Peppermint's use as a medicinal herb dates back to ancient Egypt and Greece. Tradition holds peppermint tea useful for easing cold symptoms, indigestion and headaches, and modern research suggests peppermint essential oil may offer many of the same benefits. Because the oil is non-toxic and generally well tolerated, you can take it internally, or apply it externally, depending on the symptoms you're hoping to relieve.
Reducing Heartburn
A combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil may ease symptoms of non-ulcer dyspepsia, also known as heartburn. During a 29-day trial, patients taking 90 mg peppermint oil and 50 mg caraway oil reported an average of 43 percent reduction in pressure and heaviness, and a 40 percent reduction in pain, according to a 2000 study conducted at the University Medical Clinic and Out-patient Clinic in Bochum, Germany. However, peppermint oil can also cause heartburn, so consult your doctor before using this treatment.
Easing Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Peppermint oil may reduce abdominal pain from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), suggests a 2010 study conducted at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Out of 90 patients who took delayed-release Colpermin peppermint oil capsules, 14 felt some relief from systems after 8 weeks.
Relieving Tension Headaches
Two separate studies suggest peppermint oil applied to the forehead may help relieve tension headaches. In a study using tiger balm, which contains peppermint oil, researchers at Monash University, East Bentleigh, Victoria found no significant difference between the balm and acetaminophen. Likewise, comparison between acetaminophen and 10 percent peppermint oil solution produced no significant differences in pain relief, according to a study from Christian-Albrechts-Universität in Kiel, Germany.
Lessening Muscle Spasms
Peppermint oil can reduce muscle spasms during colonoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. A 20 ml dose of 1.6 percent peppermint oil solution in the duodenum produced seemingly identical results to that of the hormone glucagons, reported a 2006 study from the University of Tokyo, Japan.
Dental Care
The antiseptic properties of peppermint oil help kill bacteria that lead to bad breath and gum infections. This oil may also ease toothaches. Mix this pleasant-tasting oil into a mouthwash, or dilute it slightly with water, and use the solution to rinse your mouth.
Aromatherapy
The strong-smelling menthol in peppermint oil helps temporarily clear the respiratory tract, relieving nasal congestion and coughs. For these benefits, use the oil in a vaporizer or a rub applied to the chest. The scent of peppermint may also increase alertness and reduce nausea, according to essential oil distributors Esoteric Oils in Pretoria, South Africa.
References
- "Alimentary Pharmacology & Theraputics"; Efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil in patients suffering from functional dyspepsia; May B., et al; December 2000
- "Digestive Diseases and Sciences"; The effect of enteric-coated, delayed-release peppermint oil on irritable bowel syndrome; Merat S, et al; June 2009
- "Australian Family Physician"; Tiger Balm as a treatment of tension headache. A clinical trial in general practice; Schattner P, et al; February 2006
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