Wintergreen is, to me, one of
the most fascinating components of modern naturopathic medicine. Like many
other naturally derived medicines, wintergreen is the subject of much
misconception and myth. Often mistaken for being a member of the mint family,
"wintergreen" is actually not a mint at all. Rather, it is a name
applied to several related and unrelated species of plants containing the same
medicinal compound.
Identity of "Wintergreen" Plants
The name
"wintergreen" originally applied to any plant that remained green all
winter-- in other words, an evergreen. Today, it is reserved for evergreen
plants that bear the compound ethyl salicylate, or wintergreen oil. The most
common "wintergreen" plant, or source of wintergreen oil, is eastern
teaberry. Other members of the genus Gaultheria are also referred to as
wintergreens.
Sources of Wintergreen Oil
Eastern
teaberry is the most common source of wintergreen oil. The unrelated botanical
family Pyrolaceae also includes several plants called "wintergreen,"
which also yield significant quantities of wintergreen oil. A few species of
birch tree, including black birch and black birch, yield wintergreen oil, as do
the all of the fragrant, flowering shrubs known as meadowsweet. Many
fruit-bearing trees also yield appreciable amounts of wintergreen oil, but are
less commonly used as sources of the compound.
Chemistry of Wintergreen Oil
Chemistry of Wintergreen Oil
Wintergreen
oil is known properly as methyl salicylate. Most of the plants that produce
wintergreen oil do so as a natural repellent to herbivores, who generally find
its taste unpleasant. Today, most wintergreen oil used in food and medicine is
produced synthetically by combining the popular medicinal compounds salicylic
acid and methanol. Wintergreen oil retains many of the traits associated with
salicylic acid-- a chemically similar compound that is very similar to modern
aspirin.
Natural Medicinal Uses
Plants that yield wintergreen are still sometimes used in naturopathic medicine. Meadowsweet, sweet birch, and eastern teaberry may be included in anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving formulas, since methyl salicylate's aspirin-like qualities can facilitate pain relief. When applied topically to tense muscles or sore areas, wintergreen oil is a very effective analgesic and acts as a counterirritant, much like peppermint oil. Oral wintergreen oil can help to relieve gastric spasms, reducing stomach pain and digestive discomforts.
Side Effects
Like most effective medicines, wintergreen oil is toxic in large amounts. Current recommendations suggest that one teaspoon of pure wintergreen oil is roughly equivalent in efficacy and toxicity to 21.5 tablets of adult-strength aspirin. Like aspirin, wintergreen oil can reduce blood's ability to clot, increasing the risk of bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. Inhaled or oral wintergreen may also cause breathing difficulties in some susceptible individuals. As always, consult a qualified health care provider before using any naturopathic medicine.
Natural Medicinal Uses
Plants that yield wintergreen are still sometimes used in naturopathic medicine. Meadowsweet, sweet birch, and eastern teaberry may be included in anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving formulas, since methyl salicylate's aspirin-like qualities can facilitate pain relief. When applied topically to tense muscles or sore areas, wintergreen oil is a very effective analgesic and acts as a counterirritant, much like peppermint oil. Oral wintergreen oil can help to relieve gastric spasms, reducing stomach pain and digestive discomforts.
Side Effects
Like most effective medicines, wintergreen oil is toxic in large amounts. Current recommendations suggest that one teaspoon of pure wintergreen oil is roughly equivalent in efficacy and toxicity to 21.5 tablets of adult-strength aspirin. Like aspirin, wintergreen oil can reduce blood's ability to clot, increasing the risk of bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. Inhaled or oral wintergreen may also cause breathing difficulties in some susceptible individuals. As always, consult a qualified health care provider before using any naturopathic medicine.
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