The plant Mentha piperita, known as peppermint, has a sweet fragrant oil commonly used for flavoring in candy, tea, gum and toothpaste. Peppermint oil has calming and numbing effects, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center, making it useful as an herbal remedy for many health conditions. Consult a qualified health care provider before beginning any herbal therapy.
Enteric Coating
An enteric coating on oral medication prevents the medicine from being released until it reaches the intestines. It bypasses the upper gastrointestinal tract, which can make it more useful for treating intestinal conditions. Enteric-coated capsules also help prevent digestive side effects, such as heartburn, that can occur with some substances, including peppermint oil.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Research supports the use of enteric-coated peppermint oil for reducing some symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, particularly gas and abdominal pain and distension, according to an article published in the April 1, 2007 issue of "American Family Physician." During a study published in the December 1997 issue of the "Journal of Gastroenterology," for instance, participants with IBS took either a placebo or an enteric-coated peppermint-oil capsule 15 to 30 minutes before meals for one month. Both groups experienced improvements, but the participants taking peppermint oil did significantly better.
How It Works
Peppermint oil is effective at relaxing smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal system. When an enteric-coated capsule of peppermint oil reaches the lower small intestine, it begins releasing the oil as it passes through the bowel, relaxing the smooth muscle in the bowel well, as explained by NetDoctor. This reduces painful spasms and pressure.
Usage
Peppermint oil is extracted from the stem, leaves and flowers of the plant. For relief of IBS symptoms, NetDoctor recommends taking an enteric-coated capsule of peppermint oil three times daily, and the AFP article specifies capsules containing 0.2 to 0.4 ml oil. This dosage is for adults only, as young children should not be given peppermint oil. If IBS pain and discomfort is more severe, you may increase the dose to a maximum of two capsules three times a day, but no higher, because excessive doses of peppermint oil can be toxic. You should not take peppermint oil immediately after eating. NetDoctor advises having a diagnosis made by a doctor before beginning treatment with peppermint oil or any other herbal remedy.
Heartburn Risk
Peppermint oil relaxes the valve between the stomach and esophagus, which can cause heartburn or worsen chronic heartburn, explains the UMMC. Taking enteric-coated capsules reduces the risk of heartburn, but you should not take them within two hours of taking an antacid. Antacids can break down the coating, allowing the capsules to dissolve in the stomach before reaching the intestines. In the "Journal of Gastroenterology" study, one participant taking peppermint oil experienced heartburn because of chewing the capsules.
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