A Coincidence

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is blooming now.   This member of the blueberry family contains methyl salicylate in the leaves, giving it that wintergreen smell and flavor.

Methyl salicylate is what is called a "counter-irritant", that is it can soothe muscle and headache pain by drawing blood to your skin.  It is why so many ointments for muscle pain smell like wintergreen.



If you happen upon the plant (and you are sure what you are looking at), try nibbling on the leaves or the berries.

For many generations plant-savvy people would make a mash of the leaves and hot water and apply it to their skin to ease the pain of sore muscles.

The smooth black bark with horizontal lines of black birch

By a not-uncommon coincidence in nature, another plant here in the northeast also contains methyl salicylate:  the black birch tree.


  In fact, until synthetic production of the chemical became cheaper, most of our supply came from birch sap.  There is also wintergreen flavored birch syrup, and birch "beer" soda.  Wintergreen.

Black birch has saw-toothed leaves