Cavemen might have taken aspirin for their headaches

Cavemen self-medicated on aspirin to relieve aches and pains, say scientists.

They found evidence of medicinal plants containing the drug while analyzing 50,000-year-old teeth plaque.

Cavemen were thought to be clued up on what to dose up on when they fell ill.

One with a tooth abscess was found to be eating the poplar plant, which contains painkiller salicylic acid. This is the active ingredient of aspirin.

Prof Alan Cooper said: “We also detected a natural antibiotic mould, Penicillium.

“Apparently, Neanderthals possessed a good knowledge of medicinal plants and their various pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.

“Our findings contrast markedly with the rather simplistic view of our ancient relatives in popular imagination.”

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