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Properties

Analgesic
Anti-inflammatory
Antiseptic
Astringent
 

Wellness Uses

Skin Care

Common
Health Concerns

Arthritic Pain
Dermatitis
Joint Pain
Skin Disorders

About Wintergreen

Wintergreen is an aromatic stimulant that has a familiar aroma that many will recognize from Ben-Gay or similar muscle pain relievers.  The commonality is methyl salicylate that is a chemically synthesized ingredient in popular muscle pain relieving medications and a natural ingredient that makes up almost the entirety of wintergreen oil (Gaultheria procumbens).  It has also been used for some respiratory conditions. Minorities of people have found its analgesic properties mildly helpful against headaches. The oil is extracted from the small leaves of the plant.  DōTerra Wintergreen Essential Oil if of the botanical family Ericaceae, grown in China and extracted from the leaf of the plant.

Typical Applications

Wintergreen is most often used topically, and is excellent for warming massages. 

Precautions:   Contains methyl salicylate that has very positive properties but if applied too strongly can be an irritant and even toxic at high levels.  Some recommend storing wintergreen out of reach of children since it has an odor familiar in many sweets.