Wintergreen Essence
Description
© Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
WINTERGREEN (Gaultheria procumbens)
Family: Ericacea
Source: The Essential oil is obtained from the leaves.
Fragrance:aromatic, camphor, vanilla.
General description and habitat:
Native to Northern United States and Canada. One of 200 species of this evergreen flowering shrub; height about 1 foot. It grows in mountainous regions or sandy, deserted plains. It has large, oval, glossy, toothed leaves; flowers are white or pink bells which droop; berries are aromatic and bright red. Also known as partridge berry and checkerberry.
Principal constituents: Methylsalicylate, ketone, alcohol.
History
History and folk use:
It has been used for hundreds of years by Native American Indians, for such ailments as pain or fever. In the nineteenth century it was considered a cure-all.
Properties & Uses
General properties: Diuretic, stimulant, emmenagogue, antirheumatic
Primary Uses:
Fibromyalgia
Gout
Rheumatic conditions
Secondary Uses:
| Boils, | Cellulite, |
| Edema, | Rejuvenating, |
| Stiffness. |
Contraindications
Beware commercial preparations which often have a synthetic base or which are adulterated with other oils, causing disappointing results.
It is not approved by the FDA for internal consumption. Can be fatal to infnats, or, in large dosages, even to adults (a common form of suicide in Hong Kong).
Methyl salicylate oil inhibits platelet aggregation i.e. it is an anticoagulant.
Tam LS et al., Warfarin interactions with Chinese traditional medicines: danshen and methyl salicylate medicated oil. Aust NZJ Med 1995; 25(3):258.
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