Omnia SanaPlant Comparison
Willow Bark vs Vervain
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
Willow Bark and Vervain: they share 6 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, back pain, headache, …); 2 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Willow Bark | Vervain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 7/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Willow Bark |
| Back pain | 9/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Willow Bark |
| Headache | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 8/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Willow Bark |
| Pain (general) | 9/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Willow Bark |
| Skin irritation | 8/10 | 1/10 | 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
Metabolised in the body to salicylic acid - the 'natural aspirin' that gives the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.
Characteristic constituents; verbenalin has a dopaminergic effect.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents.
Supporting antioxidant and aromatic constituents.
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)
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic
Nervine / anxiolytic for nervous tension and mild anxiety; supports sleep (traditional) - a crude extract showed anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activity in animal models
Nervine / anxiolytic for nervous tension and mild anxiety; supports sleep (traditional) - a crude extract showed anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activity in animal models
Digestive bitter and relief of mild mental stress
Traditional & Indicated Uses
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
Nervine / anxiolytic for nervous tension and mild anxiety; supports sleep (traditional) - a crude extract showed anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activity in animal models
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antidepressant action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from sedative action
Nervine / anxiolytic for nervous tension and mild anxiety; supports sleep (traditional) - a crude extract showed anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activity in animal models
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Digestive bitter and relief of mild mental stress
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
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
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]
Slender, upright perennial herb with wiry, square, sparsely hairy stems and deeply lobed, toothed leaves. Tiny, pale lilac to pale purple, five-lobed flowers are borne sparsely along thin, wiry spikes at the ends of the branches, opening a few at a time.[11]
Habitat
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]
Grows on dry waste ground, roadsides, field margins and disturbed soil; native to Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia and widely naturalised elsewhere.[11]
Harvesting
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]
The flowering aerial parts are cut in summer as the plant comes into flower and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place.
Traditional Uses
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]
Vervain has an ancient European reputation, reflected in its old names 'holy herb' and 'herb of the cross', as a calming nervine for nervous tension, anxiety and sleeplessness, and as a bitter digestive tonic; it has also traditionally been used topically and internally for aches, pains and mild inflammation.[11]
Preparations
Dosage
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.
Not documented
References
Lookalikes Review
Drug Class Interactions
Not documented
References & Sources
- 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
- Bekara, A., Amazouz, A. and Douma, T.B (2020) 'Evaluating the Antidepressant Effect of Verbena officinalis L. (Vervain) Aqueous Extract in Adult Rats', Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 11(1), pp. 91-98. doi:10.32598/bcn.11.1.3 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.11.1.3 - Rodrigues Oliveira, S.M., Dias, E., Girol, A.P., Silva, H. and others (2022) 'Exercise Training and Verbena officinalis L. Affect Pre-Clinical and Histological Parameters', Plants, 11(22), pp. 3115. doi:10.3390/plants11223115 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223115 - Dong, J., Du, C., Xu, C., Wang, Q. and others (2023) 'Verbenalin attenuates hepatic damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in alcohol-associated steatohepatitis by regulating MDMX/PPARalpha-mediated ferroptosis', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 307, pp. 116227. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116227 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.116227 - Nisar, R., Adhikary, S., Ahmad, S. and Alam, M.A (2022) 'In Vitro Antimelanoma Properties of Verbena officinalis Fractions', Molecules, 27(19), pp. 6329. doi:10.3390/molecules27196329 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27196329 - Dai, X., Zhou, X., Shao, R., Zhao, R. and others (2023) 'Bioactive Constituents of Verbena officinalis Alleviate Inflammation and Enhance Killing Efficiency of Natural Killer Cells', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(8), pp. 7144. doi:10.3390/ijms24087144 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087144 - Zhang, W., Zhang, P., Xu, L.H., Gao, K. and others (2023) 'Ethanol extract of Verbena officinalis alleviates MCAO-induced ischaemic stroke by inhibiting IL17A pathway-regulated neuroinflammation', Phytomedicine, 123, pp. 155237. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155237 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155237 - Kubica, P., Szopa, A. and Ekiert, H (2017) 'Production of verbascoside and phenolic acids in biomass of Verbena officinalis L. (vervain) cultured under different in vitro conditions', Natural Product Research, 31(14), pp. 1663-1668. doi:10.1080/14786419.2017.1286477 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2017.1286477 - Yang, J.Y., Guo, C.S., Su, L., Xu, C.X. and others (2023) 'Four undescribed triterpenes from the aerial parts of Verbena officinalis', Fitoterapia, 170, pp. 105670. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105670 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105670 - Chen, Y., Gan, Y., Yu, J., Ye, X. and others (2023) 'Key ingredients in Verbena officinalis and determination of their anti-atherosclerotic effect using a computer-aided drug design approach', Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, pp. 1154266. doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1154266 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1154266 - Peng, S., Li, F., Yu, K., Zhou, F. and others (2022) 'Integrating transcriptome and chemical analyses to reveal the anti-Alzheimer's disease components in Verbena officinalis Linn', Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, pp. 955075. doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.955075 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.955075 - (2020) 'Verbena officinalis (Common Vervain) - A Review on the Investigations of This Medicinally Important Plant Species', Planta Medica. doi:10.1055/a-1232-5758 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1232-5758 - Khan, A.W., Khan, A.U. and Ahmed, T (2016) 'Anticonvulsant, Anxiolytic, and Sedative Activities of Verbena officinalis', Frontiers in Pharmacology. doi:10.3389/fphar.2016.00499 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2016.00499 - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
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.