The Original Witch Store

Wintergreen is the name commonly applied to plants whose leave remain green throughout the winter as well as the rest of the year. Native Americans would carefully harvest the leaves, taking care to only take a little so that the plants could regenerate. They would commonly brewed tea from these leaves, seeing it as a powerful aid in treating rheumatic symptoms, headaches, fevers sore throats and other such ailments involved with the common cold and general illness. Later, during the American Revolution, Wintergreen was used by the early Americans as a substitute for tea, which had become scarce during the war. Today, it is quite commonly seen as a flavoring agent for toothpaste, chewing gum, soft drinks, confectionaries and numerous other commercial products. Many herbalists still see Wintergreen as a potent aid in medicinal herbalism. They frequently use it in treating joint and muscle pain as an anti inflammatory, as well as an antiseptic and an agent for soothing and easing digestion. Some have also prescribed it as an agent that can sooth colic and treat excessive gas in infants, while otherwise being useful in treating bacterial infections of the skin. This is a 1 oz packet of cut Wintergreen.