Scientific name: Gaultheria procumbens

Other names: American wintergreen, aromatic wintergreen, boxberry, Canada tea, checkerberry, chink, creeping wintergreen, deerberry, eastern teaberry, ground berry, grouse berry, hillberry, ivory plum, mountain tea, partridge berry, redberry tea, red pollom, spiceberry, spicy wintergreen, wax cluster

Medical uses and remedies:

Antiseptic
Aromatic
Astringent
Bladder problems
Bowel obstruction
Colic
Diabetes
Diuretic
Dropsy
Emmenagogue
Gas or flatulence
Gonorrhea
Heart stimulation
Sciatica
Scrofula
Stimulant
Stomach stimulation
Respiratory stimulation
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatism (chronic inflammatory rheumatism)

Dosage:

Leaf - 0.5 - 1 g of dried leaves may be consumed daily.

Oil - Very slight amounts are to be used orally or topically. See precautions below.

Tea - An infusion of 0.5 to 1 g of dried leaves in a cup of water, taken daily.

Cautions and side effects:

Wintergreen essential oil should not be used by individuals taking aspirin or warfarin. Oral intake of wintergreen oil in its pure form can be fatal in as low as several grams due to the high toxicity of methyl salicylate. For instance, merely one teaspoon (5 ml) has the salicylate of over 20 aspirin pills.

High intake through absorption in the skin can also lead to death, or in lesser amounts central nervous system problems and other conditions. Individuals with asthma, salicylate allergy, or gastrointestinal inflammation or irritation also should not use wintergreen oil.

Both the leaf and oil have the potential to cause contact allergies in some individuals. Wintergreen should not be used by those who are sensitive or allergic to aspirin or similar substances. Individuals with tinnitus that is chronic or severe should not use wintergreen. Excessive intake of wintergreen leaves has the potential to damage the liver or kidneys.

Check with a medical professional for additional precautions and contraindications before taking any herb.

Active ingredients:

Volatile oil (roughly 0.5% of leaves)
Methyl salicylate (98 - 99% of volatile oil)
Arbutin
Ericolin
Urson

Learn about other herbal medicines: browse by common name or scientific name.