Evidence supporting the use of: Purple willow
For the health condition: Headache (tension)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Purple willow (Salix purpurea) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in Europe, for the relief of pain, including headache and tension-type headaches. The bark of willow species contains salicin, a compound that is metabolized in the body to salicylic acid, which is chemically related to aspirin. Traditional herbalists have used willow bark for centuries as a remedy for various types of pain and inflammation, including headaches, based on these properties. However, while the general use of willow bark (and not specifically purple willow) for pain relief has been somewhat validated by the later development of aspirin, clinical studies directly assessing the effectiveness of purple willow or willow bark for tension headaches are limited. Most scientific evaluations have focused on back pain or osteoarthritis. Thus, the use of purple willow for tension headaches is justified mainly by tradition and historical use rather than robust scientific evidence. The evidence rating is moderate (2/5), reflecting traditional use and the plausible mechanism of action, but a lack of direct clinical trials for this specific indication.

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