Tag: Methyl salicylate poisoning

Historically, Native Americans and early settlers chewed wintergreen leaves and berries for their medicinal properties and distinctive flavor. However, a teaspoon of concentrated wintergreen oil can be lethal to an adult, making the distinction between the natural plant and the extract critically important. This stark difference highlights the significant risks involved and why you should be cautious when asking, "can you chew on wintergreen?"

As little as a teaspoon of concentrated wintergreen oil can be fatal to a child, a powerful statistic that highlights the extreme toxicity difference between the plant's parts. This critical distinction is key to understanding if it is safe to eat wintergreen. While the oil is highly poisonous, the plant’s berries and leaves are traditionally used in small amounts for flavoring.