Evidence supporting the use of: Pacific willow
For the health condition: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Pacific willow (Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra, sometimes called Salix lasiandra) has a traditional history of use among various Indigenous peoples of North America for the relief of pain, fever, and inflammation. The use of willow bark in general—across several Salix species—predates modern medicine: its bark contains salicin, a compound metabolized in the body to salicylic acid, which is related to aspirin. Traditional applications of willow bark infusions or decoctions were sometimes used for rheumatic pains, though documentation specifically for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a distinct diagnosis is lacking, since RA as a clinical entity was not recognized until the 19th century.
Modern scientific validation for the use of Pacific willow specifically in RA is weak. Most studies have focused on European white willow (Salix alba), which has demonstrated mild efficacy in osteoarthritis and back pain, but robust clinical trials for RA are lacking. There is no clinical research specifically on Pacific willow extract for RA. Thus, while the traditional use of willow in pain and inflammation provides some rationale, the evidence base is limited and indirect, meriting a low evidence score.
In summary, Pacific willow's use for RA is primarily justified by traditional practice and generalized knowledge about willow bark analgesic effects, rather than by strong scientific evidence or targeted clinical trials.
Other ingredients used for Rheumatoid Arthritis
adrenal cortexAlfalfa
algal oil
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
alpha-pinene
anthocyanins
ashwagandha
astaxanthin
borage oil
celery
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
turmeric
curcumin
d-alpha tocopherol
DHA (docosahexaeonic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
dong quai root
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
evening primrose oil
fisetin
fish protein
gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
gamma tocopherol
genistein
ginger
green lipped mussel
krill oil
luteolin
methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
myristoleate
omega-3 fatty acids
phospholipids
resveratrol
rose hips
sardines
slippery elm bark
sulforaphane glucosinolate
Urolithin A
vitamin B6
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
watercress
white willow
alpinia galangal
smilax
fumaria parviflora
Szechuan lovage
amber
teasel
guelder rose
gentiana macrophylla
Abies spectabilis
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
clematis
15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I
Aralia
Akebia
Antler
Apigenin
Abrus
Andrographolide
Amentoflavone
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
anthocyanidins
Ampelopsin
Actaea spicata
Arjunic Acid
Apocynin
Arctiin
Astragalin
Boswellic Acid
Baicalein
Bogbean
Boswellia
Black willow
Barbasco
bovine cartilage / glycosaminoglycan
Baicalin
Black Hellebore
Bee venom
Bergenia
Cod Liver Oil
Cortisol
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Cyanidin
Chinese Fleeceflower
Chinese Pond Turtle
Chuchuhuasi
Cetylated Fatty Acids
C-Phycocyanin
Cannabidiol
Carnosic acid
Docosahexaenoic Acid
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid
Eicosatetraenoic acid
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Evening Primrose Oil
Fat liver oil
Fructoborate
Flemingia philippinensis
Frankincense
Flavanols
Flavones
Ginkgetin
Gypenoside
Horse Gram
Hyperoside
Hellebore
Hydroxytyrosol
Harpagoside
Jatropha macrantha
Kaempferol
Mangiferin
Myricetin
Madder
Marine fat
Nobiletin
Osthole
Puerarin
Piper chaba
Phaeophyceae
Proteoglycans
Polydatin
Polyunsaturated Fat
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Qin Jiao
Silkmoth
Schizochytrium Oil
Schizochytrium
Salicin
Salmon Oil
Salvianolic acid
Sinomenium acutum
Semecarpus anacardium
saponins
Shilajit
Stearidonic acid
Sulforaphane
Taxillus chinensis
Tanshinone
Uncaria
Ursolic Acid
Withanolides
Other health conditions supported by Pacific willow
Abdominal PainArthritis
Backache
Fever
Headache (general)
Inflammation
Pain (general remedies for)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Wounds and Sores