Oil of Wintergreen (Methyl Salicylate) One of the oldest remedies for muscle aches and pains was originally made from the wintergreen shrub.
The compound that was distilled from the leaves was methyl salicylate, a chemical relative of aspirin (though it is not swallowed the way aspirin is).
Virtually the same compound could be extracted from the bark of sweet birch (also known as cherry birch).
Today, most methyl salicylate is created synthetically and is found in dozens of rubs, liniments, and gels, often combined with menthol of camphor.
Such products are called "counterirritants.
" That is because they create a sensation of heat and mild inflammation when massaged into the skin.
Some people describe the feeling as "hurting so good.
" There is no clear understanding of how counterirritants actually work.
One theory suggests that by creating a distracting discomfort you can somehow dampen the original pain b overwhelming nerve impulses.
This concept is based on the idea that sensations of pain travel to the brain through the spinal cord.
Think of it a little like a telephone network.
If all the calls had to funnel through a central switching office, you might be able to overload the system with incoming messages and create a busy signal.
That way pain signals might not get through to the brain.
Imagine that you have a bad headache.
It can be very distracting.
But if you get stung by a hornet, the new pain takes precedence and the awareness of the headache may fade.
Then there is the notion that stimulating nerves in the skin improves circulation.
The increased blood flow to the region spreads to the underlying muscles and somehow alleviates the soreness.
This stuff has been used for over a hundred years to treat arthritis, sprains, muscle aches, and neuralgia.
Although relatively little salicylate is absorbed into the blood stream after topical application, you should never use a heating pad or hot compress over methyl salicylate.
This could enhance absorption through the skin and lead to toxicity.
Don't combine methyl salicylate with the arthritis treatment DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) as it easily passes into the blood stream and could carry methyl salicylate along and cause salicylate poisoning.
Swallowing the chemical can be life threatening, so be sure to keep oil of wintergreen out of the reach of children.
The compound that was distilled from the leaves was methyl salicylate, a chemical relative of aspirin (though it is not swallowed the way aspirin is).
Virtually the same compound could be extracted from the bark of sweet birch (also known as cherry birch).
Today, most methyl salicylate is created synthetically and is found in dozens of rubs, liniments, and gels, often combined with menthol of camphor.
Such products are called "counterirritants.
" That is because they create a sensation of heat and mild inflammation when massaged into the skin.
Some people describe the feeling as "hurting so good.
" There is no clear understanding of how counterirritants actually work.
One theory suggests that by creating a distracting discomfort you can somehow dampen the original pain b overwhelming nerve impulses.
This concept is based on the idea that sensations of pain travel to the brain through the spinal cord.
Think of it a little like a telephone network.
If all the calls had to funnel through a central switching office, you might be able to overload the system with incoming messages and create a busy signal.
That way pain signals might not get through to the brain.
Imagine that you have a bad headache.
It can be very distracting.
But if you get stung by a hornet, the new pain takes precedence and the awareness of the headache may fade.
Then there is the notion that stimulating nerves in the skin improves circulation.
The increased blood flow to the region spreads to the underlying muscles and somehow alleviates the soreness.
This stuff has been used for over a hundred years to treat arthritis, sprains, muscle aches, and neuralgia.
Although relatively little salicylate is absorbed into the blood stream after topical application, you should never use a heating pad or hot compress over methyl salicylate.
This could enhance absorption through the skin and lead to toxicity.
Don't combine methyl salicylate with the arthritis treatment DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) as it easily passes into the blood stream and could carry methyl salicylate along and cause salicylate poisoning.
Swallowing the chemical can be life threatening, so be sure to keep oil of wintergreen out of the reach of children.