Wintergreen Essential Oils

With properties as a stimulating, emmenagogue, diuretic, astringent, aromatic, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, anti-arthritic, antirheumatic, anodyne, and analgesic substance, these essential oils have acquired for themselves quite a household name worldwide. The tree from which these oils are extracted through steam distillation is native to North America, so it comes as no surprise that Native Americans were some of the first people to use these essential oils to relieve muscle pain.

Overall Benefits of Wintergreen Essential Oils

• Have proven beneficial in body detoxification as they remove excess salt, fats, and water from the body
• May help in the prevention of kidney stone formation
• Users may experience an increase in the quantity and frequency of urination
• Women sometimes use these essential oils to regulate menstrual cycles
• Circulation of lymph and blood can be stimulated through the use of these essential oils
• May induce relaxation by eliminating pain
• May help fight against the effects of arthritis and rheumatism
• Can be useful for its warming effect to counter blood circulation that has been obstructed as a result of exceedingly low temperatures or frostbite
• Have been successfully used to treat dog and snake bites as well as stings from bees, wasps, scorpions, and other poisonous insects
• Beneficial when applied to ulcers, sores, rotting and/or infected wounds

Uses for Wintergreen Essential Oils

For individuals who are sufferers of joint and bone pain, be it from gout, arthritis, rheumatism or some other cause, these essential oils have become extremely popular and can be found in most households today. Massage therapists frequently recommend these as an ingredient in analgesic balms. Wintergreen blends well with other essential oils such as ylang-ylang, vanilla, thyme, oregano, narcissus, peppermint, birch sweet, marjoram sweet, lavender, and mint.

Precautions

Due to the presence of menthol salicylate in these essential oils, they should never, under any circumstances, be ingested. In addition to only being used externally (in small doses), they should also be avoided as an aromatherapy aid.