Peppermint Essential Oil 2.0

Think peppermint essential oil is just a common garden-variety kind of oil? One that is merely good for indigestion or the occasional headache? Think again. Peppermint oil may not have an exotic or regal reputation like frankincense oil, or even a cool historical legend attached to it like Thieves oil blend, but peppermint oil is anything but ordinary.

Put on your scientific cap with me for a moment and take another look at this old favorite. Research on essential oils is revealing some interesting data on the humble Mentha piperita plant (aka peppermint). Science is starting to view peppermint as a complex essential oil with a wide range of health benefits. For example, peppermint can help:

Increase Exercise Performance

If you have ever used peppermint oil, you will know that it is highly refreshing. But did you know that this energizing effect translates into better physical performance? In one study, subjects who ingested peppermint performed better at certain athletic tasks, such as standing long jump and vertical jump. It also improved grip force by 36.1 percent! In addition, visual and audio reaction times were decreased, meaning that the subjects were able to react more quickly than control groups.[i] This amazing effect was measured 5 minutes after ingestion and lasted under one hour.

Now most of us are not professional athletes, but many of us do have jobs or run after kids all day and need to perform semi-heroic feats of strength in doing so! Nice to know that peppermint oil is available when the mid-afternoon slump hits and we start to lose steam. Try sipping a cup of tea made by placing one drop of peppermint essential oil in a mug of hot water.

Improve Memory

How's your sense of recall? Studies show that inhaling a peppermint aroma enhances alertness and memory. [ii] Are you or your child preparing for an exam? Try diffusing peppermint in the room while studying to improve concentration and help memory retention.

Kill Pain

Many of us have been delighted to find that peppermint helps to settle stomach pain and alleviate the occasional headache. Well, research suggests that it might work on other types of pain as well. Animal model studies show that peppermint has analgesic and anesthetic effects in the central and peripheral nervous system.[iii] For occasional aches and pains, try diluting some peppermint oil and rubbing on the afflicted area, avoiding the eyes and other sensitive parts of the body.

Anti-Everything?

Researchers who performed in vitro studies found that peppermint has moderate antiallergenic potential. Not only that, but peppermint also shows significant antimicrobial and antiviral activity and strong antioxidant and antitumor actions.[iv] Wow. That is a lot of “antis.” This means that peppermint may help to maintain good health in a number of complex ways. We really have to get our heads around the fact that peppermint is more than just a toothpaste flavouring!

Kill Oral Microbes

Speaking of toothpaste, I am kind of a purist so I love making my own homemade toothpaste. I always add Young Living peppermint oil to my recipe, but until recently, I never realized that it was doing much more than simply making the toothpaste taste better. Then I read a 2013 study that showed that peppermint is an antiseptic that helps fight oral microbes. Okay, we have all heard that the human mouth holds some seriously filthy microbes, right? Well, did you know that peppermint significantly inhibits microbes such as certain strains of Staph, E. Coli, Enterococcus and Candida Albicans?[v] Pass the peppermint oil, please!

Settle Nausea caused by Cancer Treatment

Most of us know that peppermint is the essential oil to reach for when you are experiencing occasional nausea, but did you know that hospitals are using peppermint oil to help treat the heavy duty nausea associated with cancer treatment? Hospitals in the UK are treating patients with “aroma-sticks” that contain essential oils (devices similar to a Vicks Vapo Inhaler®) to encourage feelings of well-being and alleviate anxiety and nausea. In one study, 47 percent of patients reported that the peppermint aroma stick settled their nausea.[vi] The next time you experience digestive upset or occasional nausea, try diffusing peppermint oil in your room, or apply topically over your abdomen (diluted).

Peppermint is:

✔ OK to ingest as a dietary supplement (make sure it is a reputable brand produced for internal consumption, like Young Living)

✔ OK for topical use (dilute as necessary) and for diffusing

✗ not recommended for children under the age of 6

✗ use with caution if you have GI reflux, hiatal hernia or kidney stones. Consult your medical practitioner before using,

Tip:

Suffer from Motion Sickness?

Try carrying a bottle of peppermint oil with you during your trip and periodically inhale the vapours from the bottle. Or place a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball and place on your dashboard. Or you can make your own aroma sticks: you can get plastic inhalers such as those available at AbundantHealth4u.com and add your own essential oils to them. Carry the stick with you on your trip so you can inhale the vapours as soon as you start to feel queasy.


For full abstracts and links to all of the studies cited here, please see our Research Page


This article is part of our "Living the Essential Life" series by Danielle McElroy.  Danielle is an oil enthusiast who enjoys living the natural life with her cat in a cozy cottage in the Boonies.  We are very fortunate to have Danielle as a part of our team applying her excellent research skills to the field of aromatherapy and essential oils.  She shares more research and essential oil tips on her Facebook page.

                                                                     

[i]Meamarbashi, A. Instant effects of peppermint essential oil on the physiological parameters and exercise performance. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2014 Jan;4(1):72-8.

[ii]Moss M, Hewitt S, Moss L, et al. Modulation of cognitive performance and mood by aromas of peppermint and ylang-ylang. Int J Neurosci. 2008;118(1):59-77.

[iii]MKay, DL, and Blumber JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.). Phytother Res. 2006 Aug;20(8):619-33.c

[iv]Ibid.

[v]Thosar N, Basak S, Bahadure RN, Rajurkar M. Antimicrobial efficacy of five essential oils against oral pathogens: An in vitro study. Eur J Dent. 2013 Sep;7(Suppl 1):S71-7. Doi: 10.4103/1305-7456.119078.

[vi]Stringer, J, Donald G. Aromasticks in cancer care: an innovation not to be sniffed at. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 May;17(2):116-21. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.06.002.