Wintergreen essential oil is extracted from the leaves of a small evergreen herb that grows up to 15 cm. In late spring the plant forms small white flowers. In summer red cherry shaped berries grow and last until the following spring. The crushed leaves have a lovely medicinal smell. Traditionally Wintergreen was chewed by the natives of the Americas in order to increase lung capacity and assist in healing respiratory conditions. Early settlers chewed on Wintergreen to help prevent tooth decay.

The dried leaf and stem are current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a specific for rheumatoid arthritis. It is often blended to a 10% concentration in the carrier oil of your choice, and used as an effective pain-relieving massage oil.

The plant has been used for respiratory conditions such as chronic mucous discharge, but is mainly employed for joint and muscular pain relief from conditions such as lumbago, sciatica, neuralgia, gout, fibromyalgia, etc. Wintergreen is often added to liniments and ointments to help ease muscle and joint pains.

The essential oil of Wintergreen, being made up almost exclusively of methyl salicylate, a precursor to common aspirin; therefore Wintergreen should NOT be used by people who are allergic to aspirin. The salicylates inhibit the formation of prostaglandins, thereby reducing inflammation and pain. Along with its analgesic effects, Wintergreen also has anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactagogue and stimulant properties. Internal use of wintergreen should be avoided because it can be toxic.

This pale yellow oil with an intense sweet-woody aroma should be diluted significantly before topical application - it would be a fine addition to any formulas for supporting joint and muscular aches and pains. Care must be taken to use Wintergreen in modest amounts, and to always keep the oil away from children. One should consider it a bottle of liquid aspirin in this regard.