Candy canes? Peppermint lattes? If you think that peppermint is just a food flavoring that tastes delicious, you are in for a surprise. The benefits of peppermint oil are so powerful that you should use it all year, not only in winter. If you are wondering what this natural remedy is good for, continue reading for more information.
Peppermint oil comes from the Mentha Piperita plant, and it is one of the oldest herbs used for medicinal and culinary purposes. And it is one of the most common essential oils and natural remedies in and around the home.
What makes it so unique is that peppermint oil uses are so broad and varied. Plus, unlike some other bitter medicinal foods, it tastes terrific.
Peppermint leaves include some potent oils such as menthol, menthone, and limonene. These essential oils combined with some terpenoids and flavonoids make up its chemical composition. Some of the oils healing properties include antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and increases blood flow.
After checking out the following 10 uses, you will be using peppermint oil in no time! Without further due, here are the top 10 uses for peppermint essential oil.
Contents
Peppermint Oil Uses And Benefits
Because there are so many ways to use this essential oil, there are various modes of application. First off, if you rub it on directly be sure to mix with a carrier oil to avoid burns. Secondly, the benefits of peppermint tea are another great way to consume it. Finally, it also comes in peppermint oil capsules and in an extract. Read on to learn more.
1. Take a Peppermint Oil to Improve Brain Function.
First, taking peppermint oil capsules can calm your mind. Studies have shown that certain scents like peppermint and cinnamon have positive effects on helping to relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and improve your mood. These effects carried over to stressful activities like driving, where participants showed less frustration and improved alertness.
Secondly, by relaxing the mind, it gives you the ability to focus more. This leads to increased cognitive abilities and less mental fatigue.
So take a peppermint oil capsule the next time you are feeling overwhelmed or have an important test. Or you can also pour a few drops of peppermint essential oil into a hot bath and soak your anxiety away. Read this article for more essential oil recipes.
2. Use Peppermint Oil For Hair and Skin Health
Are you looking to improve your hair and skin? Then give peppermint oil a try. The cooling, soothing sensation not only feels great on your skin and scalp but by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation, it improves the quality of them too.
By applying the essential oil to your skin, it helps combat itchiness, burns, and acne by reducing inflammation. And by putting it on your scalp, it can fight dandruff and help hair growth. A study showed that peppermint was actually better than the chemical minoxidil at reversing hair loss. You can check out the full article about combating hair loss at naturemadecures.com/reverse-hair-loss-naturally-regrow-hair/.
Finally, before using peppermint oil on your skin be sure to mix it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil. Also, you can even add a few drops to your hair care products.
3. Use Peppermint Oil In a Diffuser for an Energy Boost
Are you having trouble getting through the day without getting drowsy? If so, the invigorating scent of peppermint will give you a boost of energy.
In the Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, they cited one specific study that showed that it was able to reduce daytime sleepiness. They aren’t sure how it works, but it is useful. Also, it has been shown to fight fatigue in athletes.(2)
4. Use Peppermint Essential Oil for Digestive Issues
Peppermint oil is widely recognized for its aid in digestive problems. Stomach pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and indigestion have all seen improvement by ingesting the essential oil.
It does this by relaxing the abdominal muscles and fighting the harmful bacteria. Peppermint is a carminative, which means that it is effective at removing gas and bloating.(2)
5. Peppermint Oil Helps Your Respiratory Health
The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties of peppermint are super helpful with breathing problems. Not only does the oil help relax the muscles in your airways, but it can also unclog your sinuses.
There are three main ways to use peppermint oil to breathe easier. First, you can pour a few drops in a diffuser. Secondly, you can add a few drops to your humidifier. And finally, there is the process of steam inhalation. This is done by putting a few drops into boiling water. Then put a towel over your head and the water and breathe it in.
All of these treatments can be done until you feel like you can breathe easier.
6. Use Peppermint Essential Oil for Relieve Pain
Have you been in pain? If so, there are three specific ways that peppermint has proven to be an excellent pain reliever.
First, it is effective at alleviating tension headaches and migraines. In one particular study, patients were given either 1000mg of acetaminophen (which is the active ingredient in Tylenol) or 10% peppermint oil in ethanol solution. The results were shocking. They were both as equally effective in relieving the pain associated with the headaches.(4)
Secondly, it is also great for sore muscles. People that have just recently started exercising and athletes experience muscle soreness. By applying some peppermint oil onto the affected area, it has pain relief effects.
Finally, menthol also helps with pain relief associated with joint conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Knee, back, and neck pain can also be reduced without harsh toxic pain relievers.
To get the most of its pain relieving properties, apply some with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil and massage into the affected area. This should help reduce the pain.
7. Take Peppermint Oil For Colds and Infection
Peppermint oil is made for cold and flu season. You already know that it can help your respiratory health and reduce pain. But did you know it also helps when you are sick to soothe sore throats, help stop sneezing, and fight nausea?
Another compound found in peppermint is Rosmarinic acid. A study was able to show that the essential oil may help with allergic rhinitis. In the study, doctors gave rats that were given peppermint extraction displayed fewer signs of nasal itching and sneezing.(3) This is just one of the peppermint essential oil uses.
8. Use Peppermint Oil to Improve Mouth Health
Aside from peppermint freshening your breath, the oil can also promote overall oral health. By fighting the bad bacteria, it can reduce infections.
Also, in the same manner, it can also help prevent periodontal disease and cavities.
You can add a few drops of the essential oil into your homemade fluoride-free toothpaste to improve the health of your teeth and gums. And it also improves your health by reducing potentially dangerous fluoride levels too!
9. Peppermint Essential Oil is Excellent For Pest control
Peppermint oil is excellent at repelling bugs and pests. Bugs hate the smell of peppermint oil. So there are so many ways to use it. One of the most effective methods is as a natural insect repellent on your body. If you haven’t checked out the essential oil recipe post, there is an effective recipe there that is the best.
The oil is also helpful in the garden to keep them off of your plants. By putting a few drops in a sprayer bottle with water and spritzing the bases of your plants, you can be sure to protect them against pests.
10. Use Peppermint Oil for a Weight Loss Plan
Peppermint oil may also work at an appetite suppressant which could help with weight loss. Combine that with the fact that you will have more energy and faster recovery, and you will be a fat burning machine.
Conclusion
As you can see, this natural remedy is used for hair growth to pain relief and everything in between. Peppermint health benefits are vast and surprising. Now that you know that peppermint oil is so much more than a great flavor, you can start using it to improve your health.
As with all essential oils, be sure to get a high-quality one. Look to make sure that it is organic and the bottle says 100% peppermint oil. This way you can be sure you are buying one without additives and chemicals.
Finally, when using essential oils, there may be side effects and allergic reactions. Make sure to test small amounts first to make sure that there is no adverse reaction. If you notice any side effects of peppermint oil, discontinue using it immediately. Different products work differently for everyone, and the mentioned peppermint oil benefits are not meant to replace the medical advice and treatment plant of your health care professional.
References:
(1) https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/…
(2) https://www.researchgate.net/…
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/…
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/…