Wintergreen Leaf C/S (Gaultheria procumbens) 1 lb: C

This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack. Used as an infusion, extract, tincture and ointment. Excerpts from 'Wonderful Wintergreen' by Karyn Siegel-Maier http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/botanical_retired/8450: Several Native American tribes used wintergreen as a tea for colds and flu,and as a poultice to ease arthritis and rheumatism. Early American settlers also recognized the value of wintergreen and included it in their kitchens as well as their medicine cabinets. They made a winter tonic of the berries blended with brandy, and their children were given the roots to chew to deter tooth decay. The colonists of the American Revolution often enjoyed wintergreen tea as an alternative to the imported tea so heavily taxed. Early medicinal formulas using wintergreen to reduce fever, body aches, and muscular pains, were probably quite effective indeed. The active constituent found in the leaves and berries is methyl salicylate, and is closely related to salicylic acid - the forerunner of aspirin. Unlike aspirin, a moderate internal dosage of wintergreen acts as a stomachic and relieves indigestion rather than inducing it. Wintergreen oil is still a popular addition to toothpaste, gum, candy, and root beer, although true wintergreen oil has for the most part been replaced with a synthetic version made from birch bark. Cosmetically, wintergreen speeds the healing of skin disorders, and when added to lotions it acts as a natural softener readily absorbed by the skin. In fact, oil of wintergreen was once used to soften leather used in bookbinding. As a liniment, wintergreen is an important ingredient of the popular lotion to relieve overexerted muscles: Ben Gay. Wintergreen Tea For every cup of boiling water used add 1 tsp. chopped fresh leaves securely tied in a square of muslin cloth. Steep for 15-20 minutes. You may like this tea iced as well. Natural Root Beer 5 gallons water ½ cup dry yeast 1½ gallons molasses ½ cup wintergreen leaves, rinsed & dried 1 cup sassafras root bark. Combine water and molasses and heat just to the boiling point. Remove from heat and allow to stand for two hours. Add the wintergreen, sassafras root bark, and yeast. Stir just until blended. Allow to ferment overnight at room temperature. Strain and refrigerate. Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Tonic, stimulant, astringent, aromatic. Useful as a diuretic and emmenagogue and for chronic mucous discharges. Is said to be a good galactogogue.' 'The oil of Gaultheria is its most important product. It has all the properties of the salicylates and therefore is most beneficial in acute rheumatism, but must be given internally in capsules, owing to its pungency, death from inflammation of the stomach having been known to result from frequent and large doses of it. It is readily absorbed by the skin, but is liable to give rise to an eruption, so it is advisable to use for external application the syntheti