Wintergreen is native to North America. Native Americans knew its medicinal property and used its brew to control rheumatic symptoms, sore throat, etc. The medicinal property of wintergreen plant is due its essential oil found in the leaves. The oil is obtained by steam distillation and contains methyl salicylate and gaultherilene. Wintergreen essential oil is known for its analgesic, antirheumatic, antispasmodic and astringent properties.
About wintergreen essential oil
The wintergreen essential oil is extracted from the leaves of wintergreen plant. The wintergreen plant is small in appearance and it rises up to 15 cm from the ground. The small plant has small white colored flowers. The berries of wintergreen plant are red in color and they are cherry shaped. The red color berries appear in the spring season. They keep growing till the end of the spring.
Wintergreen leaves
The wintergreen leaves have medicinal properties. It has a wondrous medicinal aroma when it is crushed.
The Americans use wintergreen leaves to chew. The medicinal taste is lovely. It is traditionally believed that chewing wintergreen leaves will increase lung capacity and will prevent tooth decay. It might be also used to cure the respiratory conditions.
Benefits of Wintergreen Essential Oil
Listed below are some of the benefits of wintergreen essential oil:
- Wintergreen Essential Oil Relieves Pain: It is suggested that the presence of methyl salicylate triggers a feeling of numbness in the affected part of the body. The essential oil is also believed to promote blood circulation and bring warmth to the affected area, thereby relieving pain, stomach aches and headache.
- Wintergreen Essential Oil Fights Infections: The antimicrobial property of wintergreen essential oil can help in killing bacteria, fungi and virus. But it is recommended not to apply the oil directly on an open wound or in direct contact with blood.
- Wintergreen Oil Treats Arthritis and Rheumatism: Experts suggest that by boosting blood circulation, winter oil can prevent accumulation of toxins such as uric acid, salt, etc in the body. Moreover, the diuretic property of the essential oil can also excrete toxins, thereby treating gout, arthritis and rheumatism.
- Wintergreen Oil Treats Spasms: The relaxing and soothing effect of wintergreen oil can help in alleviating spasms of the smooth muscles of the body. This may help in treating spasmodic coughs, muscular cramps, diarrhea, convulsions, etc.
- Wintergreen Essential Oil Prevents Premature Aging: The astringent property of this oil can help in tightening of the blood vessels, muscles and skin. This might help in treating wrinkles or slowing down the aging process.
As side effects, the wintergreen essential oil can cause bleeding when taken with aspirin or warfarin. Even its oral intake may be fatal due to toxic methyl salicylate. High intake through topical application can lead to death, liver or kidney damage and nervous system disorder. One may want to take expert’s advice before having wintergreen essential oil.
Precautions
The precautions to be taken before using wintergreen essential oil are:
- Dilute the oil with any carrier oils before application
- Test a small quantity of the oil on your skin to check sensitivity and allergic reactions
- Always use moderately
- Do not apply a large amount to avoid reactions
- The wintergreen essential oil might not be used in aromatherapy
- It might not be used internally.
- External application is enough to get the results
- Keep it away from children
The risk factors
The primary risk factors involved in wintergreen essential oil are:
- The oil is highly poisonous because it contain Menthyl Salicylate
- The pregnant women might not apply wintergreen essential oil before consulting the doctor
- Overuse might cause even death of the person because a small quantity of the oil is more than enough to get the required effect. The overdose will badly affect the muscles and tissues
- It might damage liver, kidney and other internal organs when used internally
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