Wintergreen Essential Oil (Gaultheria procumbens)
- Description
- Ingredients
- Suggested Use
Wintergreen Essential Oil (Gaultheria procumbens) is an ideal choice for anyone looking to increase circulation, reduce pain and inflammation, and enhance digestion. It contains salicylic acid and methyl salicylate, which studies have proven effective for these particular benefits.
Salicylates are known to be pain relievers and blood thinners; the chemical name of Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, a synthetic derivative of salicylic acid. Though both aspirin and wintergreen come from salicylates, wintergreen is much stronger/potent.
The methyl salicylate in wintergreen essential oil directly or indirectly affects most organ systems. The potential toxic effects are :
- the central nervous system with tinnitus, hearing loss, tremors, and seizures
- the cardiovascular system with rapid heart rate and hypotension
- the respiratory system with rapid respirations
- the liver with hepatitis
- the GI tract with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain