Wintergreen
Botanical Name: Gaultheria procumbens
Common Names and Synonyms: Checkerberry, Teaberry
Background: Wintergreen is a small, creeping evergreen shrub
which grows five or six inches high. The finely serrated leathery
leaves are distinctly aromatic. White bell-like flowers which bloom
in June and July are followed by the bright scarlet berries.
The leaves and fruit produce an oil which is diuretic, stimulant, and can
be useful as a general liniment. The oil must be used with care,
for it can be very irritating to the skin. Herbalists use wintergreen
oil externally for muscle aches, particularly in foot balms and rheumatism
treatments.
Graphics: |
|
|
|
|
Wintergreen in the Cayce Readings
-
Edgar Cayce recommended wintergreen primarily as an ingredient in massage
oils and for use in steam (fume) baths. The primary action of wintergreen,
as stated in the Cayce readings, was to increase the superficial circulation
and assist with eliminations.
-
When used in massage oil formulas, wintergreen was most often combined
with the following substances:
Sassafras |
62 readings |
Cedar Wood Oil |
56 readings |
Olive Oil |
51 readings |
Russian White Oil |
48 readings |
Benzoin |
45 readings |
Witch Hazel |
29 readings |
Pine Needle Oil |
28 readings |
Kerosene |
26 readings |
Camphor |
21 readings |
Myrrh |
15 readings |
Cayce Quotes on Wintergreen
412-10
In the Fume Bath put about half a teaspoonful of Oil of
Wintergreen to a pint of water. Stay in this for five to ten to fifteen
minutes. As the body takes same the more often it will make for a
great superficial circulation.
779-24
(Q) Kidneys?
(A) Toxic forces overactive in the kidneys. Hence the very
character and the nature of the Fumes - the combination of the Camphor
and the Oil of Wintergreen.
3892-1
Through the creating, then, of more active forces of a balance between
the various FORMS OF elimination in the system. Then we would create
a stimulation to that of the excretory system, especially through the sweat
glands. These will be found then in those of the vapor baths, with
the assistance of properties in that used as to make a vapor - of one-half
a pint of water, use teaspoonful wintergreen. This will open
the pores to such an extent that these will assist the lymphatic circulation
in bringing the impurities through this portion of body in the manner that
stimulates the system.
2357-1
At least once each week the body would have SWEAT
baths; that is, those with such a cabinet that the heat from vapor may
act with the whole of the surface of the body itself. In such vapor
there should be carried to the pint of water at least half a teaspoonful
of Oil of Wintergreen. This will act in the capacity of bringing
to the capillary circulation a different reaction. These, preferably
then, we would see, would be taken on Wednesday or Thursday evenings.
744-1
In the interim, or during these whole periods, we
would have each evening the RUB along the whole cerebrospinal system with
equal portions of Olive Oil, Tincture of Myrrh and Oil of Wintergreen.
Heat the Olive Oil and add the Myrrh, THEN add the Oil of Wintergreen.
Massage only what the body will absorb; not only in the spinal cord or
center but those paralleling of the sympathetic nervous forces - for the
body will absorb same. And this will make for not only the enlivening
of all centers along the cerebrospinal system but would extend more specifically
over the brachial area and the lumbar area and along the limbs.
|