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Peppermint is 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.
Health Benefits
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.
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