Oil of Wintergreen - burn lungs?

I am using oil of wintergreen for a art project. Using this oil, I can transfer printed ink from one piece of paper to another.

However, I am concerned with how dangerous this substance is.
Is using gloves and a mask really enough?
Could it burn my lungs?
How would I know if this has happened?

Thank you
Saiko_0

Thank you for your reply, Lanie.


I have been using gloves and a mask, as the pharmacist said. However, it has a very strong odor. I am not sure of its effects on the lungs or brain. I have researched, but if you or anyone else reading this does know any more information, then I'd be glad to know it!

Thanks again,
Saiko

I'd encourage you to use the oil in a ventilated area (i.e., open a window). The wintergreen itself should be fine unless you are allergic to aspirin or to wintergreen, but many oils are contaminated with other substances, such as alcohol and other plant oils, that may be toxic.

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-Razzle

Chronic Lyme Disease, Chronic Bartonella (clinical dx only), Gluten & Sulfite Sensitivity, Many Food/Inhalant/Medication/Chemical Allergies & Intolerances, Asthma, Gut issues (dysmotility, non-specific inflammation), UCTD ("Secondary Lupus-Like Syndrome"), Osteoporosis, chronic Lymphopenia, etc.; G-Tube; Currently trying to wean off TPN.

Meds:  Pulmicort, IV Ceftazidime, Heparin (to flush PICC line), Claritin, Domperidone, Colloidal Silver (used topically), probiotics, Milk Thistle, homeopathy.

Styrofoam and plastic are both petroleum based products, thus an oil-based substance. Essential oils can dissolve other oil-based substances, so that is probably why it dissolved the styrofoam plate.

If you get the wintergreen on your skin and it burns, put some vegetable oil on it to dilute the wintergreen, then wash with soap and hot water. If you get wintergreen oil in your eye, put a little bit of vegetable oil in your eye to dilute the wintergreen oil (my Mom had this happen with a different essential oil and she said the vegetable oil really helped). The vegetable oil isn't likely to cause a problem for your eye.

I think you'll be ok as long as you're careful but Poison Control may be able to answer your question better than I can, or perhaps Google... Don't eat the oil in any significant quantity - it could cause salicylate poisoning..

Good luck,

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-Razzle

Chronic Lyme Disease, Chronic Bartonella (clinical dx only), Gluten & Sulfite Sensitivity, Many Food/Inhalant/Medication/Chemical Allergies & Intolerances, Asthma, Gut issues (dysmotility, non-specific inflammation), UCTD ("Secondary Lupus-Like Syndrome"), Osteoporosis, chronic Lymphopenia, etc.; G-Tube; Currently trying to wean off TPN.

Meds:  Pulmicort, IV Ceftazidime, Heparin (to flush PICC line), Claritin, Domperidone, Colloidal Silver (used topically), probiotics, Milk Thistle, homeopathy.