[pct-l] Trail medicine

[bodhisattvavow at hotmail.com (Hotmail)]

In fact, the active ingredient in aspirin is just a synthesized version of
the natural salicylic acid.  Yes, a tea of the bark would work, internally
or topically.  You will have to experiment to find out how it affects your
body.  I would start with a small palmful of bark steeped for 15 minutes,
wait several hours and adjust from there.  You can adjust the quantity of
bark as well as the steeping time.  Also, some compounds are better
extracted my boiling while others are damaged by the heat.  I'm not sure
what the case is with the salicylin.  One more thing is that salicylin is
present in all members of the willow family, including poplars(aspens) and
cottonwoods.
Peace and love,
Matt
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Woods" <wpseditor@charter.net>
To: "PCT -L" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 5:08 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Trail medicine


> May be an interesting tidbit for on-trail medicine:
>
> "Eat powdered willow bark, and call me in the morning." For pain and
> fevers, that's what the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates told his
> patients.
>
> Apparently willow bark contains salicylic acid, a component of
> aspirin. Does it have to be powdered/dry? Would willow bark tea work
> as well? And how much willow bark would I have to nibble if I needed
> some pain relief out of reach of the neighborhood RX?
>
> Rick
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