Gultharia Oil
Gaultheria oil is also known as Wintergreen oil. It is extracted from the leaves of the Gultharia plant. This plant is a member of the Ericaceae plant family. The plant genus Gaultheria contains about 170-180 species of shrubs. These species vary in size, shape, characteristics and appearance. The name of this Genus was after Jean François Gauthier of Quebec. It was a misspell honor given by the Scandinavian Pehr Kalm in the year 1748. Gaultheria is indigenous to Asia, Australasia, North America and South America. Few of the plant species in this genus are low lying shrubs. These ground-hugging plants grow up to an average height ranging between 2.5 m to 6 m tall. Gaultheria leaves are simple, aromatic, oval shaped, alternately arranged with finely serrated leaf margins. These evergreen leaves are shiny and measure about 0.3 cm to 10 cm long. The stems are tender. The flowers of Gaultheria plants are bell shaped and are white, pink and red in color. These flowers generally have five-lobed corolla and are solitary in nature. The flowers are followed by berry like fruits that are spicy and red in color. This dry capsule fruits contains many small seeds. The roots are conical, deep and fleshy in nature.
Gaultheria oil is extracted from the leaves through steam distillation method. This natural oil has a woody, pleasant, spicy, smoky, gentle and penetrating aroma. It blends well with lavender oil.
Latin name: Gaultheria procumbens
Alternative names: Gaultheria, Gaultheria Oil, Partridge berry, Eastern Teaberry, Wintergreen, Checkerberry, Teaberry, Spice Berry.
Gaultheria plants prefer cool and temperate climatic conditions. It is found growing in cool woods. This is a celebrated North American remedy for many health disorders. This fame is mainly because of the presence of the principal constituent menthyl salicylate. This oil also contains alcohol, gaultherilene and ketone. It has analgesic, stimulant, astringent and rubefacient properties. It is recommended to avoid the intake of this oil internally as it contains toxic substances that may result in fatal poisoning.
Uses: Gaultheria oil is used externally for treating backache, joint pains, rheumatic pain, muscular aches, arthritis, gout, muscular skeletal problems and tendinitis. This essential oil is used as an important formula in many pain relieving ointments and liniments. Gaultheria oil is used to relieve pain during long journeys and to ease breathing at the time of climbing and carrying heavy loads. This oil gives relaxation to the body and can also be used as massage oil. It is used traditionally in men’s toiletries.
