The use of the primary ingredient of aspirin as a medicine, goes back thousands of years. Clay tablets from ancient Sumer describe the preparation of that primary ingredient, salicylate, from willow bark, and enumerate a laundry list of ailments that it could be used to treat. In the late nineteenth century, the acetylsalicylic acid form of the drug was marketed around the world by the Bayer company of Germany. In the 20^th century, aspirin was found to be effective at lowering fever, reducing pain, and treating rheumatic fever. Continue reading →