In this article, I will be showing you how to make a crude form of aspirin from the bark of a willow tree. It is a great remedy for headaches, hangovers, and other minor pain. The use of the willow tree as a mild pain reliever goes back to the Native Amer

Aspirin originally was derived by boiling the bark of the white willow tree. Although the salicin in willow bark has analgesic properties, purified salicylic acid was bitter and irritating when taken orally. Salicylic acid was neutralized with sodium to p

In the 1920s, chemists learned how to extract salicylic acid from willow bark to reduce pain and fever. Later, the chemical was modified into the present form of aspirin, which is acetylsalicylic acid. While you can prepare acetylsalicylic acid, it's