Organic Wintergreen Essential Oil

Description

Wintergreen belongs to the same family as heather and the strawberry tree. It grows in forests and wet areas of North America, as well as in the Himalayas.
It is a small, creeping shrub with dark green leaves, little bell-shaped white flowers and deep red fruits. The leaves and berries give off a strong, distinctive smell. This shrub manages to flower even without light, giving us an idea of its great vitality.

Wintergreen was well known to the Native American tribes of Canada, who used it to relieve pain, reduce fever and as a stimulant for fatigue. In traditional Chinese medicine, wintergreen is used to remove heat and dampness and to relieve pain.

In the early XIX century, a French pharmacist named Boyveau marketed a preparation (called Rob de Laffecteur) that he had copied from an Iroquois text. This wintergreen-based preparation was very successful.
This plant was also used for magical purposes. Fresh leaves were used against spells and curses. Leaves were also placed under pillows to protect and attract good spirits.
The essential oil is extracted from leaves that have been soaked for several hours to produce enzymatic fermentation. The resulting essential oil has a density greater than water, so it is found at the bottom of the separator rather than floating above the hydrolate, as happens with the vast majority of essential oils.
The essential oil consists of more than 98% methyl salicylate, a precursor molecule of aspirin.
Its aroma is unmistakable and very distinctive. If we have ever used the product “Reflex”, wintergreen’s aroma will be familiar.

Precautions

Do not use during pregnancy or on children under 6 years of age. People taking anticoagulants should avoid prolonged use. Do not use if allergic to salicylates (aspirin). Do not use undiluted on the skin; it may cause irritation.