Wintergreen oil (Gaultheria procumbens) consists almost entirely of methyl salicylate (96-99%), a phenolic ester that acts as a prodrug of salicylic acid, inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 and suppressing prostaglandin synthesis to deliver analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.^[1] Methyl salicylate is readily absorbed through skin and can reach systemic plasma levels sufficient to inhibit platelet aggregation; ingestion or excessive dermal application carries a genuine risk of salicylate toxicity, and concomitant NSAID use amplifies this risk.^[2]