Poplars contain a compound known as salicin in their inner bark. The marketed artificial substance many of are familiar with is acetylsalicylic acid; more commonly known as Aspirin. If you are allergic to aspirin do not use any form of it, including this method. The risks that apply to aspirin use still apply here and should not be taken lightly. The natural form is actually absorbed easier than the synthetic form, so do not believe that just because it is natural it is good for you. It is advised that you seek guidance from your medical doctor before using any herbal supplement or medicine. Overdose symptoms may include ringing in your ears, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, rapid breathing, fever, seizure (convulsions), or coma and require immediate medical attention. The use of aspirin is not advised for people who are bleeding as it may cause them to bleed out.

Usually, a younger branch off of a willow or aspen tree is cut. From there bark is scraped off and collected making sure to get the white “slick” layer of inner bark just underneath and before the hardwood. Within this bark and cambium layer lies the pain killing properties of aspirin.

There are a couple methods of ingesting this drug to help fight pain and alleviate inflammation. The most simple is to take about a 2 table spoon dose of the shredded cambium and bark then chew on it. It is going to taste as one may imagine; like chewing on chalk. Swallow the juices that come from the quid.

The second method of ingestion is to make a tea. Once again, take about 2 table spoons of the cambium, let it steep for about 10 minutes in hot water. Be careful not to boil the water with the cambium in it as it may denature the aspirin. This drink is often bitter but can be spruced up by adding some mint or honey.

Stripping the bark comes more easily in spring and summer. It becomes more difficult to separate it as the months grow colder but is still very possibly and remains just as useful.

Here is a list of some plants that contain aspirin in the cambium and bark:

Populus tremuloides: Quaking, Trembling or American Aspen (northern & western North America)

Populus grandidentata: Bigtooth Aspen (eastern North America, south of P. tremuloides)

white willow/European willow ( Salix alba )

black willow/pussy willow ( Salix nigra )

crack willow ( Salix fragilis )

purple willow ( Salix purpurea )

weeping willow ( Salix babylonica )

Usnea is the generic and scientific name for several species of lichen in the family Parmeliaceae that are found throughout most of the world. It is commonly referred to as Old Man’s Beard and Beard Lichen, favoring to grow on trees rather than rocks as some of its lichen counterparts. Often a green color due to its content of Usnic Acid, and having stemmed the name of the color ‘usnic green’, this lichen has been used medicinally for hundreds of years and it is this content of Usnic Acid that gives it these medicinal properties.

Usnic Acid (C₁₈H₁₆O₇₎ is a potent antibiotic and antifungal chemical found within most Usnea species. It was traditionally used as a bandage due to these properties. In an emergency situation, Beard lichen could be used solely to bandage and keep clean a wound. Old Man’s Beard could perhaps be used in combination with balsam fir sap (which is a topical pain killer and adhesive) to secure the lichen to the wound, keep it clean, safe from infection, and reduce pain. Usnic Acid has been found to be extremely effective against microbes like Staphylococcus, streptococcus, pathogenic fungi, as well as exhibiting antiviral, antiprotozoal, anti-mitotic, anti-inflammatory, and its own analgesic properties. These characteristics allow Old Man’s Beard to be far superior in backwoods bandaging than that of Sphagnum moss which is antimicrobial only due to its acidic pH.

Another great property of this easily identified lichen is that it is high in vitamin C, making it of good use in the prevention and treatment of scurvy. This lichen is edible and often was used as a soup thickener by early settlers to North America.

Usnea is a lichen, which is a fascinating relationship between a photosynthetic algae and a fungus with entirely different morphology, physiology, and biochemistry than that of an isolated algae or fungus and occur in some of the most extreme environments on earth. While they may be capable of living in extreme conditions, they are very sensitive to air pollution and their presence may be a good indicator of air quality in the area. This quality should be taken into consideration when attempting to locate Old Man’s Beard as it is unlikely to be found near industrial cities.