Wintergreen Essential Oil (Gaultheria fragrantissima)

Overview

Wintergreen may also be referred to as fragrant wintergreen, indian wintergreen, or Gandhupura (Hindi). It is typically processed using steam or hydro distillation as a method for extracting oil from the leaves.

Wintergreen Essential Oil
By Vinayaraj - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55779818

Essential Facts

  • Aroma Description:

    Cool Fresh Minty Slightly camphoraceous Slightly sweet Strong

  • Common Name(s): fragrant wintergreen, indian wintergreen, or Gandhupura (Hindi)
  • Botanical Family: Ericaceae
  • Botanical Genus: Gaultheria
  • Chemical Family: Esters
  • Major Compounds: Methyl Salicylate: 96.0-99.5%
  • Perfumery Note: Top
  • Consistency: Thin
  • Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong
  • Color: Clear to Pale Yellow
  • Indigenous Country: Top/Middle
  • Cultivation: Wild Harvested
  • Processing Methods: Steam or Hydro Distillation
  • Part Typically Used: Leaves
  • Shelf Life: gets better with age
  • Wild Harvested Wild Harvested
  • Vegan Vegan

Essential Details

Benefits & Uses

Therapeutic Benefits of Wintergreen:

Analgesic Anti-arthritic Anti-inflammatory Anti-rheumatic Cooling Energizing Warming

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using Wintergreen:

Use sparingly if at all. Numerous reports of poisoning have occurred. Tisserand and Young warn that Wintergreen Essential Oil poses a hazard for toxicity, drug interaction, it can inhibit blood clotting, and high doses are teratogenic (harmful to fetuses and embryos). Avoid use of Wintergreen with children, during pregnancy and breastfeeding and by those taking anticoagulant medication. They recommend a dermal maximum of 2.4% and advise to use with caution with skin that is sensitive or damaged. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 469.]

Safety Precautions for Wintergreen:

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.

Energetic, Spiritual, and Emotional Qualities

Energetics and Chakras Qualites of Wintergreen:

1st Chakra - Survival and Support 5th Chakra - Speaking Truth Energizing Expansive Purifying Uplifting

Articles

Wintergreen Articles or Publications:

Wild Tansy Essential Oil
Wintergreen (Procumbens) Essential Oil