Gaultheria fragrantissima Health Dictionary

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Gaultheria Fragrantissima: From 1 Different Sources

Wall.

Family: Ericaceae.

Habitat: Central and Eastern Himalayas, Khasi Hills, Western Ghats, the Nilgiris and Travancore.

English: Fragrant Wintergreen, Indian Wintergreen. (Wintergreen oil is obtained from G. procumbens Linn., a native of America.)

Ayurvedic: Gandhapuura, Gandha- puurna.

Siddha/Tamil: Kolakkaai.

Action: Leaves—stimulant, carminative, diuretic, antiseptic. Oil (in the form of liniment or ointment)— applied externally in rheumatism, sciatica and neuralgia. The plant is strongly irritant.

The leaves gave hyperoside (quer- cetin-3-galactoside), ursolic acid, beta- sitosterol and essential oil containing methyl salicylate as a major constituent. The yield of oil from Assam plants contains 99.14% methyl salicy- late. Heptyl aldehyde, present in the low boiling fraction of the oil, brought about the regression of tumours in mice and dogs.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Santolina

Santolina chamaecyparissus

FAMILY: Asteraceae (Compositae)

SYNONYMS: Lavandula taemina, cotton lavender

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: An evergreen, woody shrub with whitish-grey foliage and small, bright yellow, ball-shaped flowers borne on long single stalks. The whole plant has a strong rather rank odour, a bit like chamomile.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to Italy, now common throughout the Mediterranean region. Much grown as a popular border herb.

OTHER SPECIES: There are several varieties such as S. fragrantissima. It is not related to true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) despite the common name.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: It was used as an antidote to all sorts of poison, and to expel worms; also ‘good against obstruction of the liver, the jaundice and to promote the menses’.. It was used to keep away moths from linen, to repel mosquitos, and as a remedy for insect bites, warts, scabs and verrucae. The Arabs are said to have used the juice for bathing the eyes.

ACTIONS: Antispasmodic, antitoxic, anthelmintic, insecticidal, stimulant, vermifuge.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the seeds.

CHARACTERISTICS: A pale yellow liquid with a strong, acrid, herbaceous odour.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Only one principal constituent: santolinenone.

SAFETY DATA: Oral toxin. ‘There is no safety data available ... likely to be dangerously toxic.’.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None.

OTHER USES: Little used in flavour or perfumery work due to toxicity.... santolina

Wintergreen

Gaultheria procumbens

FAMILY: Ericaceae

SYNONYMS: Aromatic wintergreen, checkerberry, teaberry, gaultheria (oil).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A small evergreen herb up to 15 cm high with slender creeping stems shooting forth erect twigs with leathery serrated leaves and drooping white flowers, which are followed by fleshy scarlet berries.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to North America, especially the north eastern region and Canada. The oil is produced in the USA.

OTHER SPECIES: There are several other Gaultheria species which are also used for oil production, sharing similar properties.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The plant has been used for respiratory conditions such as chronic mucous discharge, but is mainly employed for joint and muscular problems such as lumbago, sciatica, neuralgia, myalgia, etc. The dried leaf and stem are current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a specific for rheumatoid arthritis.

The essential oil has been used interchangeably with sweet birch oil, both being made up almost exclusively of methyl salicylate.

ACTIONS: Analgesic (mild), anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactagogue, stimulant.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam (or water) distillation from the leaf, previously macerated in warm water. The essential oil does not occur crudely in the plant, but is only produced during the process of decomposition in warm water.

CHARACTERISTICS: A pale yellow or pinkish liquid with an intense sweet-woody, almost fruity odour. It blends well with oregano, mints, thyme, ylang ylang, narcissus and vanilla.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Almost exclusively methyl salicylate (up to 98 per cent), with formaldehyde and gaultheriline.

SAFETY DATA: Toxic, irritant and sensitizing – an environmental hazard or marine pollutant. The true oil is almost obsolete, having been replaced by synthetic methyl salicylate. See also sweet birch oil.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None. ‘Avoid both internally and externally.’.

OTHER USES: Some pharmaceutical use, such as ‘Olbas’ oil. Some perfumery applications especially in forest-type fragrances. Extensively used as a flavouring agent in the USA for toothpaste, chewing gum, root beer, Coca-Cola, and other soft drinks.... wintergreen


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