Aspirin, or
acetylsalicylic acid, is a common
drug, originally made by the
Bayer company in
Germany as a
synthetic version of salicylic acid, which is found in the bark of
willow trees and was once used as a pain reliever.
In addition to reducing pain, aspirin is used to treat inflammation and fevers. It also prevents blood from clotting and improves circulation, and can be an effective treatment for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes.