Peppermint has been used as a food flavoring and medicine since ancient times. Peppermint is now used to treat a variety of health problems including nausea, indigestion, colds, headaches, muscle and nerve pain, and stomach and bowel conditions. However, peppermint oil can cause side effects and may be dangerous to take in the presence of certain health conditions. Consult with your doctor before using peppermint oil medicinally.
Second Trimester Safety
Taking very large amounts of peppermint oil may promote the onset of menstruation, so if you take peppermint oil during pregnancy, it effect may potentially cause a miscarriage. Although there are no reported cases of miscarriage from taking supplemental peppermint during pregnancy, you should avoid taking large amounts of peppermint during any phase of pregnancy. Taking peppermint in food amounts is not thought to present a risk during pregnancy, but the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends avoiding all peppermint and peppermint tea during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Safety
No information exists about the effects of large amounts of peppermint on infants, so supplemental use of peppermint oil is not recommend if you are breastfeeding. However, dietary amounts of peppermint may be safe during breastfeeding.
Use in Infants
Oral peppermint oil capsules have been taken by children over the age of 8 years with no reported side effects, says DrugDigest.org. However, applying peppermint oil to the face or nose of an infant has reportedly caused severe spasms of the voice box, tongue and lungs. Some infants experienced serious breathing difficulties that sometimes led to respiratory arrest. You should not apply any peppermint oil to the face or nose of babies or young children.
Other Considerations
Peppermint oil is considered generally safe in food amounts, but medicinal doses of peppermint may cause side effects including allergic reactions and heartburn. Some peppermint oil supplements that are in capsule form are coated to minimize the occurrence of heartburn. You should not take these with medicines such as antacids, because they may break down this coating and increase the chance of heartburn.
