Gaultheria Procumbens

A creeping evergreen of North American woods, source of oil of wintergreen, traditionally used in homoeopathy for rheumatic and nerve pains.

Wintergreen, or checkerberry, is a low, creeping evergreen shrub of the heath family that grows in cool, damp woods of eastern North America. It has glossy leaves, small white bell-shaped flowers and bright red berries. Its leaves yield oil of wintergreen, rich in methyl salicylate, the familiar scent of many pain-relief balms.

Homoeopaths traditionally use it for inflammatory rheumatism, sciatica and other nerve pains, including neuralgia of the head and face. It is also associated with an irritable, painful stomach that still craves food, and with burning, smarting skin that feels better in cool air.

• Rheumatic pain
• Sciatica
• Nerve pain
• Stomach pain