Nowadays, modern life can be extremely stressful, but the power of natural extracts can help us feel better. Despite the effectiveness of modern medicine, natural extracts such as essential oils are widely used for both treating ailments and relaxation.
Along with lavender, peppermint oil is one of the top leading essential oils worldwide. It has a long history of medicinal uses, practiced by many cultures around the world. Also, its potent antimicrobial uses are suitable for both topical and oral uses.
When it comes to its healing power, there are very few issues it can’t help. Its powerful compounds can soothe and calm the body, relieve sore muscles, soothe digestive problems, and freshen bad breath.
Peppermint is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint. Its essential oil is produced by steam distillation of the fresh parts of the flowering plants. The most potent ingredients are menthone (10-30%) and menthol (35-45%).
Because of its ability to reduce muscle spasms, peppermint oil is recommended for treating gastric lining and colon and provides anti-nausea benefits.
Peppermint oil is not only the oldest European medicinal herb but it is historically used in both Japanese and Chinese folk medicine.
Also, it was mentioned in Greek mythology when Pluto fell in love with the nymph Mentha and transformed her into a herb to be appreciated for many years.
Benefits of Peppermint Oil
The most common uses of peppermint oil include:
- Relieves stomach aches
- Soothes digestive issues
- Reduces headaches
- Freshens bad breath
- Improves mental focus
- Antimicrobial properties
- Improves energy
- Clears respiratory tract
- Relieves tight muscles
- More effective than pharmaceutical drugs.
25 Peppermint Oil Uses
After reading these 25 peppermint oil uses, you will look for this incredible herb at the very moment:
1. Sinus Care
If you suffer from clogged sinuses or scratchy throat, an inhalation with diffused peppermint oil will help you at the very moment. In addition, peppermint oil act as a powerful expectorant that can relieve coughs, colds, asthma, sinusitis, and bronchitis.
2. Muscle Pain Relief
This essential oil acts as a potent muscle relaxant and natural painkiller. Also, it soothes sore muscles, and aching back, and reduces tension headaches.
According to some studies, topically applied peppermint oil relieves the pain associated with Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. The study also found that peppermint oil, menthol, eucalyptus, capsaicin, and other herbs can treat these conditions.
3. Reduce Hunger Cravings
Peppermint oil inhalation will reduce your craving for food and will keep you satiated for longer. Therefore at dinnertime, apply several drops of this oil on your chest or temples, or just take some deep sniffs from the bottle.
4. Joint Therapy
When you suffer from achy joints, mix some peppermint and lavender oil, and apply this combination to the affected parts. This combination may cool the muscles but help you stay dry and warm.
5. Improve the Shampoo
If you add 2-3 drops of this essential oil to your morning shampoo, you will stimulate your scalp, wake up easier and energize your body. Because of its potent antiseptic properties, peppermint oil can remove lice and dandruff.
6. Allergy Relief
Peppermint oil will relax your muscles in the nasal passages and clean the pollen and muck during allergy seasons. Therefore, a combination of diffused peppermint, eucalyptus, and clove oil can reduce the symptoms of allergy.
7. Natural Energizer
If you need some extra energy you do not need all those harmful energy drinks but a few whiffs of peppermint oil. Also, those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome will improve their concentration and focus with peppermint oil.
8. Anti-Itch
Apply a mixture of peppermint and lavender oil to the affected part, and the itchiness will be gone.
9. ADHD Support
Spray peppermint oil on your child’s shirt before she/he starts studying, and place it under her/his nose or on her/his tongue for alertness and improved concentration.
10. Natural Bug Repellant
Peppermint oil successfully repels ticks, spiders, ants, mosquitos, cockroaches, lice, and mice.
11. Reduces Fever
Its potent cooling effects, effectively bring down fever, especially in children. Therefore, mix peppermint and coconut oil and apply them to the child’s neck. Gently rub it on the neck and on the bottom of the feet to stabilize the fever.
12. Treats Ache
One study points out that treating acne is one of the best uses of peppermint oil due to its potent anti-microbial properties.
13. Hair Growth
You may have noticed that peppermint oil can be found in the most high-quality hair products because it effectively thickens and nourishes damaged hair.
However, you can simply add peppermint oil to your regular shampoo and produce your homemade shampoo that can prevent thinning and hair loss.
14. Skin Health
Peppermint oil soothes the skin and reduces inflammation. For a cooling sensation, mix peppermint oil with some body lotion or lip balm. Also, a mixture of lavender and peppermint oil can improve psoriasis and eczema when applied topically.
15. Headache Cure
Peppermint oil can heal the gut, improve circulation, and relax tense muscles. These conditions can lead to migraines and tension headaches, but peppermint oil can effectively reduce them.
Researchers from the Neurological Clinic at the University of Kiel, have conducted a study that found that peppermint oil with a combination of other oils can reduce sensitivity to headaches due to its potent analgesic properties.
This was obtained with a local appliance on the forehead and temples.
16. IBS Treatment
When taken internally in capsules, peppermint oil can effectively treat irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. According to a study, 75% of the patients who used this oil, experienced a 50% reduction of IBS symptoms.
17. Sunburn Relief
Peppermint oil relieves the pain from sunburns and hydrates the skin. Mix some coconut and peppermint oil and apply the mixture directly to the burnt area. In this way, you will relieve the pain and stimulate healthy skin renewal.
18. Reduces Cavities and Freshens Breath
Peppermint oil is one of the best methods of breath-freshening for over 1,000 years. Studies showed that peppermint oil reduces cavities much better than chlorhexidine, a popular mouthwash chemical.
You can make your homemade mouthwash and toothpaste, or just add some drops under your tongue followed by a glass of water.
19. Improves Indigestion and Bloating
Peppermint is a well-established natural alternative to Buscopan, a drug that reduces spasms in the colon. Also, it relaxes the muscles of the intestines and reduces gas and bloating.
To provide this relief, make some peppermint tea or add a drop of peppermint oil to your water before every meal.
20. Respiratory Benefits
As we have mentioned before, peppermint oil is a powerful decongestant and can open the airways. You can make a homemade vapor rub out of peppermint, eucalyptus, and coconut oil and reduce the symptoms of bronchitis and asthma.
21. Reduces Nausea
Peppermint oil reduces chemotherapy-induced nausea much better than conventional medical treatments.
You just have to add one drop of peppermint oil to water or rub 1-2 drops of it behind your ears to reduce nausea.
22. Teething
This is one of the most effective natural methods that can reduce the pain connected with teething in small children. Just combine a 1:1 ratio of peppermint oil and coconut oil and rub the affected area.
23. Colic
According to some medical research, peppermint oil is as effective as Simethicone, a popular drug that treats infantile colic. Additionally, this natural solution does not cause any side effects associated with prescribed medications.
24. Relieves Symptoms of PCOS and Balances Hormones
Peppermint oil contains powerful hormone-balancing qualities and is the perfect natural solution for PCOS.
25. Cancer Treatment
Peppermint is high in menthol, a compound that inhibits prostate cancer growth and protects from radiation-induced cell death and DNA damage.
Studies and Research of Peppermint Oil
Currently, there are 302 scientific studies concerning peppermint essential oil and about 2297 about menthol. It is not strange why this powerful remedy attracts so much attention because when applied it can change your life in many ways than you can imagine.
For example, in 2012, Clayton State University conducted a study that analyzed peppermint oil’s ability to reduce postoperative vomiting and nausea. Generally, this is a well-known side effect of anesthesia, and most people undergoing surgery suffer from this condition.
In the case of women who had a C-section, this is a devastating experience because it seriously interferes with breastfeeding.
This study evaluated how 35 moms would respond to peppermint aromatherapy. It was found that peppermint oil not only reduced postoperative vomiting and nausea, but it significantly reduced the levels of sickness in comparison to women who took anti-nausea medications.
Just rub one drop of this potent oil on your stomach or take it internally and indigestion will disappear in no time.
According to new research, peppermint oil can improve antibiotic resistance and heal the body from the overuse of antibiotics and other chemicals. That may be the reason why this oil is so effective in the treatment of IBS.
One medical study concentrated on peppermint’s ability to cure IBS was published in July, this year. It announced that peppermint oil is significantly superior to a placebo for the overall improvement of abdominal pain and IBS symptoms.
The researchers also stated that peppermint oil is a completely safe and effective method of treating IBS.
Bugs Repellent
One of the most popular uses of peppermint oil is a bug repellent.
A study conducted in Israel last year compared seven different bug repellants. The All-Natural Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent was considered the most effective mosquito repellant with OFF! ®. This is a combination of eugenol, cinnamon, geranium, lemongrass, and peppermint oils but is also loaded with highly toxic substances like DEET.
Further on, the study found that peppermint oil can provide 150 minutes of complete protection against mosquitos with just 0.1 mL of it applied to the body.
After 150 minutes, its efficacy is reduced and needs to be reapplied.
Potential Interactions and Concerns
Peppermint oil is completely safe when taken both internally or topically in amounts commonly found in food.
However, when ingested, it can cause some side effects such as flushing, heartburn, headache, and mouth sores. Some medications can adversely interact with peppermint oil and cause nausea, heartburn, and rapid absorption of some drugs. Make sure you take the necessary precautions.
Here is a list of medications that have moderate potential for interaction with peppermint oil: Sandimmune, Neoral, Haldol, Elavil, Inderal, Zofran, Calan, Theo-Dur, Prilosec, Isoptin, Protonix, Prevacid, Valium, Diazepam, Viracept, Soma, Voltaren, Cataflam, Mobic, Ibuprofen/Motrin, Celebrex, Feldene, Warfarin/Coumadin, Elavil, Losartan, Glucotrol, Mevacor, Cozaar, Sporanox, Nizoral, Halcion, and Allegra.
These medications have a minor potential for interaction with peppermint oil: Rolaids, Tums, Ripan, Amphojel, Bilagog, Zantac, Tagamet, Pepcid, Axid, Prevacid, Prilosec, Aciphex, Nexium, Protonix.
Natural Supplement Precautions
When simultaneously, peppermint oil reduces the absorption of iron. If you take both peppermint oil and iron supplements, make sure you make a 3-hour break between the two. Also, peppermint oil absorbs quercetin when taken at the same time. So, make at least a 3-hour break between the two.
Source Little House Living | JPSR | Articles Mercola
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