Winter Green Oil

Botanical Name: Gaultheria fragrantissima
Common Name: Wintergreen
Family: Ericaceae
Parts Used: Leaves

Description: Wintergreen is often used to relieve pain and inflammation, since the leaves contain a compound closely related to aspirin. Several tribes, including the Delaware and Mohican, used a tea made from the leaves to treat kidney disorders. The Great Lakes and Eastern Woodland tribes used poultices of wintergreen to treat arthritic and rheumatic aches and pains. It was also used by many tribes to treat back pain, fever, headaches, sore throats, and many other conditions.

Active Compounds: Phenols (including gaultherin and salicylic acid), volatile oil (up to 98% methyl salicylate), mucilage, resin, tannins

Medicinal Properties: Analgesic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, stimulant, anodyne, anti-rheumatic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, aromatic, emmenagogue

Uses: Used to staunch bloody wounds, applied to dog bites, snakebites, and insect bites. Also used as a poultice, good for boils, swellings, ulcers, old sores