The brisk, cool smell of peppermint and the tingle it leaves on your tongue allude to the possibility that this popular herb might have medicinal properties. Peppermint oil, derived from the leaves of the plant, is known as an all-purpose tummy soother and way to combat gas and indigestion. Peppermint is generally a safe herb to use, topically or orally; however, only appropriate peppermint preparations should be used, and peppermint should be avoided if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
About Peppermint
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a hybrid of two other types of mint, water mint and spearmint, according to the University of Michigan Health System. It was first grown near London in the mid-1700s but now grows almost everywhere in the U.S. and Europe. The health system notes that there are two cultivated varieties of peppermint: black mint, which has purplish leaves and a high oil content, and white mint, which has green leaves and a less potent taste. The leaves of the peppermint plant are used for medicinal purposes.
Popular Uses
Peppermint oil has a variety of suggested uses, but there's good scientific evidence to suggest it can be beneficial for irritable bowel syndrome--especially when combined with caraway oil, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Peppermint is also used for peridontal disease, indigestion, chronic candiadiasis (yeast infection), colic, gallstones and the common cold. Topically, peppermint preparations are used for tension headaches, poison oak and ivy rash and postherpetic neuralgia.
Properties and Preparations
Peppermint's volatile oil is made up of menthol and menthone. It's considered a carminative herb because it may prevent and relieve gas, says the University of Michigan Health System, as well as reduce intestinal tract spasms. When applied to the skin, peppermint has analgesic properties. Preparations you can buy include teas, enteric-coated capsules of oil, creams and essential oils. However, peppermint oil should not be consumed straight out of the bottle or dropper, the health system says.
Safe Use
Enteric-coated capsules are suggested for irritable bowel syndrome, says the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), but integrative physician Dr. Andrew Weil notes that these can also be taken for heartburn as well. Peppermint tea appears to be safe, even when drunk in large amounts (four to five times a day). For tension headaches, the UMMC indicates that a tincture of 10 percent peppermint oil and 90 percent ethanol can be daubed on the forehead. Peppermint in a cream or ointment preparation can be used up to four times daily for skin irritation.
Cautions and Considerations
Peppermint oil capsules and other peppermint products can exacerbate hiatal hernia and gallstones. Peppermint is not recommended for people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a type of chronic heartburn and indigestion in which stomach acid frequently backs up into the throat. According to the UMMC, peppermint can be a bit too soothing and may relax the muscles between your stomach and esophagus. Avoid peppermint if you're pregnant or nursing, the UMMC says. Don't give it to babies and children internally, cautions Dr. Weil; the menthol may cause them to gag. Applying peppermint oil directly to your skin may cause skin irritation, the UMMC warns. Never put the oil on babies, as this can cause breathing problems that may be life-threatening.
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