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Peppermint
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An herb prized for its
medicinal benefits and distinctive flavor,
peppermint (Mentha piperata) is a naturally
occurring hybrid of spearmint (M. spicata)
and water mint (M. aquatica). Unlike other
mints, however, peppermint contains in its
healing volatile oil the powerful
therapeutic ingredient menthol, as well as
menthone, menthyl acetate and some 40 other
compounds. The oil is made by
steam-distilling the plant's aromatic leaves
and stems, which are gathered just before
its light-purple flowers appear in the
summer.
Peppermint oil acts as a
muscle relaxant, particularly in the
digestive tract, and it can also reduce the
inflammation of nasal passages and relieve
muscle pains. It's added to dozens of
commercial antacid preparations (and, not
surprisingly, can be found in countless
toothpastes and breath fresheners for its
distinctively minty taste). Some sources
recommend placing a mixture of peppermint
oil, eucalyptus oil and ethanol (ethyl
alcohol) on the forehead and temples to
reduce headache pain. And for many people,
drinking peppermint tea offers a soothing
option to capsules or tinctures.
Specifically, peppermint may help to:
Treat irritable bowel
syndrome.
Peppermint's antispasmodic effect can
provide significant relief for the abdominal
pain, bloating, alternating periods of
constipation and diarrhea, and general
abdominal discomfort associated with this
intestinal condition.(1.2)
Ease nausea and vomiting. Nausea and
motion sickness can subside with the use of
peppermint tea or peppermint oil capsules,
which both work to moderately anesthetize
the stomach's sensitive mucous lining.(3,4)
Control flatulence and diverticular
disorders. Peppermint can be helpful for
people who have digestive symptoms such as
gas and intestinal cramps from time to time.
It can also offer relief for those with such
chronic gas-causing conditions as
diverticulosis; the tea may prove especially
effective in such cases. Among its other
attributes, peppermint relaxes digestive
spasms.(5)
Improve digestion and reduce heartburn.
The menthol in peppermint increases the
beneficial flow of all digestive juices,
including bile. It also calms digestive
spasms.(6)
Dissolve gallstones. A number of
studies indicate that peppermint oil may aid
in reducing the size of gallstones and thus
help some people avoid surgery. Consult your
doctor before using peppermint oil for this
purpose.(7)
Reduce the severity of herpes outbreaks.
Recent research finds that peppermint oil
reduces the viral levels of herpes simplex 1
and 2 in cell cultures. Further research is
necessary but, because of the oil is able to
penetrate the skin, peppermint oil may be
suitable for topical therapeutic use against
recurrent herpes infection.(8)
Fight bad breath. Several drops of
peppermint oil applied to the tongue can
freshen the breath. Drinking peppermint tea
may help by killing bacteria and keeping the
mouth moist.
Control muscle aches and chronic pain.
When massaged into the skin, peppermint oil
plays an innocuous trick on the nerves: It
stimulates those that produce a cool,
soothing sensation and desensitizes those
that pick up pain messages.(9)
Clear congestion and cough related to
colds and allergies. By reducing
inflammation in the nasal passages,
peppermint can help to relieve the
congestion so commonly associated with colds
and seasonal allergies. Drinking peppermint
tea--and inhaling the menthol--may also ease
breathing. Peppermint oil and menthol appear
in numerous commercial cough remedies,
topical ointments, nasal decongestants,
inhalants and other formulations.
Control mild asthma. Peppermint tea
may offer some relief for mild asthma
attacks, lessening bronchial constriction
and making it easier to breathe. Peppermint
oil capsules are sometimes combined with
other herbs for asthma relief.
Fight stress. The aroma of peppermint
oil when added to bath water may help
release tension and dissipate fatigue.
Substitute for conventional drugs in
medical procedures. The antispasmodic
effects of peppermint oil make it a viable
alternative to conventional medications used
to calm the digestive system during medical
procedures. Researchers in Japan have shown
that peppermint oil is safe and affective in
reducing digestive spasms during Upper
Endoscopy and Double Contrast Barium
Enema.(10,11)
Forms
tincture
softgel
ointment
oil
dried herb/tea
cream
capsule
tincture softgel ointment oil dried herb/tea
cream capsule
Special tips:
--To brew peppermint tea:
Use 1 or 2 teaspoons of dried peppermint
leaves for each 8 ounces of water. Pour very
hot (not boiling) water over the leaves,
cover the cup (to prevent the volatile oil
from being released) and allow the mixture
to steep for 10 minutes, then strain.
--Because the strength of
tinctures varies, follow package guidelines
for use. Usually, 10 to 20 drops per glass
of water is recommended.
For irritable bowel
syndrome, nausea or gallstones: Take one or
two enteric-coated peppermint capsules two
or three times a day between meals. Each
capsule should contain 0.2 ml of oil. Some
people prefer to drink peppermint tea
regularly, particularly for nausea.
For relief from stomach upset
and other digestive complaints, flatulence
and diverticular disorders: Drink three or
four cups of peppermint tea a day, between
meals. For diverticular disorders, also try
a cup of the following herbal tea three or
four times a day: Combine one part
peppermint and one part valerian to two
parts wild yam. Pour 8 ounces of hot (but
not boiling) water over the mixture, steep
for 10 minutes, then strain and sweeten to
taste.
For heartburn and bad breath:
Drink three or four cups of peppermint tea
throughout the day or place one or two drops
of peppermint oil on the tongue as needed.
For muscle aches and chronic
pain: Add several drops of undiluted
peppermint oil to 1 tablespoon of a neutral
oil, such as almond oil. Apply as necessary
to the affected areas, up to four times a
day.
For congestion: Drink up to
four cups of peppermint tea a day, as
needed. A tincture can also be used for this
purpose; follow package directions.
For mild asthma: Take two to
three peppermint oil capsules a day.
For stress relief: Place six
to eight drops of the essential oil into a
warm bath.
Be sure to check out our
Dosage Recommendations Chart for Peppermint,
which lists therapeutic dosages for specific
ailments at a glance.
Take enteric-coated
peppermint oil capsules between meals; use
peppermint tea before or after meals.
Select enteric-coated
capsules when treating irritable bowel
syndrome, nausea or gallstones with
peppermint; they release the peppermint oil
into the small and large intestine rather
than the stomach, where it would be less
effective.
Most adults can drink
peppermint tea regularly without worrying
about an adverse reaction because the
relative concentration of menthol in the tea
is quite low.
Some people enjoy having a
peppermint after dinner for its
stomach-settling properties. But however
refreshing the taste, few commercial
"after-dinner-mint" confections actually
contain much peppermint oil.
Do not take peppermint oil
capsules if you are on felodipine for high
blood pressure. Peppermint oil may increase
the drug’s effectiveness and side effects.
Do not use peppermint oil
capsules if you are taking the
cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin.
Peppermint oil may increase the drug's
effectiveness and side effects.
Generally, peppermint in
recommended doses causes no side
effects, even over long periods of time.
Very infrequently,
enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules
may cause heartburn or a skin rash; the
latter problem may occur with topically
applied peppermint oil as well,
especially if it's used in combination
with heat.
Large amounts of
peppermint oil (more than two drops)
placed on the tongue can actually cause
heartburn and digestive upset, so avoid
using more than the recommended amount.
Never ingest pure
menthol, which can be fatal in a dose as
small as 1 teaspoonful (2 grams).
Menthol is a major ingredient in
peppermint oil.
Don't apply peppermint
oil to the chest or nostrils of a child
under age five; a choking feeling can
result.
Don't use peppermint oil
if you have a hiatal hernia. The oil's
muscle-relaxing effect will intensify
its symptoms.
Consult your doctor
before using peppermint if you have
gallstones.
Avoid large doses of
peppermint oil if you're pregnant,
because it can relax the uterus before
it's time to go into labor.
References
1. Logan AC, Beaulne
TM. The treatment of small intestinal
bacterial overgrowth with enteric-coated
peppermint oil: a case report. Altern
Med Rev. 2002 Oct;7(5):410-7.
2. Weydert JA, Ball TM, Davis MF.
Systematic review of treatments for
recurrent abdominal pain. Pediatrics.
2003 Jan;111(1):e1-11.
3. Anderson LA, Gross JB. Aromatherapy
with peppermint, isopropyl alcohol, or
placebo is equally effective in
relieving postoperative nausea. J
Perianesth Nurs. Feb;19(1):29-35.
4. Tate S. Peppermint oil: a treatment
for postoperative nausea. J Adv Nurs.
1997 Sep;26(3):543-9.
5. Liu JH, Chen GH, Yeh HZ, Huang CK,
Poon SK. Enteric-coated peppermint-oil
capsules in the treatment of irritable
bowel syndrome: a prospective,
randomized trial. J Gastroenterol. 1997
Dec;32(6):765-8.
6. Saller R, Iten F, Reichling J.
Dyspeptic pain and phytotherapy--a
review of traditional and modern herbal
drugs. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass
Naturheilkd. 2001 Oct;8(5):263-73.
7. Goerg KJ, Spilker T. Effect of
peppermint oil and caraway oil on
gastrointestinal motility in healthy
volunteers: a pharmacodynamic study
using simultaneous determination of
gastric and gall-bladder emptying and
orocaecal transit time. Aliment
Pharmacol Ther. 2003 Feb;17(3):445-51.
8. Schuhmacher A, Reichling J,
Schnitzler P. Virucidal effect of
peppermint oil on the enveloped viruses
herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2
in vitro. Phytomedicine.
2003;10(6-7):504-10.
9. Davies SJ, Harding LM, Baranowski AP.
A novel treatment of postherpetic
neuralgia using peppermint oil. Clin J
Pain. 2002 May-Jun;18(3):200-2.
10. Hiki N, Kurosaka H, Tatsutomi Y,
Shimoyama S, Tsuji E, Kojima J, Shimizu
N, Ono H, Hirooka T, Noguchi C, Mafune
K, Kaminishi M. Peppermint oil reduces
gastric spasm during upper endoscopy: a
randomized, double-blind, double-dummy
controlled trial. Gastrointest Endosc.
2003 Apr;57(4):475-82.
11. Asao T, Kuwano H, Ide M, Hirayama I,
Nakamura JI, Fujita KI, Horiuti R.
Spasmolytic effect of peppermint oil in
barium during double-contrast barium
enema compared with Buscopan. Clin
Radiol. 2003 Apr;58(4):301-5.
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Ailments
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Dosage
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Allergies |
Drink up to 4
cups tea a day for
congestion.
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Asthma |
2 or 3
capsules a day
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Bad Breath |
1 or 2 drops
peppermint oil on the
tongue, as needed. Drinking
peppermint tea may also be
helpful.
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Chronic Pain |
Add several
drops undiluted peppermint
oil to 1 tbsp. neutral
carrier oil, such as almond
oil, and apply to the
affected area up to 4 times
a day; other essential oils,
including wintergreen,
rosemary, or ginger, can be
substituted for peppermint
oil.
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Colds |
Drink up to 4
cups tea a day for
congestion.
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Cough |
Add a few
drops of oil to a pan of hot
water; cover your head with
a towel and inhale the
steam.
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Gallstones |
1 or 2
capsules 3 times a day
between meals
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Heartburn |
Drink 3 or 4
cups tea a day between
meals.
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Irritable Bowel
Syndrome |
1 or 2
capsules 3 times a day
between meals
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Muscle Aches and
Pains |
Add several
drops undiluted peppermint
oil to 1 tbsp. neutral oil,
such as almond oil, and
apply to the affected area
up to 4 times a day.
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Nausea and
Vomiting |
1 or 2
capsules 3 times a day
between meals.
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Stress |
Place 6-8
drops essential oil into a
warm bath.
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