“The best (and safest) medicine ever invented is plain aspirin and it comes from willow bark.”
Actually, that’s not correct.
Aspirin causes more visits to the ER than just about any other OTC drug, due to bleeding problems and stomach ulcers.
Aspirin is just about the worst thing you can take when you have a virus. It brings fever down, allowing the virus to replicate unabated. After a few days of that your immune system has alot more bad stuff to deal with.
For Later
So many people don't understand that a pyrexia is a self-defense mechanism for the body. It's reflective of the absolute failure of our public education system, especially in the area of science education.
If Aspirin was just discovered, it would never be approved for over-the-counter use. As you point out, it can have dangerous and even fatal side-effects.
Actually, I didn’t mean to infer that aspirin is the best medicine for any illness, just that overall it’s still the best (and safest)for various problems on a general basis. I’ve been a Bufferin taken for decades with no side effects at all. The coating helps protect the stomach. It’s the ONLY brand I’ll take.