Wintergreen गन्धपूरा
Gaultheria fragrantissima
Also known as: Wintergreen Oil
Part used: Oil
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Gaultheria fragrantissima
- Part used: Oil
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: External use only, diluted to a few per cent in a carrier.
Wintergreen in other languages
Introduction
Wintergreen oil is distilled from Gaultheria fragrantissima, a small Himalayan shrub. The oil is almost entirely methyl salicylate — chemically very close to aspirin.
It is used externally in pain balms and liniments, where it produces warmth and relieves muscular and joint pain. It carries the most serious poisoning risk of any ingredient in this catalogue and must be treated accordingly.
Classification
Family Ericaceae. The essential oil distilled from the leaf. Rasa: Katu, Tikta. Guna: Laghu, Tikshna. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Vata.
Uses & benefits
Applied externally, always diluted, in muscular pain, joint stiffness, backache and sprains. It is a standard constituent of Indian pain balms and of the topical preparations in this catalogue.
Wintergreen for muscular and joint pain
Methyl salicylate is absorbed through the skin and acts locally as an anti-inflammatory and counter-irritant, which is why it is the backbone of most pain balms.
Why it is always diluted
The undiluted oil is far too concentrated for skin and dangerous if swallowed, so it is used at a few per cent in a carrier.
Dosage — how much to take
External use only, diluted to a few per cent in a carrier. Apply thinly to intact skin over the painful area.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
What is Wintergreen traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Applied externally, always diluted, in muscular pain, joint stiffness, backache and sprains. It is a standard constituent of Indian pain balms and of the topical preparations in this catalogue.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Wintergreen?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Wintergreen classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Wintergreen carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Wintergreen is used medicinally?
The part used is Oil.
How much Wintergreen is taken, and how?
External use only, diluted to a few per cent in a carrier. Apply thinly to intact skin over the painful area. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Wintergreen be avoided?
FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY — NEVER SWALLOW. Wintergreen oil is concentrated methyl salicylate: one teaspoon is equivalent to roughly 7 g of aspirin, and that quantity has killed children. Keep it locked away from children — accidental ingestion is a medical emergency requiring immediate hospital care. Do not use on broken skin, do not apply heat or a tight dressing over it, and do not use on children. Avoid entirely if you are allergic to aspirin or salicylates, on warfarin or other anticoagulants, or pregnant. Excessive application over large areas can cause salicylate poisoning through the skin alone.
Where does Wintergreen grow?
A shrub of the Himalayan mid-hills from Nepal to the north-east, and of the Western Ghats, distilled for its oil.
Classical references
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Gandhapura Taila
Gaultheria oil standardised for external use; methyl salicylate is the marker constituent. - Not a classical Nighantu drug — Modern pharmacopoeial entry
Gaultheria oil entered Indian practice through the modern pharmacopoeias rather than the classical texts.
Safety & precautions
FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY — NEVER SWALLOW. Wintergreen oil is concentrated methyl salicylate: one teaspoon is equivalent to roughly 7 g of aspirin, and that quantity has killed children. Keep it locked away from children — accidental ingestion is a medical emergency requiring immediate hospital care. Do not use on broken skin, do not apply heat or a tight dressing over it, and do not use on children. Avoid entirely if you are allergic to aspirin or salicylates, on warfarin or other anticoagulants, or pregnant. Excessive application over large areas can cause salicylate poisoning through the skin alone.
Where it grows
A shrub of the Himalayan mid-hills from Nepal to the north-east, and of the Western Ghats, distilled for its oil.
Frequently asked questions
How dangerous is swallowing wintergreen oil?
Extremely. A teaspoon contains roughly the salicylate of 7 g of aspirin and has caused deaths in children. Any ingestion is a medical emergency — go to hospital immediately.
Can I use it if I take blood thinners?
No, not without medical advice. Methyl salicylate is absorbed through the skin and can interact with warfarin and other anticoagulants. The same applies if you are allergic to aspirin.
