The History of Aspirin The earliest known uses of the drug can be traced back to the Greek physician Hippocrates in the fifth century B.C. Hippocrates wrote about a bitter powder extracted from willow bark that could ease aches and pains and reduce fevers as long ago as the fifth century B.C. In the 1700s, the scientist Reverend Edmund Stone wrote about the success of the bark and the willow in helping to …showed first 75 words of 528 total…

…showed last 75 words of 528 total…back up Shapiro’s claim. In addition, aspirin is known to slow prostaglandin production and thus reducing inflammation and pain. Prostaglandin have an influence on the flow of blood platelets, which are key in blood clotting. If plaque tears inside a coronary artery, clotting begins at the site. This can cause cardiac arrest or a myocardial infarction. Also, aspirin is known to help prevent heart attacks and is given to people who have heart disease.