What is the difference between white willow bark and regular willow bark?

Question

What is the difference between white willow bark and regular willow bark?

I would like to know that since I just bought an item with white willow bark and my mom says that I'm allergic to willow bark but it been a while since i took aspirin

Answer 1

If the salicin ( the active agent of the bark ) is the reason for your allergy, that is found in other willow species too. The only difference is the amount, which varies a bit.

Here an article about Salix alba, white willow:

http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/medmus...

and here about "WILLOW BARK (Salix alba and other salix sp.) ":

http://www.medicinenet.com/willow_bark_s...

It should be the best to ask a doctor to test your allergic reactions. He will give you an "allergy-passport" listing the for you unsuitable substances and you will know, wether you can use Aspirin or salicin or better chose something else.