Benefits of Wintergreen Essential Oil

Wintergreen Essential Oil

Many people know wintergreen, but they don't know much about wintergreen essential oil.Today I will take you understand the wintergreen essential oil from four aspects.

Introduction of Wintergreen Essential Oil

The Gaultheria procumbens wintergreen plant is a member of the Ericaceae plant family. Native to North America, especially cooler parts of the Northeast United States and Canada, wintergreen trees that produce bright red berries can be found growing freely throughout forests. Wintergreen oil has the ability to act like a natural analgesic (pain reducer), antiarthritic, antiseptic and astringent. It primarily contains the active ingredient methyl salicylate, which makes up about 85 percent to 99 percent of this essential oil. Wintergreen is one of the best sources of this inflammation-fighting compound in the world and believed to be one of only several plants that naturally supply enough to form an extract. Birch essential oil also contains methyl salicylate and therefore has similar tension-reducing benefits and uses.

Wintergreen Essential Oil Benefits

Here`s more about what studies have revealed regarding wintergreen essential oil`s benefits:

1. Muscle Pain Relief

Wintergreen is capable of reducing inflammatory responses and reliving infection, swelling and pain. Wintergreen oil works to reduce swelling and irritation that occurs around painful muscle, tissue and joints. It`s even a plausible alternative therapy to NSAIDs (pain-relieving drugs). Several drops massaged into the skin is also great for relieving achy joints from arthritis or rheumatism. It`s helpful for treating sore muscles and chronic neck pain, as well as relieving lower back pain.

2. Cold and Flu Treatment

Wintergreen leaves contain an aspirin-like chemical that can help reduce pain, congestion, swelling and fever associated with common illnesses. To open your nasal passages and breathe more deeply, combine wintergreen and coconut oil together, and then rub them into your chest and upper back just like a store-bought vapor rub. Other beneficial oils to include in this blend in order to treat or prevent the common cold or flu are eucalyptus, peppermint and bergamot oils.

3. Antibacterial and Antiviral

Gaultheria procumbent extract`s main ingredient methyl salicylate can be metabolized in plant tissues to form salicylic acid, a phytohormone that helps induce plant immunity against microbial pathogens. Since it helps combat bacterial growth, viruses and fungi, use wintergreen around your home or on your body to safely remove dangerous contaminants. You can run some through your dishwasher or laundry machine to kill odor-causing bacteria and molds that can linger. You also can scrub some into your showers and toilet bowls.

4. Digestive Relief

Wintergreen can be used in small doses to increase stomach acid and juices that help improve digestion. It`s considered a natural mild diuretic and increases urine production, which can help cleanse the digestive tract and reduce bloating. It also has anti-nausea benefits and soothing effects on the gastric lining and colon because of its ability to reduce muscle spasms, making it a natural remedy for nausea. You can rub a homemade wintergreen oil mixture over your abdomen, stomach and lower back to improve blood flow and prevent cramping or pain.

5. Skin and Hair Treatment

As a natural astringent and antiseptic, when applied directly to the skin with a Carrier Oil, wintergreen is able to fight inflammation from blemishes and skin disorders. It`s also helpful for clearing up acne since it can be used to kill germs on the skin. You can add one to two drops to your normal face wash or mix it with coconut or Jojoba Oil to nourish itchy, red, swollen skin. In the shower, use wintergreen oil on your scalp or hair to remove bacteria, greasiness and dandruff while adding a fresh scent.

6. Energizer and Fatigue Fighter

Try inhaling wintergreen and Peppermint Oil before workouts to increase concentration and wakefulness. You can also dab some along with a carrier oil on your neck, chest and wrists to fight symptoms of sleepiness or to help overcome chronic fatigue syndrome. For recovery following a workout, diffusing wintergreen oil with a diffuser or vaporizer can help open up nasal and respiratory passages, improve blood flow, and relive pain associated with muscular, joint or skeletal strains.

7. Soothing Bath Soak

To unwind and relieve muscle tension, applying pure wintergreen oil mixed along with Lavender Oil to either a warm bath or ice bath serves as a great muscle relaxer.

8. Air Freshener

Since it works as a natural home deodorizer that can help mask foul smells, use wintergreen essential oil around your home to sanitize the air and surfaces of your bathroom and kitchen. Combine several drops with water in a spray bottle, and apply to hard surfaces, appliances, garbage cans and even your toilet bowls. You can also diffuse this oil using a diffuser to fill bathrooms with a fresh, minty scent or add several drops to some homemade laundry soap for its deodorizing effects.

9. Hunger and Cravings Reducer

The taste and smell of mint can help reduce cravings and signify satiety. If you feel the afternoon munchies coming on or the tendency to overeat, try sniffing wintergreen oil or gargling it in your mouth. You can try applying a couple drops on your temples, chest or clothes, too.

10. Homemade Toothpaste

With its ability to kill odor-causing bacteria and mouth irritants, wintergreen essential oil is a great addition to homemade (or store-bought) toothpastes.

11. Homemade Mouthwash

Wintergreen not only helps naturally freshen your breath, but it can also protect gums and teeth from infection and pain. Add one to two drops to water, and gargle in your mouth for 30–60 seconds before rinsing.

12. Natural Flavor Enhancer

One way to use some at home is to simply add one to two drops to your favorite green smoothie recipes to cut the taste of bitter greens. You can also make homemade mint tea by adding one to two drops to warm water, which improves digestion and helps relieve bloating after a big meal.

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Wintergreen Essential Oil Uses

• When using Wintergreen Essential Oil in aromatherapy applications, it is advised that it be used infrequently and well-diluted. Due to its potency, it should be diffused for a maximum of 10 minutes per each use and the uses should be spread several hours apart. 2-4 drops being the recommended number of drops to add to a diffuser and this simple method is reputed to be enough to help ease mental strain and nervousness; and to promote easier breathing by relieving sinus congestion.
• For an air freshener enriched with the fresh scent of Wintergreen Oil, add 2-4 drops in a spray bottle filled with water, then cap the bottle and shake it well to thoroughly dilute the oil. This can be spritzed around the house, such as in the living room, kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere else that might have trapped odors.
• 1-2 drops may be added to a regular shampoo and applied to the hair to prevent hair loss, to remove dirt, microbes, dandruff, and excess oil, and to leave the strands scented with a sweet-smelling fragrance.
• To make an all-natural moisturizer, 1-2 drops of Wintergreen Oil can be diluted in a preferred body lotion or foot cream for application to stiff, aching muscles.
• For a natural salve that is reputed to support the health and function of the respiratory system, 1-2 drops of Wintergreen Oil can be diluted in a carrier oil and applied to the chest to relieve symptoms of colds and the flu, such as coughing and congestion.

ABOUT

Wintergreen oil is a beneficial essential oil that`s extracted from the leaves of the Gaultheria procumbens evergreen plant. Once steeped in in warm water, beneficial enzymes within wintergreen leaves called methyl salicylates are released, which are then concentrated into an easy-to-use extract formula using steam distillation. Wintergreen also sometimes called eastern teaberry, checkerberry or gaultheria oil, wintergreen has been used for centuries by tribes native to North America for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and more.

Precautions: Avoid overconsuming high amounts of wintergreen essential oil or applying it directly to your skin. Also be careful to keep it away from your eyes, the mucus membranes inside of your nose, pets and babies. Avoid using wintergreen essential oil internally unless you`re working with a professional.