If you have trouble passing stools or if you have infrequent bowel movements, you might be constipated, according to Medline Plus, a division of the National Institutes of Health. Peppermint, the aromatic spice used to flavor candy canes during the holidays may be beneficial in easing constipation related to irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. For constipation resulting from other disorders, peppermint might not be as effective. See your doctor if constipation persists, and ask your doctor if taking peppermint capsules is right for you.
Peppermint
Peppermint comes from the leaves of the Mentha piperita plant, a perennial herb that grows naturally throughout the United States and in other regions. Essential oil of peppermint, extracted through distillation, contains aromatic menthol, menthyl acetate, flavonoids, triterpenes and phenolic acids, reports the "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine."
Effect on Constipation
Menthol, the active ingredient in peppermint, is cooling and soothing, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia." A 2005 review published in "Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phototherapy and Phytopharmacology" concluded that enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules could be beneficial in relieving constipation and other irritable bowel symptoms.
Method
Enteric-coated peppermint capsules feature hard glaze covering that that does not soften in the stomach but passes into the small intestine where the capsules dissolve, releasing the peppermint contents. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends a standard adult dosage of 0.2 to 0.4 ml enteric-coated peppermint capsules, taken up to three times per day to relieve IBS symptoms. Call your doctor for specific dosage advice.
Considerations
If your constipation symptoms are not due to IBS, there is no evidence that peppermint capsules will help. Do not give peppermint to children younger than 5, and do not take peppermint capsules if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The "Gale Encyclopedia" reports that side effects are rare when the capsules are taken as directed, but they include rash, reduced heart rate, tremors and heartburn. Do not use peppermint or any other herbal remedy to treat a medical condition, unless directed to do so by your doctor.
References
- Medline Plus; Constipation; October 2010
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
- PubMed: Peppermint Oil in Irritable Bowel Syndrome; H.G. Grigoleit, et al.; August 2005
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; 2011
