The white willow tree’s bark has been used as a medicinal ingredient for thousands of years Its earliest use dates back to ancient Egypt where the bark was used to treat pain and inflammatory conditions like headaches, fever, toothache or back pain. In skin care, white willow bark is a fantastically soothing and purifying ingredient thanks to its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial compounds.

Salicylic acid, the precursor to the synthesis of the common pain medicine aspirin, was initially extracted from white willow bark, from which it takes its name.