs, willow trees are easy to spot and recognize, which makes them a perfect go-to for a novice herbalist.

What you may not realize is that there are many different species of the willow family, including spring bouquet favourite the pussy willow. Some are trees, some are shrubs… but they’re all medicinal in nature. The most potent source, however, is the white willow.

What to do?

Start by gathering willow branches, then scraping the bark off the branches. From there, you can chew it as is (which will do the trick, but tastes awful). Making a tea or tincture is a better bet, using about one tablespoon per cup of water.

If you plan to make tincture, willows are substantially more potent in spring than in fall.

Here’s a simple method for making medicine when you’re in the bush:

For those who like to plan ahead, this is a great overview of how to make natural aspirin at home:

Finally, here’s a nice overview of how to make your own aspirin that you might want to print out for future use.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/outdoor-survival/how-to-harvest-and-use-natures-aspirin/