Willow among Indigenous peoples: the natural ancestor of aspirin

For generations, the Indigenous peoples of North America have maintained a deep relationship with plants, trees, and the land. Long before the advent of modern medicine, knowledge of medicinal plants made it possible to treat many everyday ailments through careful observation of nature. Among the most important trees in several traditions is the willow, recognized for its natural pain-relieving properties and often considered today as the natural ancestor of aspirin.

Yes. Several Indigenous nations used different species of willow growing near rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Peoples such as the Ojibwe, Cree, certain Iroquoian peoples, the Lakota, the Blackfoot, and several nations of the Northwest Coast have long known the medicinal properties of willow.

Although each nation had its own traditions, willow was often associated with relieving pain, feverish conditions, and certain inflammations. This knowledge was transmitted orally by elders, healers, and individuals experienced in harvesting medicinal plants.

• Ojibwe and Cree: Used willow in some medicinal preparations related to pain and fever.
• Plains Peoples: Sometimes prepared decoctions from inner bark to relieve various physical discomforts.
• Boreal Nations: Harvested willow near waterways where it grew naturally in abundance.

The inner bark of willow contains a natural substance called salicin. Once absorbed by the body, this substance is converted into compounds similar to salicylic acid, now known as the base that inspired modern aspirin.

Indigenous peoples obviously did not know modern chemistry, but they carefully observed the effects of plants on the human body. Through generations of accumulated experience, they had noticed that willow helped to calm certain ailments.

• Headaches: Willow was sometimes used to relieve certain persistent pains.
• Joint pain: Some preparations were used to soothe physical discomforts.
• Fever: Willow was also associated with certain uses related to feverish conditions.

Methods varied by nation and territory, but several traditional uses frequently appeared in stories and transmitted knowledge.

Some people chewed young willow branches to slowly extract the active compounds contained in the bark. Others prepared a decoction by boiling the inner bark in water for several minutes.

The bitter taste of willow was often associated with its medicinal power. In several traditions, bitter plants were considered particularly effective for certain therapeutic uses.

• Young branches: Chewed directly to release natural compounds.
• Decoction: Preparation obtained by boiling the inner bark in water.
• External applications: Some preparations could be used on painful areas.

Like the willow, some presences transcend seasons, remaining deeply rooted.

A symbol of rooted strength and transmission

Inspired by the tree of life, this handmade drum with genuine deer hide evokes the connection between nature, memory, and teachings passed down through generations. Like the willow in several traditions, it recalls flexibility, listening, and the ability to stand tall despite storms.

View the tree of life drum

For several Indigenous peoples, plants were not just remedies. They were part of a deep balance between humans, animals, seasons, water, and the land.

The harvesting of medicinal plants was often done with respect. Some traditions included prayers, offerings, or thanks to nature before picking a plant. This spiritual relationship with living things played a central role in many Indigenous cultures.

Knowledge related to plants was considered precious and essential for the survival of communities. Each region had its own medicinal plants adapted to the local climate and territory.

• Oral transmission: Knowledge was taught by elders and healers.
• Respect for the land: Plants were harvested responsibly and respectfully.
• Natural balance: Plants were part of a holistic view of life.

What still impresses many researchers and medicinal plant enthusiasts today is the immense wealth of knowledge developed by Indigenous peoples long before modern medicine.

Without laboratories or modern scientific technologies, several nations had already learned to recognize the properties of hundreds of plants through careful observation of nature, experience, and oral transmission between generations.

Traditional knowledge often included knowing:

• When to harvest a plant: Some were more potent depending on seasons or growth periods.
• Which part to use: The bark, roots, leaves, or young shoots could have different uses.
• How to prepare remedies: Decoctions, infusions, fumigations, or external applications varied according to needs.
• Which plants to avoid: Some plants were known to be potent or dangerous when used incorrectly.

This knowledge was not only about medicine. It was part of a much broader understanding of the land, seasons, animals, water, and natural cycles.

Willow today represents a fascinating example of the link between ancestral knowledge and modern science. For centuries, several Indigenous peoples already used this tree to soothe certain pains, long before scientists isolated salicin, which inspired the creation of modern aspirin.

Several other medicinal plants traditionally used by Indigenous peoples have also attracted the attention of modern medicine over time, notably cedar, Labrador tea, balsam poplar, certain boreal resins, and various aromatic forest plants.

For many Indigenous cultures, these plants were never just resources. They were part of a living relationship with the land and a balance based on respect, listening, and the transmission of knowledge.

Willow is one of the many plants used for generations in traditional Indigenous knowledge. The boreal forest abounds with trees, roots, and plants that have played an important role in ancestral knowledge related to healing, survival, and the land. Explore other wild plants used in Quebec's Indigenous traditions .

The link between medicinal plants and Indigenous traditions is found in much knowledge passed down for generations. Among the important plants of the boreal forest, wintergreen also held a special place in certain traditional practices related to the land and well-being. Read the article on wintergreen and its traditional uses .

In the 19th century, scientists studied the properties of willow to isolate the compounds responsible for its pain-relieving effects. This research led to the creation of acetylsalicylic acid, now known as aspirin.

Although modern medicine has transformed this knowledge into a pharmaceutical drug, the traditional uses of willow have existed for a very long time in several cultures around the world, including among many Indigenous peoples of North America.

Willow clearly represents the richness of traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants among the Indigenous peoples of North America. Long before modern laboratories, several nations had already observed the natural properties of this tree and developed different ways to use it to relieve certain ailments.

Even today, this ancestral knowledge reminds us of the importance of the connection between humans and nature. Willow remains a powerful symbol of traditional medicine, the observation of living things, and respect for the land passed down from generation to generation.