Plant Comparison
Ground Elder vs Willow Bark
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Ground Elder and Willow Bark: they share 6 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, back pain, headache, …); 2 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Ground Elder | Willow Bark | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 1/10 | 7/10 | Stronger for Willow Bark |
| Back pain | 1/10 | 9/10 | Stronger for Willow Bark |
| Headache | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 1/10 | 8/10 | Stronger for Willow Bark |
| Pain (general) | 1/10 | 9/10 | Stronger for Willow Bark |
| Skin irritation | 1/10 | 8/10 | Stronger for Willow Bark |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Falcarindiol, a potent COX-1 inhibitor (IC50 0.3 microM), identified as a key anti-inflammatory constituent underlying the plant's traditional anti-rheumatic and analgesic use.
Contribute to the plant's antioxidant activity.
Minor aromatic and coumarin constituents of the aerial parts.
Metabolised in the body to salicylic acid - the 'natural aspirin' that gives the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.
Pharmacological Actions
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory for low back pain (moderate evidence; dose-dependent, around 240 mg salicin/day) - in an RCT, 240 mg salicin/day left 39% pain-free vs 6% on placebo within 4 weeks
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory for low back pain (moderate evidence; dose-dependent, around 240 mg salicin/day) - in an RCT, 240 mg salicin/day left 39% pain-free vs 6% on placebo within 4 weeks
Antipyretic (reduces fever)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-rheumatic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from diuretic action
Relief of joint pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatic complaints
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory for low back pain (moderate evidence; dose-dependent, around 240 mg salicin/day) - in an RCT, 240 mg salicin/day left 39% pain-free vs 6% on placebo within 4 weeks
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory for low back pain (moderate evidence; dose-dependent, around 240 mg salicin/day) - in an RCT, 240 mg salicin/day left 39% pain-free vs 6% on placebo within 4 weeks; Relief of joint pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatic complaints
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally safe as a food plant when young leaves are harvested. Contains furocoumarins (photosensitising compounds) — handling large quantities in bright sunlight may cause skin irritation. Individuals with Apiaceae allergies should exercise caution. Not recommended in therapeutic doses during pregnancy.
Because it works like aspirin, avoid willow bark if you are allergic to aspirin or salicylates, and do NOT give it to children or teenagers with a viral illness (risk of Reye's syndrome). Use caution in asthma (salicylate sensitivity).
Avoid with anticoagulant/antiplatelet medicines (bleeding risk) and in active peptic ulcer; avoid in pregnancy (especially the third trimester) and breastfeeding.
External Ids
Botanical Description
Vigorous, low, patch-forming perennial herb spreading rapidly by white, brittle, creeping rhizomes. The leaves are broad and twice-ternate (in threes of threes), with oval, sharply toothed leaflets, borne on long stalks. In summer it sends up hollow, grooved, unspotted green stems topped with flat umbels of small white flowers, typical of the carrot family. The whole plant smells mildly of parsley or carrot when crushed.[1]
Large deciduous tree (Salicaceae), 10-25 m tall (occasionally taller), fast-growing with a broad crown. Leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, silvery-white and silky-hairy beneath, giving the tree a shimmering appearance in the wind. Tiny flowers are borne in catkins appearing with the leaves in spring; the species is dioecious. The fruit is a small capsule releasing cottony-tufted seeds.[12]
Habitat
A common weed of gardens, hedgerows, shaded waste ground and disturbed soil, often near old dwellings; native to Europe and temperate Asia and widely naturalised elsewhere, where its invasive spreading rhizomes make it a persistent garden weed.[1]
Native to Europe, western and central Asia and North Africa, growing on damp ground along riverbanks, floodplains and wet meadows; widely planted and naturalised elsewhere.[12]
Harvesting
The young leaves and stems are gathered in spring, before flowering, when they are most tender and least bitter; the root can be dug at the same time. Careful identification against poisonous Apiaceae look-alikes (poison hemlock, hemlock water-dropwort, fool's parsley) is essential before harvesting.[1]
Bark is stripped from young branches (2-3-year-old growth is preferred, as salicin content is highest in younger bark) in spring, when the rising sap makes the bark peel most easily, then dried.[12]
Traditional Uses
Ground elder has long been used in European folk medicine as a remedy for gout and rheumatic and arthritic joint pain (reflected in the name 'podagraria', from podagra, gout), typically applied as a poultice or taken as a decoction. The young leaves have also been eaten as a spring pot-herb, valued for their nutrient content as well as their medicinal reputation.[1]
Willow bark has one of the longest documented histories of any medicinal plant, used since antiquity (recorded by Hippocrates) as a remedy for pain and fever. Its salicin content, chemically related to aspirin, gives it official European herbal-monograph recognition for mild joint pain, headache and feverish colds, with modern clinical trials supporting benefit for low back pain.[11, 12]
Preparations
Dried or fresh leaf, stem and root simmered in water as a traditional remedy for gout and rheumatic pain.
Fresh leaves crushed or boiled and applied directly to gouty or arthritic joints.
Young spring leaves eaten as a cooked pot-herb, similarly to spinach, continuing the traditional food-medicine use.
References
Lookalikes Review
Dangerous Lookalikes
Not documented
Dosage
Not documented
Clinical trials for back pain have used around 240 mg salicin/day of standardised extract. Educational reference only, not a prescription; avoid if allergic to aspirin/salicylates, in children/teenagers with a viral illness (Reye's syndrome risk), or alongside anticoagulants.
References & Sources
- Dębia, K., Dzięcioł, M., Wróblewska, A. and Janda-Milczarek, K (2025) 'Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.): An Edible Weed with Health-Promoting Properties', Molecules, 30(7), pp. 1603. doi:10.3390/molecules30071603 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30071603 - Engelhardt, L., Pöhnl, T. and Neugart, S (2022) 'Edible Wild Vegetables Urtica dioica L. and Aegopodium podagraria L.: Antioxidants Affected by Processing', Plants (Basel), 11(20), pp. 2710. doi:10.3390/plants11202710 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11202710 - Jakubczyk, K., Łukomska, A., Czaplicki, S., Wajs-Bonikowska, A., Gutowska, I. et al (2021) 'Bioactive Compounds in Aegopodium podagraria Leaf Extracts and Their Effects against Fluoride-Modulated Oxidative Stress in the THP-1 Cell Line', Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(12), pp. 1334. doi:10.3390/ph14121334 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14121334 - Tovchiga, O.V (2016) 'The influence of goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) tincture and metformin on the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in dexamethasone-treated rats', BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 16, pp. 235. doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1221-y Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1221-y - Flieger, J. and Flieger, M (2020) 'The [DPPH/DPPH-H]-HPLC-DAD Method on Tracking the Antioxidant Activity of Pure Antioxidants and Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) Hydroalcoholic Extracts', Molecules, 25(24), pp. 6005. doi:10.3390/molecules25246005 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25246005 - Prior, R.M., Lundgaard, N.H., Light, M.E., Stafford, G.I., van Staden, J. and Jager, A.K (2007) 'The polyacetylene falcarindiol with COX-1 activity isolated from Aegopodium podagraria L', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 113(1), pp. 176-178. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.05.005 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2007.05.005 - Niziol-Lukaszewska, Z., Zagorska-Dziok, M., Ziemlewska, A. and Bujak, T (2020) 'Comparison of the Antiaging and Protective Properties of Plants from the Apiaceae Family', Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020, pp. 5307614. doi:10.1155/2020/5307614 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5307614 - Baranauskiene, R., Rackauskiene, I. and Venskutonis, P.R (2025) 'Characterization of Steam Volatiles and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Different Extracts from Leaves and Roots of Aegopodium podagraria L', Molecules, 30(24), pp. 4786. doi:10.3390/molecules30244786 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30244786 - Ojala, T., Vuorela, P., Kiviranta, J., Vuorela, H. and Hiltunen, R (1999) 'A bioassay using Artemia salina for detecting phototoxicity of plant coumarins', Planta Medica, 65(8), pp. 715-718. doi:10.1055/s-1999-14049 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-1999-14049 - Schulte, K.E. and Wulfhorst, G (1977) 'Polyacetylene compounds from Aegopodium podagraria L', Archiv der Pharmazie, 310(4), pp. 285-298. doi:10.1002/ardp.19773100403 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ardp.19773100403 - Grieve, M (1931) 'A Modern Herbal'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20Modern%20Herbal - Moerman, D.E (1998) 'Native American Ethnobotany'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Native%20American%20Ethnobotany - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Dayan, A.D (2024) 'Death of Socrates: a likely case of poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) poisoning', Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 62(1), pp. 56-60. doi:10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 - King County Noxious Weeds (2024) 'Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) identification and control'. Available at: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock Traditional / reference
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock - Mitchell, M.I. and Routledge, P.A (1978) 'Hemlock water dropwort poisoning - a review', Clinical Toxicology, 12(4), pp. 417-26. doi:10.3109/15563657809150012 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.3109/15563657809150012 - Teuscher, E. and Greger, H. and Adrian, V (1990) 'Toxicity of Aethusa cynapium L. (fool's parsley)', Pharmazie, 45(7), pp. 537-8. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2236201/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2236201/ - Minnesota Wildflowers (2024) 'Aethusa cynapium (Fool's Parsley)'. Available at: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/fools-parsley Traditional / reference
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/fools-parsley
- Shara, M. and Stohs, S.J (2015) 'Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark (Salix alba) Extracts', Phytotherapy Research, 29(8), pp. 1112-1116. doi:10.1002/ptr.5377 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5377 - Maistro, E.L., Terrazzas, P.M., Perazzo, F.F., Gaivao, I.O.M. and others (2020) 'Salix alba (white willow) medicinal plant presents genotoxic effects in human cultured leukocytes', Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 82(23-24), pp. 1223-1234. doi:10.1080/15287394.2019.1711476 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2019.1711476 - Matyjaszczyk, E. and Schumann, R. (EU-FORA) (2018) 'Risk assessment of white willow (Salix alba) in food', EFSA Journal, 16(Suppl 1), pp. e16081. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2018.e16081 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.e16081 - Phillips, H.N., Sharpe, K.T., Endres, M.I. and Heins, B.J (2021) 'Effects of oral white willow bark (Salix alba) and intravenous flunixin meglumine on prostaglandin E2 in healthy dairy calves', JDS Communications, 3(1), pp. 49-54. doi:10.3168/jdsc.2021-0138 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2021-0138 - Kong, C.S., Kim, K.H., Choi, J.S., Kim, J.E. and others (2014) 'Salicin, an extract from white willow bark, inhibits angiogenesis by blocking the ROS-ERK pathways', Phytotherapy Research, 28(8), pp. 1246-1251. doi:10.1002/ptr.5126 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5126 - Noleto-Dias, C., Ward, J.L., Bellisai, A., Lomax, C. and Beale, M.H (2018) 'Salicin-7-sulfate: A new salicinoid from willow and implications for herbal medicine', Fitoterapia, 127, pp. 166-172. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2018.02.009 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2018.02.009 - Wolfle, U., Haarhaus, B., Kersten, A., Fiebich, B. and others (2015) 'Salicin from Willow Bark can Modulate Neurite Outgrowth in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells', Phytotherapy Research, 29(10), pp. 1494-1500. doi:10.1002/ptr.5400 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5400 - Gagnier, J.J., van Tulder, M., Berman, B. and Bombardier, C (2006) 'Herbal medicine for low back pain (Cochrane review)', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2), pp. CD004504. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004504.pub3 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004504.pub3 - Oltean, H., Robbins, C., van Tulder, M.W., Berman, B.M. and others (2014) 'Herbal medicine for low-back pain (Cochrane review update)', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(12), pp. CD004504. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004504.pub4 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004504.pub4 - Amel Zabihi, N., Mahmoudabady, M., Soukhtanloo, M., Hayatdavoudi, P. and others (2018) 'Salix alba attenuated oxidative stress in the heart and kidney of hypercholesterolemic rabbits', Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 8(1), pp. 63-72. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Salix%20alba%20attenuated%20oxidative%20stress%20in%20the%20heart%20and%20kidney%20of%20hypercholesterolemic%20rabbits - Vlachojannis, J.E., Cameron, M. and Chrubasik, S (2009) 'A systematic review on the effectiveness of willow bark for musculoskeletal pain', Phytotherapy Research. doi:10.1002/ptr.2747 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2747 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Salix [various species], cortex (Salicis cortex)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/salicis-cortex Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/salicis-cortex - Chrubasik, S., Eisenberg, E., Balan, E., Weinberger, T., Luzzati, R. and Conradt, C (2000) 'Treatment of low back pain exacerbations with willow bark extract: a randomized double-blind study', The American Journal of Medicine, 109(1), pp. 9--14. doi:10.1016/S0002-9343(00)00442-3 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9343(00)00442-3
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.