Wintergreen(Gaultheria procumbens)
Other Names:
Eastern Teaberry, Checkerberry, Boxberry, American Wintergreen
Range:
Family:
Ericaceae – Heath or Heather family
Growth Type:
Wintergreen is one of my favorite plants. Perhaps because it was the first edible and medicinal plant I learned about some 50 years ago. Wintergreen is one of the widest ranging, and easiest plant to locate. A low growing plant 2 - 5 inches tall. It usually grows in dense clusters. The leaves are thick, glossy oval, waxy, and they smell of wintergreen. In July to August small egg-shaped white flowers appear dangling beneath the leaves. Small red berries begin appearing in August and September. If the local wildlife do not get to them, the berries will stay until the next spring. Wintergreen is an evergreen plant, which means it retains its green leaves right through the winter. All you need to do is brush away the snow, and this little wonder is waiting for you. During the winter and early spring, the berries taste much better. This is because they soak up and retain moisture throughout the year, resulting in a much less mealy texture than summer berries.
This plant has a long and storied history. During the Revolutionary War, when colonists dressed up like Indians, and dumped the king's tea into Boston Harbor, then needed a substitute. Enter the venerable Wintergreen leaf. The colonists substituted wintergreen for their regular tea and did so for years. As they drank this tea, they began to notice what the Indians had know for years, the tea relieved headaches, and minor body aches. The plant contains Methyl Salicylate, the father of modern-day aspirin. A tea, or a tincture of wintergreen leaves works wonderfully to relieve pain and reduce fever. Not to mention that for my money, you cannot make a better tasting tea that wintergreen with a touch of honey. Black Birch (Betula lenta), and Willow (Salix) also contain Methyl Salicylate, but for me there is something special about the unassuming wintergreen.
Height:
3 - 5 inches tall
Leaves:
Ovate evergreen leaves which have a distinct oil of wintergreen scent. They are 2-5 cm long and 1-2 cm wide.
Stem/Trunk:
Short reclining woody stems
Root:
spreading roots
Flower Season:
Spring
Flower Appearance:
The white flowers are bell-shaped and 5 mm long, and are borne solitary or in short racemes.
Seed/Fruit:
The berry-like fruit is actually a dry capsule surrounded by fleshy calyx 6–9 mm in diameter.
Miscellaneous characteristics:
N/A
Habitat:
In rich acidic soils of pine and hardwood forests. The plant usually only produces fruit in sunnier locations.
Parts Used:
Leaves, fruit
Culinary Uses:
Tea, fruit, as a trail nibble, and in salads
The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.
Energetics
Taste: Sweet
Thermal: Cooling
Humidity: Drying
Traditional Medicinal Uses:
Once used as a source of wintergreen oil, it has been replaced by commercially synthesized versions. Wintergreen leaves contain high amounts of Methyl Salicylate, the forerunner of modern aspirin. Leaf tea has been used to soothe colds, headaches, stomachaches, fever, kidney ailments, externally as a wash for rheumatism, sore muscles, and lumbago. The chemical Methyl Salicylate has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. There have been recent studies have shown that small amounts have delayed the onset of tumors. 30 drops of wintergreen tincture under the tongue does wonders for headaches.
Cautions According To WebMD
Contra-Indications
None Known
Possible Side Effects:
None Known
Possible Interactions:
None Known
Medicinal Actions:
Analgesic,
Anti-Inflammatory,
Antineoplastic,
Antirheumatic,
Febrifuge,
Odontalgic,
Stomachic
Herbal Preparations For Wintergreen
Tea
Part Used: Leaves
Plant State: Fresh
Place 2 tsp of fresh chopped leaves, or 1 tsp of dried leaves in a large mug. Pour almost boiling water over the leaves. Steep for 20 minutes. Whether or not you strain the leaves depends upon personal preference.
This tea contains high amounts of methyl salicylate. It will soothe body aches and provide wonderful relaxation.
Dosage: You can enjoy this tea 3 or 4 times a day.
Hot Infusion
Part Used: Leaves
Plant State: Fresh or Dried
Place 2 ounces of the fresh chopped leaves, or 1 ounce of dried, into a quart mason jar, and fill the jar with almost boiling water. Cover the jar, and let it sit for 8 to 10 hours. I recommended that you make your infusions at night, then you can enjoy them the next day. If refrigerated, the infusion will last a couple of days.
Dosage: Drink 2-4 oz of infusion as needed.
Tincture
Part Used: Leaves
Plant State: Fresh
Alcohol Percentage: 50%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:2
Label a quart mason jar with the plant name, the part of the plant used, the percentage of alcohol used, and the date the tincture was started.
Fill the jar to the neck with chopped fresh leaves, then pour in 750 ml of 100 proof vodka, or 500 ml of 150 proof Everclear and 250 ml of water. Next pour the contents of the jar into a blender and blend until all of the plant material is thoroughly chopped into fine pieces and incorporated into the menstrum. This will increase the surface area and provide better leaching of the plant constituents. As a matter of fact, this method works so well that, if necessary, the tincture can be used in as little as 7 days. Now pour the contents of the blender back into the jar, being careful to scrape every last bit of goodness from the blender. Place a lid on the mason jar, shake it well, and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for another 3 weeks. After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out the spent plant material. Your tincture will remain viable for 2-3 years.
Dosage:1/2 to 1 tsp of tincture as needed.
For quick results you can place the tincture under your tongue and hold it there for a couple of minutes. The underside of the tongue contains veins very near the surface of the skin. This allows the medicine to be absorbed directly into the blood stream. This brings quick relief. The problem many people have with sublingual tinctures is that it burns like hell. The burning only lasts for about 30 seconds or so, and then the area numbs, and no longer burns.
If you do not like the burn, you can place the dose in a cup with a couple of ounces of water. Drink this, and after an hour or so, your symptoms will begin to subside.
Tincture
Part Used: Leaves
Plant State: Dried
Alcohol Percentage: 50%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:5
Label a quart mason jar with the plant name, the part of the plant used, the percentage of alcohol used, and the date the tincture was started.
Place 150 grams of dried plant material into a quart mason jar. Now pour in 750 ml of 100 proof vodka, or 500 ml of 150 proof Everclear and 250 ml of water. Next pour the contents of the jar into a blender and blend until all of the plant material is thoroughly chopped into fine pieces and incorporated into the menstrum. This will increase the surface area and provide better leaching of the plant constituents. As a matter of fact, this method works so well that, if necessary, the tincture can be used in as little as 7 days. Now pour the contents of the blender back into the jar, being careful to scrape every last bit of goodness from the blender. Place a lid on the mason jar, shake it well, and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for another 3 weeks. After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out the spent plant material. Your tincture will remain viable for 2-3 years.
Dosage:1/2 to 1 tsp of tincture as needed.
For quick results you can place the tincture under your tongue, and hold it there for a couple of minutes. This is called sublingual dosing. The underside of the tongue contains veins very near the surface of the skin. This allows the medicine to be absorbed directly into the blood stream. This brings quick relief. The problem many people have with sublingual tinctures is that it burns like hell. The burning only lasts for about 30 seconds or so, and then the area numbs, and no longer burns.
If you do not like the burn, you can place the dose in a cup with a couple of ounces of water. Drink this, and after an hour or so, your symptoms will begin to subside.
Wintergreen Video
