For centuries, many have relied on white willow bark as a natural solution to pain and inflammation. Within the bark of the white willow tree is a compound known as Salicin, which is akin to aspirin.

It was at the Musée d’Orsay where amongst paintings ranging from Cezanne to Gauguin, one stood out the most, “Saule pleureur” by Claude Monet. The blending colors of the leaves and the textured bark, ...