Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Sweet wintergreen

4.8 - 510 reviews
Renowned for its soothing properties thanks to its natural methyl salicylate content, Sweet Wintergreen essential oil has a powerful calming action. Reputed to contribute to joint and muscle health, Sweet Wintergreen essential oil is a key ingredient in sports care products.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Suitable

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Not recommended

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Suitable

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Not recommended

  • Food grade

    Food grade

    Not recommended

Features

Properties

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Leaves

Botanical name

Gaultheria fragrantissima

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Bibliographic references

Willem J.-P. (2005) Les huiles essentielles - Médecine d'avenir. Editions Dauphin.

Baudoux D. Essences des femmes, à chacune son huile essentielle. Editions Soliflor

Baudoux D. (2020) Les bienfaits des bourgeons et des huiles essentielles pour les seniors. Editions Amyris

N.A.R.D Aroma News N°17. Editions Inspir.

Franchomme P., Jollois R. et Pénoël D. (2001) L'Aromathérapie exactement. Editions Roger Jollois.

Faucon M. (2017) Traité d’aromathérapie scientifique et médicale. Editions Sang de la Terre et Medial.

Baudoux D. (2008) L'Aromathérapie - Se soigner par les huiles essentielles. Nouvelle Edition. Editions Amyris.

Festy D. (2008) Ma bible des huiles essentielles. Edition Leduc S.

Baudoux D. (2003) Le Formulaire D'Aromathérapie Pratique pour le Prescripteur et le Conseil Pharmaceutique. Editions Inspir.

Clergeaud C. et L. (2003) Les huiles végétales. Editions Amyris

Properties

Sweet Wintergreen essential oil is traditionally used for: Arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, sprains, strains, back pain, headache, sciatica, stiff neck, etc.

Health

Wellness

Find out more, etc.

A must-have in every sportsman's emergency kit, Sweet Wintergreen essential oil owes its reputation as a powerful painkiller and anti-inflammatory agent to its high content of natural methyl salicylate. Traditionally used in blends for massaging sore muscles and joints, it is the benchmark for natural aromatherapy treatments to help relieve tendonitis, rheumatism and back pain.

Properties

For health, Sweet Wintergreen essential oil is recognised for the following properties:

  • Rich in methyl salicylate, an active ingredient with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

  • Pain-relieving, it helps relieve aches and pains (for external use)

  • Anti-inflammatory, it soothes inflammatory, joint and muscle pain

  • Antispasmodic, it helps relax muscles

  • Rubbing (warming effect)

  • Vasodilator, hypotensive

Uses

Sweet Wintergreen essential oil is traditionally used to improve the following conditions:

  • Inflammatory pain: rheumatism, osteoarthritis, arthritis, tendonitis (tennis elbow, etc.), stiff neck, etc.

  • Muscle pain: tired, aching muscles, sprains, strains, cramps, aches

Synergies

  • Joint health: Lemon Eucalyptus, Katafray, Lavandin super, Italian Helichrysum, Thyme saturoides essential oils.

  • Muscle health: Rosemary Camphor, Lavandin Grosso, Ylang-Ylang essential oils, Epsom salt

  • Headaches : Peppermint essential oils

In practice

Soothing, joint health: Mix into your oil blend. Apply a few drops of your blend locally, massaging lightly into the affected area.

Precautions

  • Do not use in pregnant or breastfeeding women or in children under 6 years old.

  • Do not use in people allergic to aspirin or salicylate derivatives.

  • Internal use is not recommended.

  • Always use diluted

  • Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.

  • Some natural compounds contained in this essential oil may present a risk of allergy for certain sensitive individuals when the essential oil is incorporated into a cosmetic preparation.

  • Old or oxidised essential oils should be avoided. Store protected from light and air.

  • As a general rule, always perform an application test of your preparation in the crease of the elbow at least 48 hours before use.

  • For use as a cosmetic ingredient, please refer to the specific precautions.

Find out more

A cousin of the American Wintergreen originally from China, Sweet Wintergreen is native to Nepal. It is a small evergreen shrub with creamy-white flowers that give way to purplish-red berries in winter. Its leaves give off a strong medicinal odour when crumpled. Like American Wintergreen, they naturally contain a high level of methyl salicylate, a compound similar to aspirin.

This "Indian Wintergreen" oil has similar properties and indications to American Wintergreen essential oil, with a slightly more caramelised fragrance. Thanks to its exceptionally rich methyl salicylate composition, renowned as a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory active ingredient, Sweet Wintergreen essential oil is traditionally recommended for soothing aches and pains, and is particularly appreciated as an ingredient in sports massage oils to help relieve aches and pains, muscle inflammation and cramps after exercise. Because of its calming properties, it is also traditionally used to soothe rheumatism, pain and discomfort in tendons and joints.

Essential for relieving carpal tunnel!

N
N

Perfect oil

N
N

Strong painkiller

L
Lauri

Perfect for joint pain when mixed with arnica oil. I've been using it for years.

A
Annick

I put it on when I have pain

E
E

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier Oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml


However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Sprains (J-P. Willem)

Health & wellbeingBlows and trauma

  • American Wintergreen essential: 10 drops

  • Rosemary officinalis cineole essential oil: 10 drops

  • Bay Laurel essential oil: 5 drops

  • Macadamia oil: 15 ml

Directions for use: A few drops gently massaged into painful areas. Repeat as required.

Gout (to relieve symptoms) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Ocimum basilicum (Tropical basil) essential oil: 5 ml

  • Juniperus communis (Juniper) essential oil: 3 ml

  • Helichrysum italicum (Italian helichrysum) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen) essential oil: 3 ml

  • Corylus avellana (Hazelnut) carrier oil: Top up to 20 ml

Directions for use: Massage 4 drops of the blend lightly into painful joints, repeating as necessary.

Muscle pain (C. Clergeaud)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • 250 ml of Sunflower carrier oil

  • 100 drops of Wintergreen essential oil

  • 20 of drops Peppermint essential oil

  • 50 drops of True lavender essential oil

  • 50 drops of Bay laurel essential oil

Neuralgia (after consulting a doctor) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Wintergreen essential oil: 1 drop

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 2 drops

  • Common juniper essential oil: 1 drop

Use : 4 to 6 times a day locally.

Osteoarthritis (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Satureia montana (mountain savory) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Thymus satureoides essential oil: 2 ml

  • Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen): 2 ml

  • Thymus vulgaris CT thujanol (thyme vulgaris with thujanol) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Lavandula x burnatii CT Super (Lavandin super) essential oil: 4 ml

  • Eucalyptus polybractea CT cryptone (blue mallee eucalyptus) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Carrier oil: 100 ml

Use: 3 to 4 local applications per day for 15 days (continue if necessary).

AND

  • Picea mariana essential oil (Black spruce): 3 ml

  • Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) essential oil: 7 ml

  • Transcutol: add up to 30 ml extra as required for product optimisation

Use: 8 drops as an adrenal injection (in the kidneys) 2 times a day Aroma-Zone comment: Transcutol is a pharmaceutical product that is not widely used and allows fatty substances such as essential oils to penetrate the skin easily. It can easily be replaced by a dry carrier oil such as hazelnut, kukui or macadamia oil.

Arthritis-Arthrosis-Rheumatism (D. Festy)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Juniper essential oil: 5 drops

  • Turpentine essential oil: 5 drops

  • Wintergreen essential oil: 5 drops

  • Lavandin super essential oil: 5 drops

  • Bath base: 1 tablespoon

Use: Pour all the ingredients into a hot bath (38.5°C) and leave in the water for 20 minutes. Repeat every day until improvement.

Stiff neck (D. Festy)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

For massages,mix:

  • Rosemary camphor essential oil: 1 drop

  • Italian helichrysum essential oil: 1 drop

  • Wild mint essential oil: 1 drop

  • Wintergreen essential oil: 1 drop

  • St John's wort carrier oil: 3 drops

  • Arnica carrier oil: 3 drops

Use: Massage locally with this formula, 3 to 5 times a day for 2 to 3 days if necessary Aroma-Zone note: St John's wort macerated oil may cause photosensitivity. Do not expose your skin to the sun after applying this blend.

Muscle cramps in adults (Aroma News - NARD)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen) essential oil: 3 ml

  • Lavandula burnatii super (Lavandin super) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Rosmarinus officinalis camphora (rosemary camphor) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Cananga odorata (Ylang-ylang) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Hazelnut carrier oil: add up to 30 ml extra as required for product optimisation

Use: 5 to 6 drops locally 3 to 4 times a day as required.

Tennis elbow, tendonitis in adults (P. Franchomme)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Eucalyptus citriodora (Lemon eucalyptus) essential oil: 9 ml

  • Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen) essential oil: 1 ml

Use : Apply to the painful area several times a day.

Arthritis / sciatica in adults (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Helichrysum essential oil: 2 drops

  • American wintergreen essential oil: 1 drop

  • Peppermint essential oil: 1 drop

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 3 drops

  • Vetiver essential oil: 1 drop

Use: 3 to 4 drops of the mixture applied locally to the painful area 3 to 4 times a day for 10 days.

Bone fracture (in addition to medical treatment) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingBlows and trauma

  • Mastic tree essential oil: 2 ml

  • Immortelle essential oil: 3 ml

  • American wintergreen essential oil: 1 ml

Use: 3 drops of the mixture applied locally as close as possible to the fracture 2 to 3 times a day for 10 days.

Headaches of circulatory and hepatic origin (Aroma News - NARD)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Mentha piperita (Peppermint) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Laurus nobilis (Bay laurel) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Lavandula angustifolia (True lavender) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Hazelnut carrier oil: 10 ml supplement

Use : 2 drops locally, repeated as needed.

Blow, bruise (trauma) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingBlows and trauma

  • American wintergreen essential oil: 1 ml

  • Immortelle essential oil: 3 ml

  • Rose geranium essential oil: 1 ml

  • Peppermint essential oil: 1 ml

Use: 4 to 6 drops of the blend applied locally to the painful area 4 times a day for 3 days.

Allergic and nervous asthma (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingRespiratory problems

  • Tarragon essential oil: 2 ml

  • Lemon verbena essential oil: 1 ml

  • Red myrtle essential oil: 1 ml

  • American wintergreen essential oil: 1 ml

  • Mandarin essential oil: 2 ml

Use: 6 drops of the blend applied locally to the chest and upper back before the onset of an asthma attack and during the asthma attack. Repeat every 30 minutes until complete improvement Aroma-Zone note: Mandarin and Sweet verbena essential oils cause photosensitivity. Do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this preparation.

Gout (to relieve symptoms) (D. Festy)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 5 drops

  • Rosemary camphor essential oil: 5 drops

  • American wintergreen essential oil: 5 drops

  • Foot bath base: 1 tablespoon

Directions for use: Soak your feet twice a day in a warm bath (38°C) for 10 minutes.

Cystitis (M. Faucon)

Health & wellbeingUrinary issues

  • Clove essential oil: 3 drops

  • Wintergreen essential oil: 2 drops

  • Seville Orange essential oil: 5 drops

  • Calophylla oil: 2 ml

  • Macadamia oil: 2 ml

Preparation : Massage the lower abdomen with this mixture several times a day until the pain subsides.