The Story Behind Aspirin...

Aspirin wasn't named by a coincidence, its name comes from its main ingredient, (A) for acetylsalicylic acid and (SPIR) from the plant it was extracted from, spiraea ulmaria, then (IN) was added. Ancient Egyptians used willow bark plants to treat pain, they did not know that the substance that was reducing body temperature and headaches is salicylic acid. Between (460–370 BCE), Hippocrates the father of medicine, recommended chewing willow plants for those who experienced fever and pain. Despite the long history, the substance was extracted by Henri Leroux, a French pharmacist who isolated a pure crystalline form of salicin which is called, salicylic acid. In 1890s, in Germany, a chemist named Felix Hoffmann synthesized acetylsalicylic acid and shortly discovered Aspirin. His main reason to develop a better pain reliever was to support his father who experienced rheumatism, a disease marked by pain in the joints, muscles and fibrous tissues. The drug became a hit in 1915, and it was sold as over the counter tablets.