STAN FREBERG HERE...Happy Birthday, Aspirin
Stan Freberg here. Our old friend aspirin is 100 years old - at least, the aspirin tablet as we know it is. But the herb it comes from is a lot older than that. Be right back.[:60 SPOT BREAK]
On its 100th birthday, plain old aspirin is one of the most prescribed drugs in the world. The Bayer Company says Americans take 80 million aspirins a day. Each year, worldwide, 58 billion doses are swallowed.
In addition to its traditional role in killing pain, reducing fever and inflammation, aspirin is now recognized as a potent medication for everything from halting heart attacks to preventing strokes. But it's a lot older than a hundred years.
Its' main ingredient is white willow bark, which you can actually buy today in health food stores. In 400 B.C., Hipocrates prescribed willow bark to relive pain and fever.
What did he say? "...Ahem...chew two pieces of this bark and call me in the morning"?
Stan Freberg here.
Copyright (C)1998, Stan Freberg/Freberg, Ltd. (but not very) Distributed by Dick Brescia Associates and Radio Spirits, Inc.