Scientists have discovered cancer-killing ‘miyabeacin’ in the Willow tree

Found in the balk of the Willow tree, the chemical compound has been found to kill various cancer cells

Mother nature has been generous in providing remedies for different ailments over the centuries. And while we have moved on to artificially created medicine with the advent of advanced technology, the natural world still remains an important source of inspiration and discovery for mainstream doctors and experts in alternative medicine.

I am not saying that you have to believe all the homemade remedies for different ailments circulating on social media, but there are tons of naturally occurring compounds that are useful for various purposes. One such source is the willow tree, whose bark is known to have life-saving potential.

Use of willow tree goes back centuries — pain-relieving properties of its leaves and bark were used by ancient Greek, Assyrian and Egyptian civilizations. Although the first scientifically reported investigation of willow was made as a remedy for fever in 1763, the Bayer company found the actual use of the tree in 1897 when a synthetic version of the active ingredient, salicylic acid, found in the tree was produced and later marketed under the name Aspirin — the most commonly…