Peppermint one of the oldest European herbs used for medicinal purposes, with its top uses including pain relief, respiratory aid, allergy relief and increased energy.
Known for its cooling, invigorating, expectorant, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, energy-boosting and pain-relieving properties, it can be used aromatically, topically and internally to address a number of health concerns.
Benefits of Peppermint
1. Relieves Muscle and Joint Pain
Peppermint essential oil is a very effective natural painkiller and muscle relaxant.
It also has cooling, invigorating and antispasmodic properties. Peppermint oil is especially helpful in alleviating a tension headache.
2. Sinus Care and Respiratory Aid
Peppermint aroma can help unclog your sinuses and offer relief from a scratchy throat. It acts as a refreshing expectorant, helping open your airways, clear mucus and reduce congestion.
It also is one of the best essential oils for cold, the flu, cough, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions.
3. Seasonal Allergy Relief
Peppermint oil is highly effective at relaxing muscles in your nasal passages and helping clear out the muck and pollen from your respiratory tract during allergy season.
4. Increases Energy and Improves Exercise Performance
For a non-toxic alternative to unhealthy energy drinks, take a few whiffs of peppermint. It helps boost your energy levels on long road trips, in school or any other time you need to “burn the midnight oil.”
Research suggests that it may also help improve memory and alertness when inhaled.
5. Alleviates Headaches
Peppermint for headaches has the ability to improve circulation, soothe the gut and relax tense muscles. All of these conditions can cause tension headaches or migraines, making peppermint oil one of the best essential oils for headaches
6. Improves IBS Symptoms
Peppermint oil capsules have been shown to be effective at naturally treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Peppermint oil for IBS reduces spasms in the colon, relaxes the muscles of your intestines, and can help reduce bloating and gassiness.
7. Freshens Breath and Supports Oral Health
Tried and true for well over 1,000 years, the peppermint plant has been used to naturally freshen breath. This is probably due to the way peppermint oil kills bacteria and fungus that can lead to cavities or infection.
8. Promotes Hair Growth and Reduces Dandruff
Peppermint is used in many high-quality hair care products because it can naturally thicken and nourish damaged strands. It can be used as a natural treatment for thinning hair, and it helps stimulate the scalp and energize your mind.
Plus, menthol has proven to be a powerful antiseptic agent, so it may help remove germs that build up on your scalp and strands. It’s even used in anti dandruff shampoo.
9. Relieves Itchiness
Research shows that the menthol found in peppermint oil inhibits itching. A triple-blind clinical trial involving 96 randomly selected pregnant women diagnosed with pruritus tested peppermint’s ability to improve symptoms. Pruritus is a common problem that’s associated with a frustrating, ongoing itchiness that cannot be soothed.
10. Repels Bugs Naturally
Unlike us humans, a number of little critters hate the smell of peppermint, including ants, spiders, cockroaches, mosquitos, mice and possibly even lice. This makes peppermint oil for spiders, ants, mice and other pests an effective and natural repelling agent. It may also be effective for ticks.
11. Reduces Nausea
When 34 patients experienced post-operative nausea after undergoing cardiac surgery and they used a nasal aromatherapy inhaler that contained peppermint oil, their nausea levels were found to be significantly different than before inhaling peppermint.
12. Improves Colic Symptoms
There is research that suggests peppermint oil can be useful as a natural colic remedy. According to a crossover study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, using peppermint oil is equally effective as the drug Simethicone for treating infantile colic, without the side effects associated with prescribed medications.
13. Boosts Skin Health
Peppermint oil has calming, softening, toning and anti-inflammatory effects on the skin when it’s used topically. It has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.
14. Sunburn Protection and Relief
Peppermint oil can hydrate areas affected by sunburn and relieve the pain. It can also be used to help prevent sunburn.
For a detailed guide on use and risks, visit YGEAI.