Western Herbalism
Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Also known as Teaberry, Checkerberry, Deer-berry, Checker-berry, Partridge-berry, Mountain tea, Box-berry, Gaultheria.
Internal use traditional (Native American: teas for rheumatism, fevers, headaches, sore throats colds, stomachaches, kidney ailments) but no longer recommended due to methyl salicylate toxicity risk modern use external only as essential oil (max 2.4% dilution), liniments, salves for pain/inflammation 1 tsp oil equivalent to ~21 aspirin tablets sustainability concerns in some regions
Ask Herbert about Wintergreen. Herbert is the master herbalist inside Bountiful Herbs: he answers from this plate and eleven hundred others, with dosing, pairing and cautions. Your first ten questions are free.
Ask HerbertActions
Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Bruises
- Rheumatic conditions
- Fractures
- Sciatica
- Neurological pain
- Sore muscles
- Angina pectoris
- Urogenital infection
- Osteoarthritis
- Strains
- Kidney ailments
- Stomachache
- Tendinitis
- Headache
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Respiratory disease
- Colds
- Myalgia
- Lumbago
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Muscle sprains
- Migraine
- Bleeding
- Bronchitis
- Cold extremities
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Edema
- Fluid retention
Safety
Low dose botanical. Used in drop doses in the classical practice; not a plant to dose freely.
The record lists 4 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Essential oil external: 1-2.4% dilution in carrier oil for liniments/massage (short-term, acute use) | ||
| Infusion | Infusion (traditional internal, not recommended): 1 tsp dried leaf/cup, 1-2x daily | |
| Fluid extract: 0.5-1 mL | 0.5-1 mL | |
| The dose of the oil is five or ten drops, repeated every two or three hours, till some effect is produced, favorable or otherwise. | 0.3-0.3 mL | |
| Specific Gaultheria | Dose, from five to thirty minims. | 0.31-1.85 mL |
| Topical (diluted in carrier) | Topical: typical 0.5-1% in carrier; face/sensitive avoid; dermal maximum 2.4%. Almost pure methyl salicylate; absorbs transdermally and adds to any salicylate load. Small areas only. |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Clinical Notes. Internal use traditional (Native American: teas for rheumatism, fevers, headaches, sore throats colds, stomachaches, kidney ailments) but no longer recommended due to methyl salicylate toxicity risk modern use external only as essential oil (max 2.4% dilution), liniments, salves for pain/inflammation 1 tsp oil equivalent to ~21 aspirin tablets sustainability concerns in some regions
Therapy. External. Oil of wintergreen in full strength may be applied to carious teeth to relieve toothache. In full strength, or in suitable dilution with olive oil or cottonseed oil, it provides a good painrelieving application for acute articular and chronic rheumatism and in gonorrheal arthritis.
Therapy. It is of benefit in neuralgia, tic douloureux , gonorrheal rheumatism, inflammation of the bladder, irritation of the prostate gland, dysuria, sexual excitement in male or female, spermatorrhea without impotency, acute articular rheumatism , migraine, sciatica, diabetes, diphtheria, chronic mucous discharges and toothache (locally).
Properties and Uses. The leaves, and the oil from the leaves, are relaxing and gently stimulating, very diffusive and transient, acting somewhat upon the kidneys when used cold, but most valued as carminatives to relieve flatulence and wind colic. At present, their use is confined mainly to an employment of the essence as a flavor to alterative sirups-especially the sirup of sarsaparilla. The taste and smell are agreeable to most persons, but unpleasant to some; and a very small quantity will serve. Medical Herbalism journal and medherb.com The Physiomedical Dispensatory by William Cook, M.D., 1869
Drawn from Cook's Physio-Medical Dispensatory; Scudder's Specific Medication and Specific Medicines; King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd); Ellingwood's American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.
Often paired with
PipsissewaChimaphila umbellata
SassafrasSassafras albidum
SarsaparillaSmilax spp.
SpikenardAralia Racemosa
Yellow parillaMenispermum canadense
Dwarf ElderAralia HispidaNearby on the shelf
WillowSalix spp.
Willowleaf swallowwortVincetoxicum stauntonii
Winter melonBenincasa hispida
Winter's barkWintera
Witch hazelHamamelis virginiana
WoadIsatis tinctoria
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
Wood appleLimonia acidissimaThe whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.
Open the library, free