Peppermint has a long history of use in cooking to flavor foods but it is also a beneficial herb for minor and acute health problems like nausea, gas or bloating. It's often used to ease heartburn but the effectiveness of this herb is variable, depending on the exact condition that you're treating and whether you dilute it into a tea. Before using peppermint, consult your physician to determine safety.
Heartburn or Indigestion
Indigestion is commonly mistaken as heartburn, a condition with similar burning sensation in the chest area but these conditions have different causes. Indigestion is a collection of symptoms like discomfort after eating, upper abdominal pain, nausea and bloating. It results from causes including consumption of fatty or spicy foods, high intake of caffeine or alcohol, side effects of medications, or medical conditions like gallstones and pancreatitis. Heartburn can appear after you eat or at random, and the pain worsens when you lie down or bend over. Heartburn is caused by the stomach acid backing up into your esophagus. Severe heartburn often appears as a symptom related to a more serious digestive problem called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, Mayo Clinic notes. Accurate diagnosis from your physician to understand the exact condition that you're experiencing is crucial before you use an alternative form of treatment like peppermint tea.
Function of Peppermint
Peppermint is an herbal plant that grows through the summer months. The stems and leaves of the plant contain menthol, which is the active ingredient with healing properties. You can use the leaves fresh from the plant, dry them or extract the oil. In your body, peppermint soothes your stomach muscles and stimulates the production of bile, which is an important substance for digestion. However, peppermint relaxes the sphincter muscle, which is what keeps stomach acids from rising back into your esophagus. Stomach acids in the esophagus triggers the sensation of heartburn. Conversely, reflux of stomach acids isn't the case with indigestion not linked to GERD, so use of peppermint may actually ease your symptoms, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Peppermint Tea Preparation
Peppermint tea is made best with the dried leaves of the plant. Measure 1 tsp. of the dried peppermint leaves and add it to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep the leaves in the water for 10 minutes. You can use an infuser or tea ball or just add the leaves directly to the boiling water, then strain them into your beverage cup. Peppermint tea is diluted so the menthol isn't as strong when it hits your stomach, which may help ease heartburn or indigestion that isn't related to GERD. Do not use peppermint tea to treat heartburn or indigestion without consulting your physician first.
Precautions
Do not use peppermint tea or any form of peppermint if you have GERD as it can trigger symptoms. Peppermint oil extract is more potent than using dried leaves and you should read package label instructions before making it into a tea. Peppermint may interact with medications for diabetes, blood pressure and reflux disorders. As with any alternative approach, consult your physician before use.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Peppermint; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; March 19, 2009
- Mayo Clinic; Heartburn; May 23, 2009
- MedlinePlus: Peppermint
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Peppermint Oil
- Harvard Medical School; HEALTHbeat; Health Benefits of Peppermint
- Mayo Clinic; Indigestion Alternative Medicine; April 28, 2011
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