Peppermint Essential Oil Health and Beauty Benefits
Like many essential oils, peppermint essential oil offers many health and beauty benefits, the oil is extracted from the peppermint plant. Peppermint is an herb that is a crossbreed of winter mint and spearmint. It has been used in a multitude of therapeutic applications for hundreds of years, read on for some suggested therapeutic uses of peppermint essential oil. The primary chemical compound found in peppermint is menthol, a source of vitamins A, C, and B2. Peppermint also contains minerals like magnesium, calcium and iron. In oil form, peppermint features a distinct minty aroma and pale yellow color. It’s even possible to make one’s own peppermint essential oil at home with this simple recipe.
The Health Benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil has numerous health benefits, including enhancing digestion, aiding in upper respiratory ailments, reducing pain, headache, nausea, fever, and stomach and bowel spasms. These health advantages are discussed in this PDF in more detail.
| Name | Scientific Name | Origin | Benefits | Caution | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peppermint | Mentha × piperita | Europe | Enhances digestion, relieves heartburn and motion sickness. Reduces the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) such as diarrhea, bloating and gas. Acts as a natural analgesic, offering fever and pain relief, especially for headaches. Aids in upper respiratory ailments by clearing the respiratory system. Menthol promotes the creation of prostacyclin, which inhibits blood clots and dilates blood vessels. May also act as an anti–cancer agent. | Should be kept out of reach of children, should not be brought in direct contact with eyes. A patch test should be performed before applying. | Airtight dark glass kept in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. |
The content of chemical compounds such as menthol, menthone and menthyl esters in peppermint and peppermint essential oil give these broad applications in the manufacturing of soap, shampoo, cigarettes, toothpaste, chewing gum, tea and even ice cream. If you love all things peppermint then you should check out my vegan thin mints cookies, vegan peppermint patties, peppermint raw vegan bars, vegan peppermint ice cream and vegan peppermint brownies. And if you’re looking for a refreshing minty post–workout nutritious boost, try my mint chocolate protein shake.
The History of Peppermint Essential Oil
The origin of the name of the peppermint herb is thought to come from Greek mythology. A story in which Hades, the God of the Underworld, fell deeply in love with an attractive young Naiad (water nymph) called Menthe. Out of jealousy, Hades’ wife, Persephone transformed her into a small weedy plant in the hopes that she would be trod upon often. But Hades, out of pity, gave her a sweet, pleasant and everlasting scent, and thus Mint (peppermint, spearmint) was born.
The Ancient Egyptians as well as the Ancient Romans used the herb for medicinal applications. In fact, dried peppermint leaves were discovered in a pyramid in Egypt, which were carbon dated to 1,000 BC. Although it is native to Europe, peppermint began to be grown in the U.S. in the late 1700s in Massachusetts, and it now grows freely and is cultivated in many parts of the country.
Therapeutic Uses for Peppermint Essential Oil
- Massage several drops directly on your abdomen, place a drop directly on your wrists, or even inhale to soothe motion sickness and nausea. And for an antispasmodic effect, inhale after vomiting to calm the inner lining muscles of the stomach.
- Add 4–6 drops to your palm and massage round the abdomen in clockwise fashion to ease indigestion, flatulence and diarrhea.
- Place 1–2 drops on your tongue and swallow to relieve indigestion and heartburn.
- Drink a few drops of peppermint essential oil added to a glass of water in the morning to help with digestion throughout the day. In case your GI tract is overly sensitive to direct contact with the oil, you can purchase empty capsules to place the drops in, so the oil is not released until it reaches the stomach.
- Inhaling peppermint essential oil is believed to help curb hunger pangs and sweet cravings by provoking a feeling of satiation. Or, ingest 2–4 drops in a capsule in between meals to help curb appetite.
- In the case of a cold, relieve a stuffy nose or a persistent cough with a peppermint essential oil steam. Pour boiling water in a metal or glass bowl, and add a few drops of the oil (eucalyptus and rosemary make great combinations with peppermint). Drape a towel above your head and position the face 10–12 inches over the bowl and inhale the steam in slow even breaths.
- To soothe mucous membranes inflamed by infection or allergies, add a couple drops of peppermint essential oil to a handkerchief or facial tissue and inhale. Or, add a few drops to hot water and breathe in the steam.
- In case of a headache, mix a small amount of almond or any other carrier oil with a drop of peppermint essential oil, rub the mixture on your temples, forehead, sinuses (avoid contact with eyes), and on the back of the neck to relieve pain as well as pressure. When used topically, peppermint essential oil has a calming, cooling sensation.
- For stress relief, the mixture of peppermint, lavender and geranium essential oils added to a warm bath will help reduce stiffness when absorbed into the skin. Or, diffuse a few drops of peppermint essential oil in a room to improve alertness and to relieve stress.
- Create an invigorating bath with the addition of a few drops of peppermint essential oil to hot bath water.
- Rubbing a tiny drop of oil underneath the nose will enhance alertness and concentration. The same effect can be achieved by diffusing peppermint essential oil in the room.
- Inhale peppermint essential oil, or suck on peppermint candy right before a test to boost mental accuracy and memory.
- Dabbing a drop or two to the back of the shoulders and neck occasionally can help keep levels of energy up throughout the day.
- Inhaling before a workout to enhance mood and lower fatigue.
- Add up to 4 drops to your favorite carrier oil and rub into sore muscles post–workout.
- Olba’s Oil is as a massage oil (a mix of essential oils that includes peppermint) that has the remarkable ability to encourage circulation, and promote blood flow to the surface of the skin by opening up the pores and a feeling of warmth to tired joints and muscles. This oil can also be used as a spot treatment for faster relief.
- Mix peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil to relieve cramps.
- Massage approximately 6 drops on any area of recent or long–term inflammation to lessen swelling.
- Rub a few drops instantly to a bruised or injured area to decrease bruising and pain.
- Rub peppermint essential oil on joints to relieve arthritis or tendonitis pain.
- Add some peppermint essential oil to shampoo to help with dandruff.
- For a natural ant deterrent inside the house, soak cotton balls with peppermint essential oil and leave at any of their pathways. Bugs find the scent overpowering and on the plus side, you’ll have the fragrance of mint lingering in your house.
- Mix with water in a spray bottle and spray on door jambs to repel bugs, spiders and pests.
- Deodorize your rubbish bin by dropping a few drops on the bottom for a more pleasant minty fragrance.
- For tired aching feet, add a few drops to a foot bath with Epsom salts for relief of sore, swollen and overworked feet.
- Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to your favorite lotion and rub on sore feet.
- Can be used as a cardiotonic, add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to a bath or massage directly on the chest to ease cardiac arrhythmia.
- Create an all–natural chest rub by melting equal amounts of Shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax, adding in a few drops of peppermint essential oil, allow to cool, then place in airtight container. To assist with chest congestion, rub a small amount of peppermint chest rub mixture directly on chest, inhale deeply.
- Drink a tea made from hot water and a drop of peppermint essential oil to reduce fever. It functions by naturally inducing sweat.
- Peppermint essential oil can help with hot flashes. Simply add a few drops into a spray bottle of cold water and spritz in your body when needed. Or drink a tea made from hot water and a drop of peppermint essential oil.
- For a facial scrub, mix 3 teaspoons table salt with 2 teaspoons olive oil, add 4 drops of peppermint essential oil. To exfoliate, gently rub the mixture on your face and neck in circular motion.
- Steam face with a mix of peppermint and lavender essential oils to cleanse skin and improve acne.
- For a sunburn where skin is a little warm and itchy, use a mix of one drop of each lavender and peppermint essential oils to cool, soothe and stop skin itch.
- Add a few drops of peppermint and lavender essential oils to a carrier oil to alleviate itchy bug bites.
- To help relieve a rash, mix a few drops of peppermint essential oil with coconut oil and rub on the affected area.
- Place 1–2 drops on your tongue, drink a sip of water, then swish the mixture as you would mouthwash to kill bacteria and freshen breath.
- Add to foods as a flavoring or preservative.
How to Make Peppermint Essential Oil
There are a variety of methods you can use to make your own peppermint essential oil at home. Here is one recipe you try.
What You Need
- Fresh peppermint leaves—you can find these in any grocery or health food store. You can also grow your own, since peppermint is an herb that is simple to grow and growing your own ensures a product that is fully organic and chemical–free.
- Two glass jars with tight–fitting lids
- Carrier oil—this should be any oil that is moisturizing and nourishing but mild in flavor and odor. It will be infused with the essence of peppermint. Good carrier oils are olive, avocado, sweet almond and jojoba.
Directions
- Wash the peppermint leaves, then macerate (crush) or rough chop them. This will release their natural oils.
- Place the peppermint leaves in the jar, then pour the carrier oil into the jar ensuring the oil covers the leaves completely. Seal the jar tightly and set aside for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours have passed, strain the leaves out of the carrier oil in the jar and add more chopped peppermint leaves as well as more carrier oil. Reseal the jar
- Repeat this process every 24 hours for five days.
- On the fifth day, strain the peppermint leaves from the carrier oil one final time, pour the infused carrier oil into the other glass jar. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light.
Precautions
Heartburn
Peppermint essential oil can have a numbing effect. When taken orally it may help aid digestion by relaxing the inner muscular wall of the stomach. Peppermint essential oil can also cause the lower esophageal sphincter—a ring muscle at the point where the esophagus connects to the stomach—to relax. Its job is to stop stomach contents from leaking into the esophagus and mouth.
If the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t work properly, stomach acid can flow back up and irritate the esophagus, resulting in heartburn and indigestion. Frequent heartburn and indigestion caused by stomach acid in the esophagus can develop into gastroesophageal reflux disease, also referred to as GERD. People diagnosed with GERD shouldn’t take peppermint essential oil as it can exacerbate their symptoms.
Skin Reactions
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) advises that in rare cases in individuals with very sensitive skin, applying peppermint essential oil directly to one’s skin could cause an allergic reaction and the affected area will develop a rash.
Drug Interactions
It is possible for peppermint essential oil to interact with some medications, so it is best to consult with your health care provider before using. Patients who receive an organ transplant generally take the medication cyclosporine to avoid their body rejecting the organ. Peppermint essential oil can interfere with the breakdown of cyclosporine and allows it to stay in the bloodstream for extended time periods.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, one shouldn’t take peppermint essential oil capsules simultaneously with antacid medications like famotidine, ranitidine, esomeprazole or omeprazole. Taking the two together will break down the peppermint capsule in the stomach, lessening the effects of the antacid.
Peppermint essential oil may also reduce blood glucose levels which can hinder the efficacy of diabetic medications (insulin).
While peppermint essential oil might lower blood pressure, taking it together with blood pressure medications is inadvisable as it can lead to blood pressure dropping too much or too quickly.
Adverse Effects in Children
Despite the fact that peppermint essential oil may offer health benefits to adults, it may have adverse effects in children. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) advices that you should not give peppermint essential oil to infants or young children either internally or topically (on the face/neck). It may cause bronchospasm—a tightening of the muscles that line the airways (bronchi) in your lungs—or tongue spasms that may result in respiratory arrest.
Additional Unwanted Effects
Other side effects associated with peppermint essential oil, as reported by the NIH, include headache, dizziness, slowed heartbeat and muscle tremors. Large dosages could potentially cause seizures and brain injury.
Essential Oils to Avoid In Pregnancy
Women who are pregnant should use essential oils with caution. Some oils are best steering clear of altogether. These are: Acorus Calamus, Ajwain, Allspice, Amyris, Anise (Aniseed), Angelica, Apricot Kernel, Asafoetida, Cinnamon, Clove, Cumin, Fennel, Hyssop, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Star Anise, Sweet Birch, and Wintergreen.
Never use essential oils in a humidifier, CPAP machine, or any other breathing device.
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Source:
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-peppermint-oil/