As early as the Ancient Egyptians, it was recognised that using the bark of the willow tree would help relieve minor aches and pains, including those caused by colds. However, it was not until 1763 that the medical community started to systematically investigate it, with the Royal Society publishing research into its role in treating fever.
The next major breakthrough came in 1828 when a professor at Munich University extracted the active ingredient from willow, named salicin. By 1876, further tests had shown that this was effective in reducing pain. During the late 19th century, salicylic acid became an increasingly used as a pain-relief drug. However, it has several unpleasant side effects, such as bleeding and nausea, which limited its use.
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