The discovery of aspirin dates back to the 5th century B.C., when Hippocrates used a powder from the bark of a willow tree to ease minor pains, reduce fevers and to help with childbirth. The willow tree powder was actually salicin, the pharmacological ancestor to the family of drugs known as salicylates. The best known of which is aspirin. Later efforts where made to neutralize salicin with sodium, but unfortunately turned out to be …showed first 75 words of 429 total…

…showed last 75 words of 429 total…in patients with previous or unstable heart conditions. Also, Harvard researchers found that aspirin can reduce the risk or colon cancer if taken twice a week. The side effects of aspirin are nausea, heartburn, and stomach pain, and can cause hemorrhagic strokes (bleeding to the brain). You should not use aspirin if you have high blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, or peptic ulcers. Useless Facts About Aspirin · Americans consume 80 billion aspirin tablets per year