Botanical Name: Gaultheria procumbens
Common Names: Spring wintergreen, candad tea, partridge
berry, checkerberry, boxberry, wax cluster, spice berry, mountain tea,
beerberry, spicy wintergreen, aromatic wintergreen, chink, ground berry,
grouse berry, red pollom, redberry tea, hillberry, ivory plum
Medicinal
Properties: Stimulant, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue
This is an old-fashioned remedy. Taken in small frequent doses will stimulate stomach, heart, and respiration. Useful in chronic inflammatory rheumatism, also rheumatic fever, sciatica, diabetes, catarrh of the bladder, and all bladder troubles, scrofula, and skin diseases. Valuable in colic and gas in the bowels. Helpful in dropsy, gonorrhea, stomach trouble, and obstructions in the bowels.
The oil of the wintergreen is used internally and externally. It is very useful in liniments.
As a poultice, it is good in boils, swellings, ulcer, felons, and inflammation. A douche of the tea is excellent in whites and leucorrhea. The tea is also very beneficial as a gargle in sore throat and mouth. Good wash for sore eyes.
Adopted from Kloss, 1939