Rheumatism, arthritis, sciatica, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, muscle cramps and various traumas are ailments that each of us can experience on a daily basis and that are disabling in the long term. The attacks are painful and very often block the patient in his professional and personal activities. A whole life can be turned upside down. The cures and treatments implemented are diverse and varied and each person affected reacts with varying degrees of attention.

In natural method, several remedies can be proposed, the one that we are going to put forward today is a "must-have" as regards aromatherapy because it is quite simply the essential oil of wintergreen.

The essential oil of wintergreen

Latin name:Gaultheria Procumbens

Common name in popular language: wintergreen

Essential oil very widespread, it is often known or put forward for its strong and hot smell, very camphorated. This fragrance is actually recognizable by many as it is found in many sprays or massage creams for this type of ailment, but it is also very present in the sports bags of most major athletes who find instant relief in case of injuries. Unfortunately, these products are still processed by pharmaceutical laboratories that, without a doubt, add products that are not appropriate for a natural lifestyle.

From the Ericaceae family, this small creeping tree bears small white bell-shaped flowers in summer. Native to China, it is the leaves that are used for the preparation by distillation of the essential oil.

It has often been noticed that nature produces the same component in different plants growing in the same area. It is interesting to note that this fact responds to specific pathologies of this region! Thus, Gaultheria procumbens which populates the cold and humid regions of Canada provides an essential oil rich in methyl salicylate so useful to relieve rheumatism.

Gaultheria, a monomolecular composition to relieve pain

Some essential oils consist almost exclusively of a single molecule. Gaultheria procumbens is thus an essential oil known as monomolecular because methyl salicylate is its main component.

Rich in aromatic esters - biochemical composition of the oil - it has various therapeutic properties that concern us today:

• Anti-inflammatory: which fights inflammation 

• Antalgic: which provides pain suppression or alleviation 

• Antirheumatic: which treats conditions related to rheumatism 

• Antispasmodic: which treats muscle spasms 

• Vasodilator: dilates blood vessels

• Hepatostimulant: activates liver functions

Because of its biochemical qualities, it allows to heat the muscle as well as the joint and thus exerts an action on the inflammation as well as the pain.

Methyl salicylate is therefore useful in activating antispasmodic and analgesic actions. Remember that methyl salicylate is the active molecule in aspirin. In short, the essential oil of Gaultheria couchée is equivalent to aspirin for its analgesic and blood-thinning effect.

Another interest (and not the least) of the essential oil of gaultheria procumbens

This essential oil is primarily known and used to relieve rheumatic painas mentioned above. However, the methyl salicitate that makes up the essential oil of Couched Gaultheria is also useful for improving coronary spasms.

 Indeed, as mentioned in the reference book "L'aromathérapie exactement - Encyclopédie de l'utilisation thérapeutique des extraits aromatiques" by Pierre Franchomme, Roger Jollois and Daniel Pénoël published by Roger Jollois:

"Several observations relate the case of patients with angina pectoris who had their cardiac symptomatology improved by precordial cutaneous application of essential oil of wintergreen. "

Thus, the essential oil of wintergreen, thanks to its rubefacient and antispasmodic effects, is an asset of choice in your natural pharmacy provided that you are accompanied by a health professional and/or an experienced therapist.

When to use the essential oil of Gaultheria procumbens ?

In aromatherapy, essential oils can relieve all sorts of ailments. As mentioned above, that of wintergreen will be useful for many pathologies of inflammatory type. Thus, it will be recommended to you if you suffer from :

• muscular rheumatism

• tendinitis

• cramps

• arthritis

• epicondylitis

• rheumatoid arthritis

• small liver failure

•  hypertension

• headaches of hepato-circulatory origin

• coronary artery disease  

How to use the essential oil of wintergreen ?

This type of oil that is mainly used in massage is preferably used with a base that is none other than a vegetable oil and depending on the pain that we live, we will use an adapted vegetable oil such as St. John's wort, jojoba, hazelnut, macadamia oil or simply in an olive oil if you have only that at home. Of course, the oils used must be of organic quality and of first cold pressure.

To be used externally only, a 20% dilution is recommended on average: for 10 drops of vegetable oil in localized massage, simply add 2 drops of essential oil of wintergreen and massage gently but surely the affected area. Repeat several times a day.

Idea recipe for an effective mixture to relieve tendonitis: 95% essential oil of lemon eucalyptus + 5% wintergreen to be diluted in a little vegetable oil of arnica. Apply in massage on the painful zone until the complete penetration of the mixture. Repeat several times a day until the inflammation decreases or disappears.

The essential oil of Wintergreen to relieve negative emotional states

Essential oils are great allies in accompanying disturbed emotional states. Bedded Wintergreen Essential Oil provides comfort and stimulates vital energy. When you are in a state of indecision, when your choices are influenced by the outside world, this essential oil will help you to follow your path, to take action and to move forward.

As part of a psycho-emotional support and accompaniment, the essential oil of wintergreen will be taken by olfaction by inhaling a slightly soaked tissue. Take a few conscious breaths with the intention of making your own choices and let the scent carry you into your depths. Exercise to be repeated several times in order to integrate the information consciously and unconsciously. 

Choose your essential oil of wintergreen

The choice of a quality essential oil is based on the knowledge of the essential criteria to know when you are interested in essential oils. It must be 100% pure and natural, not diluted or "cut". It must be organically grown or wild picked (but regulated). 

You should also find the following information on the bottle:

• the name of the essential oil in French AND its botanical name

• the distilled part: leaf, bark etc...

• the country of origin

• the chemotype: active molecules defined by the plant's biotope

• the volume: capacity of the bottle

• the batch number: traceability

• the expiration date: important for citrus essential oils which lose their properties quickly. 

• certification: organic farming, ecocert...

Beware of contraindications

As often with essential oils, there are contraindications to be taken into account and respected:

• To be used externally only, internal use is totally prohibited 

• Being dermocaustic, it can reach your skin and cause burns if used pure. So, as said above, a 20 percent dilution is recommended before local application on the skin. 

• Avoid massaging too large an area and prefer to target the pain. For a more general and global application, prefer aromatic baths. 

• For chronic pain, set up therapeutic windows during which you change essential oils or, at best, apply nothing. 

• The essential oil of wintergreen is not recommended for pregnant and breast-feeding women as well as for children under 6 years old. 

Also prohibited if you are allergic to aspirin because it has in its biochemical composition a compound - methyl salicylate - which is found in aspirin. 

The essential oil of wintergreen is one of the oils to have in its natural pharmacy because in addition to its numerous actions on muscle and joint pain, it also plays a role on the cardiovascular and hepatic sphere. Let us not forget the emotional sphere where it is also very present but then used in olfaction mainly. Indeed, the essential oil of gaultheria procumbens, is stimulating and helps to take the momentum of a new start.