What is the source of aspirin today and why isn’t it obtained from its original source? What is the source of aspirin today and why isn’t it obtained from its original source? Solution Aspirin or acetyl salicylic acid is prepared manually my adding acetyl group to salicylic acid. Originally salicylic acid was obtained from Willow bark. However when people in took this, they started getting heart and stomach burns as a side effect of salicylic acid. To overcome this, an acetyl group was added which nullified the side effect. Hence aspirin is not obtained from the original source and is manually prepared to overcome this drawback. .