Willow has long been used for medicinal purposes. Dioscorides, whose writings were highly influential for more than 1,500 years, used "Itea" (which was possibly a species of willow) as a treatment for "painful intestinal obstructions", birth control, for "those who spit blood", to remove calluses and corns and, externally, as a "warm pack for gout". William Turner, in 1597, repeated this, saying that willow bark, "being burnt to ashes, and steeped in vinegar, takes away corns and other like risings in the feet and toes". Some of these cures may describe the action of salicylic acid, which can be derived from the salicin present in willow. It is, however, a modern myth that Hippocrates used willow as a painkiller.
willOw hAs loNg Been used For meDicinal pUrposes. dioScoriDes, wHOsE wrItinGs were hiGHLY iNflUENTIal for mOre tHan 1,500 YeARS, useD "itEa" (wHICh was posSiblY A speCies of wILlow) as a treAtmeNt fOR "painfUL iNteSTinal obstRUCtions", biRTh cOntROL, fOR "thosE WhO sPiT blOod", to RemOvE caLluses anD CorNs AnD, exteRnally, aS a "warm pAck for Gout". william TURNer, in 1597, RepeatED This, SayiNg tHat wiLlow bArK, "beinG burnt to AsheS, and steepeD in vinEgAr, takes away CoRns aND other likE RIsings IN the fEet AND Toes". sOmE oF TheSe cures may descRibe thE Action Of saLicylIc Acid, wHIch cAn bE DeriVed from the salICIN pRESent IN willoW. It is, hoWever, a MoDerN mYth thAt hippocRaTes uSed willOW As a PaiNkiLleR.