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Today's Daily Health Tip
A Closer Look at Wintergreen Oil
by Jennifer Good     Wintergreen oil, or methyl salicylate, is an organic ester that is naturally produced by many species of plants. Some of the plants that produce this oil are called wintergreens, which explains its common name.1 Originally, wintergreen oil was used by native North Americans for its medicinal properties to treat the symptoms of rheumatism, sore throats, tooth decay, and other problems such as insect bites, snake bites, and bee stings. Today wintergreen oil is extracted through a process of steam distillation from soaked evergreen wintergreen leaves. If you're unfamiliar with this oil, wintergreen oil is probably the most recognized scent in pain relief balms and for good reason. Wintergreen not only helps carry the other herbs through the skin, it is also effective in relieving arthritis pain, joint stiffness, muscle spasms, and inflammation.
One reason for wintergreen oil's analgesic effect is because the herb contains a compound composed of 90% methyl salicylate, a substance that is similar to aspirin. Did you know that one teaspoon (5 mL) of wintergreen oil is equivalent to approximately 7000 mg of salicylate or 21.5 adult aspirin tablets?2 That just might explain why it is used in high concentrations in deep liniments such as Bengay to help treat joint and muscular pain. Studies have shown that it is more effective for acute rather than chronic pain.3
Other interesting, lesser-known facts about this oil include: - A tea made from the leaves was used as a substitute for black tea during the Revolutionary War.2
- Synthetically made wintergreen is widely used as a flavoring agent for root beer, gum, and toothpaste.1
- Early American settlers had their children chew the leaves of wintergreen each spring to prevent tooth decay.4
That said, you probably do not want to take any significant amounts of wintergreen oil internally. If it builds up in the bloodstream, it can be toxic to the liver. Also, in that regard, you don't want to use excessive amounts topically. If you slather large amounts of the oil (or creams containing the oil) over large areas of your body, day after day, as opposed to using more moderate amounts on localized pain for a couple of days, it will absorb through the skin and enter the bloodstream – which again, may not be great for the liver.
Bottom line with wintergreen oil - it's great for pain relief – but moderation is recommended. Jon Barron recommends using wintergreen oil in a formula with other oils so it is not so concentrated and it helps promote the other herbal ingredients' effectiveness.
For an example of how Jon Barron uses wintergreen in a topical formula, click here. |  LET'S CONNECT
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