Peppermint essential oil is one of the most widely recognized and ancient essential oils.
When it is used as aromatherapy oil, it offers many health benefits.
Fresh Minty Flavor
It has a minty, fresh, strong and pleasant scent that is very distinct from all the other aromatherapy oils out there. The oil contains menthyl, menthol and menthone esters, making it a very good flavoring agent and antiseptic.
Peppermint essential oil is one of the several mints that aromatherapy uses. It is distilled from the peppermint plant’s downy leaves or purple flowering tops. The oil is pale green in color and offers a penetrating and fresh scent that has a hint of camphor and grass to it. It is similar to, but more pungent than, spearmint.
One Of The Oldest Natural Herbs
Peppermint is among the more important and oldest natural drugs. It dates back thousands of years to the ancient civilizations of Greece and Egypt. Today it is extensively used throughout the world for flavoring candy, gum and food and in over-the-counter medications. And, it turns out, it can be used as an aid to treat hair loss.
50 to 85% Menthol
Peppermint oil is 50 to 85% menthol, which provides it with a minty aroma. The unique sensation that it creates stimulates and cools all at the same time. Peppermint’s bold action is energizing, refreshing and soothing.
Peppermint essential oil can be used as an aromatherapy in several beneficial ways.
How To Use Peppermint Oil
Its scent can be inhaled by placing a couple of drops into boiling water in a pot. When the steam is inhaled, your respiratory problems are treated when it permeates your lungs and clears up your cough, sinuses and congestion. The oil’s scent can also be inhaled by sprinkling a few drops onto your handkerchief. This can then be placed under your pillow to be inhaled as you are sleeping.
Improves Cognition, Mental Clarity
When inhaled, peppermint oil improves intuitive thinking, concentration, alertness and mental clarity. It does an excellent job of treating mental fatigue in addition to feelings of apathy, inferiority and insecurity. It makes a great overall pick-me-up and restorative tonic.
Eases Digestive Issues
Peppermint is the main essential oil that treats various digestive problems. Gently massaging the abdomen with peppermint oil helps to relieve nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, colon spasm, constipation, flatulence, diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.
Analgesic Properties
The analgesic properties of peppermint help to relieve many ailments.
- When peppermint is diluted into carrier oil and then rubbed on the neck, forehead and temples, it helps to relieve even chronic migraine headaches.
- Peppermint massages also help with menstrual cramps, arthritis and spasms and muscles aches in the feet and legs.
- As an expectorant and decongestant, when peppermint oil is used to massage the chest it treats asthma, sinusitis, bronchitis, cough and colds.
- Peppermint’s anti-viral properties help to fight athlete’s foot, yeast infection, herpes and influenza.
- Peppermint is also a powerful antiseptic that treats gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath.
Inhale Peppermint Oil To Combat mental Fatigue and Depression
Inhaling peppermint oil also benefits your mind. It can provide relief from mental fatigue and depression. The scent helps to stimulate mental alertness and refresh your spirit. In turn this helps with improving concentration. It also helps to revitalize your senses and improve your ability to smell and taste.
Inhaling the smell of peppermint also helps to alert the brain so that is recognizes when you have a full stomach while eating a meal.
Excellent To Use In Massage Therapy
Another beneficial method for reaping the benefits of this essential oil is to massage your body with it. In diluted form it is very strong and can burn your skin. Therefore before massaging your stomach and muscles with it, you need to dilute the peppermint oil with carrier oil first. This will cause your abdominal spasms and muscle aches to go away.
Treats Indigestion and Nausea
When a few drops of peppermint oil are added to a glass of water, it treats indigestion problems like irritable bowel syndrome and flatulence very quickly. It is full of nutrients and minerals that benefit your health. Some of the main nutrients that are contained in the oil include omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, calcium and iron.
Good For Easing The Sting Of Sunburn
Another thing that peppermint essential oil is useful for is your skin. Using it on affected skin helps to relieve your skin of sunburn, irritation and itchiness. As an anti-inflammatory, the peppermint oil helps reduce swelling and redness.
Ringworm, Bug Bites And Acne
Peppermint oil can also effectively treat ring worms, scabies and acne. It can be used as an insect repellant and for treating insect bites as well.
Peppermint essential oil gets used as a flavoring agent and antiseptic in manufacturing shampoo, cigarettes, ice cream, chewing gum, soaps and toothpaste.
Used In Linaments
Its anesthetic and antispasmodic properties make the oil useful in the manufacturing of liniments. These liniments boost blood flow, which allows it to deal effectively with muscle spasms and arthritic pain.
The astringent properties also make the oil useful for skin care products.
Peppermint essential oil can be used for many different aromatherapy needs. It can be mixed with most other essential oils as well.
Some Precautions:
Peppermint essential oil can cause allergic reactions, particularly on sensitive skin. Only use it in bath water, lotion or carrier oil.
Don’t use lotions or oils containing peppermint oil with children less than 5 years old. It can cause severe choking due to the menthol.
