Mint is best known as a flavoring in gums and candies. Peppermint, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, is actually a hybrid of two different herbs--water mint and spearmint. The oils extracted from the leaves of peppermint are used for more than just food flavoring.
Gas Relief
One of peppermint's primary ingredients is menthol. The Mayo Clinic writes that menthol "appears to have an antispasmodic effect" on the digestive tract muscles. When peppermint oil is ingested as a treatment, the bloating and pain related to gas is reduced as gas passes through the intestinal tract without spasms or constriction.
Dyspepsia
In addition to relieving gas pain, peppermint oil's relaxation of stomach muscles can lead to improved digestive health. The oil, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, calms the stomach and allows bile to flow more easily to it. Increased bile leads to faster digestion and a reduced risk of indigestion.
Sleep Aid
Studies show peppermint to be a powerful stimulant, but a 2006 study published in the journal Biological Psychology showed that it may improve sleep. Researchers from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, found that inhaling the peppermint aroma while sleeping reduced overall fatigue and improved mood. The impact was primarily psychological, as alertness and dreamless (NREM) sleep varied by gender.
Sore Throat
Menthol is the component of many over-the-counter cold remedies. When inhaled or ingested, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that the oil acts as an expectorant, cutting chest congestion and loosening phlegm.
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