Peppermint oil is a substance derived from the leaves, stems and flowers of the plant Mentha x piperita. It is used to treat a variety of ailments, including irritable bowel syndrome and tension headaches. Doctors don't typically use peppermint oil to treat diabetes. In fact, diabetics who take medication for their condition may need to avoid using any form of peppermint.
Basics
Active ingredients in peppermint oil include menthol, cineol, menthone and other substances collectively known as volatile oils. To obtain the oil, manufacturers grind various segments of the peppermint plant and put them through a process called distillation. Available forms of peppermint oil include tinctures---which combine the oil with pure grain alcohol---and peppermint spirit, which combines the oil with alcohol-based peppermint leaf extract. You can also purchase peppermint oil in enteric-coated capsules, which let the oil pass through your stomach unaltered and enter your small intestine.
Peppermint Oil Uses
Peppermint oil has both a calming and a numbing effect, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. For this reason, it is generally effective in relieving irritable bowel syndrome symptoms that include diarrhea, pain, gas and bloating. Additional common uses of the oil include relief of flatulence and certain forms of indigestion, topical relief of congestion related to colds or flu, reduction of spasms during gastrointestinal medical procedures, treatment of a condition called non-ulcer dyspepsia and topical treatment of itching and irritation associated with hives and exposure to poison oak or poison ivy.
Peppermint Oil and Diabetes
Laboratory tests show that peppermint in its various forms may produce reductions in your blood glucose, the UMMC notes. If you're diabetic and take medications designed to lower your glucose, peppermint can potentially increase their effects and heighten your chances for developing a low-glucose disorder called hypoglycemia. Because of the nature of their condition, diabetics already have significant hypoglycemia risks. Other drugs that can produce undesirable reactions in combination with peppermint oil or other forms of peppermint include blood pressure medications, cyclosporine and medications designed to decrease your levels of stomach acid.
Considerations
Common adult dosages of enteric-coated peppermint oil range from 0.2 to 0.4 mL taken three times a day. Common child dosages range from 0.1 to 0.2 mL taken three times a day. When taken in unusually large doses, peppermint oil can produce dangerous toxic effects. Potential side effects associated with normal use include allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, blurry vision and burning in the area between your anus and genitals. Don't take peppermint oil if you have a significant case of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, or if you have gallbladder problems or a hiatal hernia.
If you take blood glucose medications, talk to your doctor before you use peppermint oil or any other peppermint product. Pregnant and nursing women should also speak to their doctors before taking peppermint.
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