Wintergreen
Gaultheria fragrantissima
Gaultheria is a small shrub less than fifteen centimetres tall of the Ericaceae family, which grows in the forests of Nepal (Gaultheria fragrantissima syn. punctata) as well as in China (Gaultheria yunnanensis) and in North America (Gaultheria procumbens).
Its white to pale pink flowers are located at the base of the leaves and are bell shaped. They give scarlet red berries from October to March.
Main aromatic molecules: Aromatic ester (methyl salicylate).
Family: Ericaceae.
Productive organs: Leaves.
Yield: Leaves.
Equivalence: 1ml → 30 drops (dosage calculated for a calibrated dropper European Pharmacopoeia).
Its white to pale pink flowers are located at the base of the leaves and are bell shaped. They give scarlet red berries from October to March.
Main aromatic molecules: Aromatic ester (methyl salicylate).
Family: Ericaceae.
Productive organs: Leaves.
Yield: Leaves.
Equivalence: 1ml → 30 drops (dosage calculated for a calibrated dropper European Pharmacopoeia).
Bath
Skin application
MAIN PROPERTIES
RECIPES
CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION
FRAGRANCE
EXTRACTION AND YIELD
CHEMICAL FORMULA
PRECAUTIONS FOR USE
RELATED SPECIES
MAIN PROPERTIES
Essential oil gaultheria, an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, is brilliant for all muscular pains related to an intense physical effort: lumbago, elongation, sprain, cramps, back pains. It fights the common rheumatisms in the cold and humid climates where the plant thrives.
RECIPES
Aches and pains (Prevention and treatment)
For use from the age of 12, dilute 2 drops of essential oil of wintergreen in 10 drops of arnica vegetable oil. Apply this preparation in massages before and after exercise.
Sprain or traumatic contusion
For use from the age of 12, dilute 2 drops of wintergreen essential oil and 2 drops of helichrysum essential oil in 5 drops of arnica vegetable oil. Apply in light massages, twice a day, for one week.
day, for one week.
Rheumatism
Mix 3 drops of wintergreen essential oil with 10 drops of arnica vegetable oil. Apply in massages, 3 times a day. Recipe suitable for adults and children from 15 years old.
For use from the age of 12, dilute 2 drops of essential oil of wintergreen in 10 drops of arnica vegetable oil. Apply this preparation in massages before and after exercise.
Sprain or traumatic contusion
For use from the age of 12, dilute 2 drops of wintergreen essential oil and 2 drops of helichrysum essential oil in 5 drops of arnica vegetable oil. Apply in light massages, twice a day, for one week.
day, for one week.
Rheumatism
Mix 3 drops of wintergreen essential oil with 10 drops of arnica vegetable oil. Apply in massages, 3 times a day. Recipe suitable for adults and children from 15 years old.
CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION
Gaultheria is nowadays mainly harvested in Nepal, in the Himalayas. In this country, the plant is taller and easier to harvest than in North America where this back-breaking work which was reserved in the past for Indians, immigrant children and women, no longer attracts many volunteers!
FRAGRANCE
Its warm, strong and woody scent is very powerful. You can smell it in gymnasiums, as gaultheria is found in the creams used by masseurs against tendinitis and pulled muscles.
EXTRACTION AND YIELD
Essential oil of gaultheria is extracted from the leaves, which are soaked overnight in hot water to obtain methyl salicylate by enzymatic fermentation, and they are then distilled with steam. This fermentation releases the aromatic compound from its bond to complex sugars which are too heavy to be distilled by the steam. The yield is of 1.5% to 2%, one hundred kilograms of leaves give a litre and a half of essential oil.
CHEMICAL FORMULA
Essential oil of gaultheria is composed of nearly 99% methyl salicylate. It is thus one of the rare essential oils to be almost mononuclear.
PRECAUTIONS FOR USE
Skin application is recommended. However, pure essential oil of gaultheria may sometimes irritate the skin, especially in sensitive persons, and should be used preferably diluted in carrier oil (maximum 25% of essential oil concentration). It may be used pure on a small surface, but one should be prepared for its revulsive, vaso-dilator and heating effect which may be irritant. Test on skin prior to use.
Do not use in: pregnant or breast-feeding women, children under the age of six years, persons allergic to aspirin or to salicylates in general, in case of anticoagulant treatment.
Do not use in: pregnant or breast-feeding women, children under the age of six years, persons allergic to aspirin or to salicylates in general, in case of anticoagulant treatment.
RELATED SPECIES
Scented gaultheria (Gaultheria odorata).
Gaultheria is named after Jean-François Gaulthier (1708-1756), royal physician botanist in Quebec. He observed that Inuits and Indians in Canada had been chewing or making infusions of gaultheria leaves to bring down fever and relieve pain since the dawn of time. This fairy of the Great North, called ”mountain tea” in Quebec played an important role in pharmacology: in the 19th century North America supplied Europe with ”essence of wintergreen”, extracted by steam distillation from the entire plant. In 1844, William Proctor, ”the father of American pharmacy” and the Frenchman Auguste Cahours isolated the main component of this essential oil, ”methyl salicylate” then Cahours synthesised salicylic acid by hydrolysis, which was used as a medicine for rheumatism before the synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid, a molecule better known by the brand name of aspirin.
AROMATHERAPIA
Extracts from the book ’Aromatherapia – All about essential oils’, by Isabelle Pacchioni, watercolors by Patrick MORIN, Aroma Thera Editions . Extracts from the book ’41 essential oils essential for treating yourself differently’ and ’48 essential oils which every home needs to be healthy’ by Isabelle Delaleu and Isabelle Pacchioni, Publications of the Mandadori France group. Botanical illustrations by Agathe Haevermans.
The properties, benefits and method of use are given for information; they cannot in any case constitute or replace medical information that only health professionals can provide. For any use of essential oils for therapeutic purposes, please consult your GP or pharmacist.
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