Evidence supporting the use of: Wintergreen
For the health condition: Fever
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) has a history of traditional use among Native American peoples and early European settlers in North America, including as a remedy for fevers. The plant’s leaves contain methyl salicylate, which is chemically similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) and possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Historically, teas or infusions made from wintergreen leaves were consumed to help alleviate pain, inflammation, and feverish symptoms. These traditional uses are reflected in some 19th-century herbal texts and ethnobotanical records.
However, scientific validation for using wintergreen specifically to treat fevers is extremely limited. While methyl salicylate may theoretically help with symptoms such as pain and inflammation, there have been no rigorous clinical trials demonstrating its efficacy or safety as an antipyretic (fever-reducing) agent in humans. Additionally, methyl salicylate can be toxic if ingested in even moderate amounts, particularly in children, making self-medication potentially dangerous. Modern medical practice does not recommend wintergreen as a treatment for fever, and its use has largely fallen out of favor due to safety concerns and the availability of safer, more effective medications. In summary, the use of wintergreen for fever is rooted in tradition, but lacks robust scientific backing and carries notable risks.
Other ingredients used for Fever
allspicealoe vera
green chiretta
apple
waterhyssop
bamboo
barberry
basil
myrobalan
betel
black cumin
black pepper
radish
blackberry
Indian frankincense
rice
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
cassia bark
chamomile
cinnamon
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
coconut milk
Coptis chinensis
cucumber
turmeric
dog rose
melon
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
ethanol
fennel
feverfew
forsythia
gardenia
ginger
glehnia root
goldenseal
gooseberry
greek mountain tea
onion
heartwood
Indian tinospora
honeysuckle
Japanese sophora
jujube
kudzu
lemon
licorice root
lophatherum leaf
lovage
lychee
mangosteen
milk
moringa
mustard seed
nettle
spruce
orange
oregano
oregon grape
parsley
pear
perilla
phenolic acids
pineapple
plantain
plum fruit
raspberry
rosemary
sage
schizonepeta
scrophularia root
sphaeranthus indicus
sweet wormwood
triphala
watermelon
white willow
zhejiang fritillary
yellow root
boneset
chickweed
catnip
tangerine
typhonium
hyssop
cardamom
papaya
Indian bael
neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
clerodendrum indicum
ferula assafoetida
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
commiphora
paederia foetida
tinospora cordifolia
blackboard tree
caesalpinia crista
fumaria parviflora
rubia cordifolia
swertia
chaff flower
peony
lingusticum wallichii
boxthorne
yarrow
lemongrass
myrrh
silk tree
chrysanthemum
juniper berries
amber
flowering quince
dogwood
dodder
fern
ganoderma
sweet flag
sweetgums
morinda
trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
birch
sheep's sorrel
queen of the meadow
anemarrhena asphodeloides
purslane
eucalyptus
wintergreen
camphor oil
menthol oil
aster root
peach
paw paw
white oak
Sichuan pepper
indigo leaves
cayenne pepper
soursop
Alcohol
Avens
akebia
Apple Cider Vinegar
Agastache
Alseodaphne andersonii
Anamarrhena
Angel's Trumpet
Ardisia
Angelica
Agrimony
Achyranthes
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Asafoetida
Ajuga
Andrographolide
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
American Liverleaf
Aquilegia formosa
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Alsonia scholaris
Agrimonia pilosa
Acetylsalicylic acid
Aspen
Anemarrhena
Abuta
Alstonia macrophylla
Amor seco
Arani
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Atractylone
Betony
Black Seed
Blue Flag
Bryonia
Baphicacanthus cusia
Blackthorn
Broussonetia
Bulnesia sarmientoi
Blepharis
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Bayleaf
Butea monosperma
Barleria
Berberis (unspecified)
Bitter Grass
Bougainvillea
Bael
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Banyan
Black willow
Bur-Reed
Black Nightshade
Bombax
Borassus Palm
Buddha's Hand
Borassus aethiopum
Black root
banana
Bupleurum
Baicalin
Bassia scoparia
Burning Bush
Black Hellebore
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Bignay
Boerhavia diffusa
Bottle gourd
Borneol
Centaury
Chinese Silkvine
Curry leaf
Calendula
Casearia esculenta
Cinnamomum
Croton seeds
Chinese Mountain Ant
Calotropis gigantea
Carqueja
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Coriander
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Cinquefoil
Cyathula
Citron
Cajuput
Chlorophytum
Cymbopogon Martini
Cinidium
Campylandra fimbriata
Colombo
Centipeda
Cistus
Corktree
Curcuma
Cinchona
Cowslip
Chirata
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Carlina
Calamus
Coin-leaf desmodium
Chinatree
Cosmos
Cynodon dactylon
Costus
Chekiang Fritillary
Carthamus
Celosia
Clerodendrum indicum
Culvers Root
Dianthus
Didymocarpus
DIVI-DIVI
Dragonhead
Devil's Club
Dianthrone
Desmodium
Dichrostachys glomerata
European Elder
Empresstree
Erodium cicutarium
Evodia
English Horsemint
Echinacea
Elder
Echinodorus
Elephant's Head
Eupatorium
Euphorbia
European-Five Finger Grass
Embelia
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fritillary
Fang-Feng
Ficus religiosa
Fernbush
Ficus simplicissima
Fleabane
Fringed Pink
Frankincense
Four leaved grass
Glehnia littoralis
Goldthread
Genipap
Gnaphalium
Guava
Guaco
Garlic
Gallesia
Giant Blazingstar
Glechoma hederacea
Gardenia jasminoides
Galangal
Golden Shower Tree
Golden Willow
Guazuma ulmifolia
Heather
Heartsease
Holly
Hygrophila
Hemidesmus
Homalomena
Hellebore
Houttuynia
Honey loquat syrup
Helicteres isora
Hempnettle
Horsemint
Indian Nightshade
Iridoid glycosides
Isoquinoline alkaloids
Isatis
Ilex
Indian Coraltree
Iris
Indian Kinotree
Indian Fagonia
Joe-Pye
Jatoba
Jungli-bean
Javanese Long Pepper
Kokilaksha
Knotgrass
Lotus
Lily
Little ironweed
Mustard
Mallow
Maple
Oak
Orchid
Poppy
Rose
Sophora
Spikenard
Snakeroot (unspecified)
Sandalwood
Sumac
Sweet Orange alcohol
Vervain
Other health conditions supported by wintergreen
Abdominal PainArthritis
Backache
Bites and Stings
Bleeding (external)
Boils
Bruises (healing)
Dandruff
Fever
Gas and Bloating
Headache (general)
Headache (sinus)
Headache (tension)
Inflammation
Injuries
Neuralgia and Neuritis
Pain (general remedies for)
Skin (infections)
Sprains
Wounds and Sores