Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen or wintergreen oil) is an organic ester naturally produced by many species of plants, particularly wintergreens.
Contents
Uses
Methyl salicylate is normally used to make medicine it is also used as a fragrance, in foods and beverages. American Indians reportedly used wintergreen for treating back pain, toothache, rheumatism, fever, headaches, and sore throats centuries ago.
Benefits
This product is used to treat minor aches and pains of the muscles/joints (e.g., arthritis, backache, sprains). Menthol and methyl salicylate are known as counterirritants. They work by causing the skin to feel cool and then warm. These feelings on the skin distract you from feeling the aches/pains deeper in your muscles, joints, and tendons.
- The methyl salicylate and salicylic acid acts like a natural aspirin. Dilute as needed and massage into the soles of the feet, the back of the neck, or over the area of concern for pain relief.
- Wintergreen oil is absorbed through the skin, it eventually reaches the blood stream, where it stimulates and increases urination, acting as a diuretic. This speeds up the removal of toxins like uric acid from the body through urination. The removal of excess water, fats, and salts through urine aids in weight loss, which also reduces the effects of rheumatic conditions.
- Wintergreen oil promotes menstruation and also helps get rid of problems like nausea, fatigue, and pain associated with it.
- The anti-spasmodic properties of wintergreen oil aids in treating all kinds of spasms in the respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system, circulatory system, and muscles. Adding few drops of wintergreen oil in steam inhalation, warm baths, gentle massaging and few other topical applications on the affected parts will give complete relief from respiratory disorders like asthma, chest congestion, breathing problems and spasmodic coughs.
Caution
Some medical conditions may interact with methyl salicylate/menthol cream. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have had an allergic reaction to aspirin or other salicylates
- if you have a wound at the affected area or your skin is broken or damaged in any way
Interactions
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with methyl salicylate/menthol cream. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by methyl salicylate/menthol cream
Other names
oil of wintergreen or wintergreen oil
Reference
Source: WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-18536/methyl-salicylate-menthol-topical/details
Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_salicylate
HealthyBenefits, http://healthybenefits.info/the-health-benefits-of-wintergreen-oil-methyl-salicylate/