Wintergreen Oil
Botanical name: Gaultheria procumbens
Part used: soaked leaves
Method: Steam distillation
Colour: clear
Consistency: Thin
Aroma: Strong mint, menthol, quite pungent.
Wintergreen has a high Methyl Salicylate content, so numbs and warms the area that it is applied to.
This oil should be used with care as it penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the blood, and can become toxic.
Used topically in dilution it is a pain reliever, in fact used in many propriety brands.
It is also used to uplift and relax, and in a vapourizer it is an effective brochial decongestant.
Wintergreen should be used sparingly and well diluted, never taken orally or applied to open wounds.
Do not use if pregnant or nursing, or for small children.
Do not use if you are on any blood thinning medication or allergic to aspirin.
Not recommended for epileptics or asthmatics.
A skin test is advisable as wintergreen can cause irritation.