The plant is a native to India, North America and is now grown in America and China.
The herb is collected during the fall. The fruits are best both during spring as well as fall. Wintergreen leaves are gathered throughout the year especially during summer. The leaves are dried under shade before being processed.
The essential oil of wintergreen is extracted by steam distilling warmed and water-soaked wintergreen leaves. The oil is pale yellow to pinkish in colour with a sweetish, strong odour.
Health benefits
- Wintergreen oil has pain- relieving properties similar to that of aspirin and is good for sore muscles, sore joints, and arthritis, headaches, and muscles spasms.
- Tropical application of the oil relieves painfully swollen or inflamed muscles that are caused by injuries or by rheumatic ailments.
- The oil contains methyl salicylate that has powerful anesthetic powers. This chemical compound is an integral part of most of the anti-arthritic pain balms available in the market today.
- The anodyne property of the oil eliminates pain and induces calmness and relaxation. The oil eradicates tension and stress and induces sound sleep to those who cannot sleep due to stress.
- The essential oil of wintergreen is used in the treatment of digestion problems such as gas and stomachaches. It also improves digestion.
- The oil also treats lung conditions such as bronchitis, pleurisy, and asthma.
- The oil is also found to benefit the neurological conditions such as sciatica and neuralgia.
- The anti-spasmodic property of the oil effectively fights congestion in the chest, breathing problems, muscular cramps, spasmodic diarrhea, nervous afflictions, and spasmodic coughs.
- The oil is anti-septic. It is potent against Staphylococcus aureus and cures the septic caused by the bacterium.
- The oil acts as a good astringent. It contracts hair roots, skin tissues, blood vessels, and muscle tissues. Blood vessel contraction checks the hemorrhage caused by cuts or wounds.
- The oil eases out urination. It flushes out toxic materials and excess water from the body, thereby ensuring proper functioning of kidneys and urinary bladder.
- The oil improves blood circulation and helps in the treatment of hypertension, edema, and also combats increasing body weight.
- The oil is beneficial against dog bites, insect bites, snake bites, and wasp and bee stings.
- The oils other therapeutic properties include galactagogue, stimulant, carminative, emenagogue, aromatic, anti-rheumatic, and anti-arthritic.
