Wintergreen
Gaultheria
procumbens
 The
essential oil (methyl salicylate) found in the leaves
and berries is now synthetically produced for commercial
uses as flavoring for gum candy and toothpaste and in
creams for joint and muscle pain. Traditionally, leaf
tea was used for colds, headaches, stomachaches, fevers,
kidney ailments; externally, wash for rheumatism, sore
muscles, and lumbago. In experiments, small amounts
have delayed the onset of tumors.
American Indian tribes such as the Penobscot, Sioux, Nez
Perce and others used a tea made from the leaves for a
variety of ailments, as did the early settlers. Crushed
into a poultice, the leaves were an important Indian
remedy for aching, arthritic, or overexerted muscles and
joints. Poultices also relieved swelling, wounds, and
rashes, inflammations-even toothaches. Internally,
wintergreen tea was taken to relieve fever, gonorrhea
symptoms, sore throats, upset stomachs, and ulcers.
Chemists discovered as far back as the 1800's that
Wintergreen has properties similar to natural aspirin
(from the Willow tree (Salix Alba). In that when
Wintergreen is applied externally, it reduces
inflammation and swelling of painful joints and muscles.
Some of the uses:
Cancer, circulation, colds, coughs, cuts, diarrhea, eyes
(inflammation), fevers, gargle, gums, hemorrhages,
hemorrhoids, inflammations (external), insect bites,
menstruation (excess), mouthwash, mucous membranes,
muscles (sore), nervousness, nose bleeds, phlegm, poison
ivy, scalds, sinus, skin diseases (oozing), sores (bed),
sore throat, stings, sunburn, swellings, tuberculosis,
ulcers, vaginitis, varicose veins, venereal disease,
wounds (washing)
Sources:
Little Herb Encyclopedia, by Jack Ritchason; N.D., Woodland Publishing Incorporated, 1995
Planetary Herbology, Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., Lotus Press, 1988
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, by James A. Duke, Pub. CRP Second Edition 2007
The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Published by Dorling Kindersley
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