With thanks to Anastasija den Blanken
Latin Name: Mentha x piperita
Family: Lamiaceae
Part used: aerial parts
Energetics: Pungent, cool, dry
Iris: Mixed.
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
- Do not give to children under 5
- Essential oils are not recommended to be taken internally for children under 12
- Not recommended during pregnancy, but OK for breastfeeding.
ACTIONS
- Antispasmodic
- Stimulates sweating
- Antimicrobial
- Analgesic
- Carminative
Main Constituents
- Volatile oil
- Including menthol
- Menthone
- Flavonoids
- Phenolic acids
- Triterpenes
Main Uses
Digestive System: Increase flow of digestive juices, bile, relaxing gut muscles, Reduces nausea, Colic, Griping, Wind and soothes irritated bowel, Soothes lining and muscles of colon, Helps diarrhea and relieves spasmatic colon, Whole herb is crucial for digestive infections.
Skin: Topical cream to relief pain and sensitivity, Itching and irritation from insect bites
Musculo-Skeletal: Muscle aches, Joint pain
Mouth: Freshen's breath, Inhibits the growth of oral bacteria
Nervous System: Relieves headache and migraines (linked to digestive weakness).
Respiratory System: Respiratory infections (diluted oil to inhale or a chest rub.)
More About Peppermint
Peppermint has ancient roots and was utilised by various cultures, including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, for its medicinal properties. The ancient Egyptians used peppermint for indigestion and digestive issues.
In traditional European medicine, peppermint was employed for its digestive benefits. It was believed to help alleviate symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and gas.
During the Middle Ages, peppermint became more widely cultivated in monasteries and gardens. Monks and herbalists used it for various ailments, including digestive discomfort and respiratory issues.
In the Renaissance period, peppermint gained popularity for its potential to relieve headaches and nausea.
Peppermint oil gained recognition for its use in alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and indigestion.
The oil was also used topically for its analgesic properties to relieve muscle aches and pains.
Peppermint has remained a staple in modern herbalism, with its essential oil being a popular remedy for various conditions.
It is commonly used in aromatherapy to enhance mental alertness and reduce stress.
Scientific studies in the 20th and 21st centuries have provided support for some of the traditional uses of peppermint.
Peppermint oil, for example, has been studied for its efficacy in relieving symptoms of IBS and indigestion.
Peppermint is widely used in the food and beverage industry for its flavour and aroma.
It is a common ingredient in oral hygiene products due to its antimicrobial properties.
Peppermint essential oil is frequently used in aromatherapy for its invigorating and refreshing scent, believed to enhance mental clarity and focus.
Further Reading and Research
Encyclopedia of Herbal medicine (A. Chevallier, 2016).
References:
Tension Headache
Peppermint oil in the acute treatment of tension-type headache
Tension-type headache is the most frequent form of headache. The local topical treatment with peppermint oil (oleum menthae piperitae) has proven to be significantly more effective than placebo in controlled studies. Peppermint oil targets headache pathophysiology in multiple ways. The efficacy is comparable to that of acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol. Solutions of 10 % peppermint oil in ethanol are licensed for the treatment of tension-type headache in adults and children above 6 years.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27106030/
IBS
The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data
In the most comprehensive meta-analysis to date, PO was shown to be a safe and effective therapy for pain and global symptoms in adults with IBS.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30654773/
Postoperative Nausea
The effect of aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil on nausea and vomiting after cardiac surgery: A randomized clinical trial
Peppermint essential oil inhalation has beneficial effects on reducing nausea and vomiting after open-heart surgery. Using peppermint essential oil inhalation for managing postoperative nausea and vomiting is recommended.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32891278/