Wintergreen

[Guest guest]

Yo Janine,

 

> Hey Butch,

>

> I'm not gonna argue the wintergreen with ya. )

 

No reason to .. we can discuss it without that .. ;-p

 

> I like it, as far as I *know*, it's an eo. bought it some time back.

 

If it makes you feel good to think it is, then I hate to burst your

bubble .. but here is some info you can use if you wanna.

 

True Wintergreen (Gaultheria) is difficult to find and it is expensive.

Methyl salycilate is much cheaper so it's used as a replacement. It's

toxic if ingested (as is Eucalyptus, Pennyroyal and some others), it's a

known irritant and sensitizer, an environmental hazard and marine

pollutant ... and a chemical that is widey used in commercial products.

 

> I know there are those that are dead set against it, and I know there

> are those that are not.

 

The fact that someone is against it means nothing unless they can give a

good reason why they are against it .. this applies to those that are

not against it too. ;-p

 

As for my opinion on using it, I won't use it or sell it but I won't

criticize those who do. Some folks ask me why I will sell other toxic

oils like Eucalyptus and Pennyroyal but not Wintergreen. The answer is

because those other oils are not dermally toxic .. but Wintergreen is.

 

> We are on opposite sides of the fence on this one. ;-)

 

Maybe .. maybe we won't be after you read this. ;-)

 

These old references below are the latest I can find. Seems that when

they determined and agreed that it was toxic, irritating and sensitizing

they stopped trying to prove it any further. But remember what I wrote

above ... the odds of you having a true Wintergreen essential oil are

slim - it's been replaced by a cheaper chemical, methyl sallicylate,

which is the major component of the oil.

 

True Wintergreen and methyl sallicylate are commonly used in candies and

breath fresheners, Lifesavers, Altoids etc. Both are found in analgesic

balms such as Tiger Balm, Vicks, Ben-Gay etc. It is toxic, but as with

other natural products, it's level of useage which should be considered.

The oil is for EXTERNAL USE ONLY and a maximum 1% dilution might be

considered safe. Continued use is dangerous.

 

Oil of wintergreen is good to ease the pain and itching of insect bites,

and to give the impression that it soothes sore muscles. Really, you

just get a tingling effect that's temporary and a good massage will give

you more lasting relief - and many other products, to include lavandin,

will give you both longer lasting relief and therapeutic healing.

 

References include:

 

1. Cutaneous absorption of methyl salicylate is rapid. Davidson, C.,

et al 1961, J Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 132; 207.

 

2. It has been detected in the urine half an hour after application to

the skin. It can cause dermal eruptions. Hale-White W. 1901. Text

Book of Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

 

3. A variety of toxic effects have been recorded in Adverse Effects of

Herbal Drugs, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, De Smet P., 1992.

 

I don't use it or sell it and I believe it has no place in Aromatherapy,

but I can't comment on use of it in soap ... except to say that I think

it shouldn't be used in as high a dilution as most other EOs are.

 

But I have a post I did once (can't find it now) that will ABSOLUTELY

convince you that what you have is NOT an essential oil .. ;-p

 

> Do you have Linda's email addy? Phone?

 

No on the phone and Lynda Sorenson <Lynda on email.

 

> Janine

 

Y'all keep smiling, Butch http://www.AV-AT.com