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pain & recovery
At the end of a long week, is there anything sweeter than the moment your head hits the pillow? Wintergreen may be the perfect antidote to tired days and overworked muscles.
Used in toothpastes, chewing gum and root beer, Wintergreen yields about .5 percent essential oil. Native to North America, Wintergreen grows up to 6 inches and has deep-green leathery leaves that sprout small white flowers and develop into red fruit. The leaves are put through a steam distillation to extract the essential oil.
Wintergreen is incredibly powerful, so only use it with caution in small amounts. Edens Garden Wintergreen oil is very pure and in addition to being GC/MS tested, it is also natural-isotope tested to ensure its high quality.
Botanical Name: Gaultheria procumbens
Origin: Nepal
Method: Steam Distilled
Plant Part: Leaves
Note: Middle - Top
Family: Ericaceae
Blends Well With: Geranium, and other florals
Aroma: Minty, fresh, slightly-earthy, creamy top notes and likened to the aroma of Wintergreen gum
Consistency: Thin
Color: Clear
Safety: Keep out of reach of children. Do not use if pregnant or nursing. Avoid contact with eyes. Do not use internally unless instructed by a licensed aromatherapist or physician.
Avoid around the time of surgery or if on anticoagulants, have bleeding disorders or have a salicylate sensitivity. Possible drug interactions.
Adult Max Dilution: 2.4%
Shelf Life: 2-3 Years
Pet Safety: Essential oils are generally safe to diffuse around adult cats and dogs intermittently. Ensure the room you’re diffusing in is well-ventilated and that your pet can leave if desired. Discontinue use if you notice any adverse reaction. Avoid topical use and diffusing around young pets, small animals or pets with health problems.
- Wintergreen essential oil (Gaultheria procumbens) is incredibly powerful – a little goes a long way. When used topically, Wintergreen works to alleviate pain and soreness while speeding up the recovery of muscles. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties assist with joint discomfort. Diffused, Wintergreen soothes headaches and migraines. What’s more, its minty aroma refreshes and energizes.
- Essential oils are powerful, concentrated substances so a little goes a long way. Two of the most effective ways to use them is by way of inhalation and topical use. Ingesting Wintergreen essential oil is rarely necessary or recommended, no matter the brand. Ingestion can lead to adverse reactions such as medication contraindications, mucous membrane irritation, sensitization and nausea if done incorrectly. Therefore, if you wish to take essential oils internally, we strongly recommend consulting with a knowledgeable professional with experience in internal use.
- Wintergreen essential oil is safe when used as directed. It has a maximum recommended dilution of 2.4% or 14 drops of Wintergreen per ounce of carrier oil. Wintergreen can also inhibit platelet aggregation and exacerbate blood-thinning. Therefore, those taking anticoagulant medication, such as warfarin, aspirin and heparin (as well as those with hemophilia, bleeding disorders and those who are about to/have gone through major surgery) should avoid Wintergreen. Due to its heightened precautions, it’s also not recommended for use by young children and those pregnant or nursing.
- Wintergreen oil is known to powerfully soothe pain and inflammation. To use it for this purpose, dilute it to 2% by combining 12 drops Wintergreen and 1 oz carrier oil or unscented lotion. Alternatively, add 2 drops to a 10 ml roll-on and top off with carrier oil. Apply it topically to the area of concern. For internal pain and headaches, diffuse 10 drops Wintergreen per 100 ml of water in an essential oil diffuser.
- It is unknown whether Wintergreen essential oil can help stop lactation. However, it is not recommended that you use Wintergreen essential oil while nursing due to its many precautions. Anecdotal evidence suggests Peppermint can help reduce lactation. In a poll of 166 nursing mothers, 30% reported that the use of Peppermint oil significantly reduced their milk supply and that the supply returned to normal 1-3 days after ceasing use of Peppermint. For more information on essential oils and breastfeeding, visit this article.
SPORTS MASSAGE: Add to a 2 ounce squeeze bottle: 2 drops of Wintergreen, 8 drops of Lavender, 5 drops of Chamomile (Roman) and 5 drops of Rosemary; fill with Jojoba oil. Shake to mix well. Massage into sore muscles. (1.7% dilution)
LINIMENT: Add to a 2 ounce squeeze bottle: 2 drops of Wintergreen, 5 drops of Juniper Berry, 3 drops of Frankincense, 2 drops of Peppermint and 8 drops of Copaiba; fill with Jojoba oil. Shake to mix well. Apply a small amount of this mixture to sore muscles and massage into the skin. (1.7% dilution)
BITE AID: In a 1 ounce squeeze bottle add 2 drops of Wintergreen, 2 drops of Peppermint, 6 drops of Lavender and 1 ounce of aloe vera gel. Apply 2-3 times a day or as needed to assist the body's natural process of relieving insect bites. (1.7% dilution)
ELEVATE: Add to a personal inhaler and inhale as needed: 2 drops of Wintergreen, 3 drops of Peppermint and 10 drops of Grapefruit. Or add 5-6 drops of this blend to your Scent Ball Diffuser and diffuse for 30-60 minutes.