Digging Deeper: Wintergreen

Thanks for joining us! Who’s ready to dig deeper into Wintergreen?

Unless otherwise noted, the information provided comes from the appropriate product pages at Witchy Gypsy Oils. Please visit these pages by clicking on the pictures for more details and ordering information.

Wintergreen Leaf Oil
(Gaultheria procumbens)

My girls LOVE this oil because it reminds them of root beer. Go figure.

Actually, wintergreen is an ingredient in root beer so there you go. That’s something you know now.

.While most famous for its classic, minty smell, this low-growing, slow-growing eastern North American native shrub is a great, evergreen groundcover for shady spots. It prefers acidic soils, and could be a great partner to blueberries, pines, or other acid-loving plants. It attracts beneficial insects, is drought-tolerant, thrives in the shade, has edible berries and leaves, and has a long history of medicinal uses. Wintergreen is a fantastic, niche-plant for the Forest Garden.

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Wintergreen’s refreshing minty aroma is stimulating and invigorating. It’s a great addition to lotions that are applied after activity.

Leaves have been chewed to increase respiratory capacity by Native Americans when running long distances and performing difficult labor. Settlers in early America had their children chew leaves for several weeks each spring to prevent tooth decay. Wintergreen was used as a substitute for black tea during the Revolutionary War.

Medical Properties: Anticoagulant, antispasmodic, highly anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, analgesic/anesthetic, reduces blood pressure and all types of pain. Methyl salicylate, the principal constituent of wintergreen oil, has been incorporated into numberous liniments and ointments for musculoskeletal problems. The oil is also used as a flavoring agent in candies and chewing gums.

Uses: Arthritis/rheumatism, muscle/nerve pain, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, hepatitis/fatty liver

Fragrant Influences: It stimulates and increases awareness in all levels of the sensory system.

Cautions: Avoid use if epileptic. Anticoagulant properties can be enhanced when used with Warfarin or aspirin.

_{Excerpted from The Essential Oils Desk Reference, 7th Edition, p139}

Wintergreen’s fragrance may be attractive to children; always keep the child-resistant cap in place.

Thank you for joining me in digging deeper into Wintergreen. I hope you enjoy this sweet oil as much as we do.

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Finally, the obligatory disclaimer.

I am not a doctor. None of the statements included in this post have been approved by the FDA or any other cool acronym known agency. It is Young Living’s official stance that they and these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any specific disease or illness. Young Living Independent Distributor #14632733