8 Remarkable Health Benefits and Uses of Peppermint
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is quite an
interesting herb, as in itself, it’s a naturally-occurring hybrid
created by crossing two mint varieties - water mint and spearmint. And
while most of us drink peppermint tea and diffuse peppermint essential
oil in our homes because it just tastes and smells nice, we are here to
tell you this gentle aromatic herb is also nothing short of incredible
in terms of its health benefits.
In fact, peppermint offers a wide range of
unique science-approved properties we can use to improve seasonal
allergy symptoms, ease stomach cramps, and bring relief to migraines,
just to name some. In this article, you'll learn what concerns
peppermint is most beneficial for and how to use this herb to improve
your wellbeing.
What Is Peppermint and How Is It Different from Other Mint Varieties?
Peppermint is a hybrid mint species native to Europe and the Middle East
that can be distinguished from other mint varieties for its pointy and
smooth leaves. Peppermint was used for medicinal purposes and pleasant
yet strong aroma in both Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt millennia ago,
though it was only recognized as a separate mint variety in the 17th
century.
Menthol, one of the key essential oils in
peppermint, is known for its cooling and soothing properties, and
peppermint, in particular, offers the highest concentrations of menthol
compared to other mint subspecies. Today, peppermint is used to flavor
self-care items like mouthwash, cosmetics, particularly shampoos, foods,
e.g. mints and gum, and medical ointments, such as chest rubs, as well
as countless other products.
The herb is widely available in different forms:
Fresh and dry leaves are added to foods and used to prepare tea
Peppermint essential oil is used in cooking, DIY, and commercial
products
Peppermint supplements are consumed for wellness reasons.
Keep in mind that you can ingest and apply peppermint oil topically on
your skin, but you can only use 2-3 drops diluted with a carrier oil,
such as grapeseed oil or rosehip oil, for example, as higher doses can
be toxic and cause symptoms like nausea, skin rashes, etc., especially
in children. That’s why it’s best not to use peppermint oil alone as a
chest rub for kids. Peppermint oil is also known to not mix well with
certain medications, so consult with your doctor if you're on any
medication and want to start taking a peppermint supplement every day.
Below we list some of the most prominent and scientifically-backed
health benefits of peppermint:
1. Helps Digestive Issues and Stomach Cramps
Peppermint can be used to relieve
indigestion, stomach cramps, and nausea. Studies conducted on children
suffering from stomach cramps and chemotherapy patients have shown that
peppermint reduced the severity of their digestive symptoms. There is
also evidence that IBS symptoms, such as bloating, gas, abdominal pain,
diarrhea, and constipation are reduced by 40% after just 4 weeks of
daily intake of supplements containing peppermint oil.
Scientists believe that peppermint oil contains compounds capable of
relaxing the GI tract and relieving muscle spasm in the digestive
system, and animal models have confirmed this. That being said, people
who take medications intended to reduce the acidity of the stomach and
those who suffer from heartburn should be careful and inform their
doctor if they are taking peppermint oil or a supplement on a daily
basis.
2. Ameliorates Blocked Sinuses
When you have a stuffy nose, be it as a result of a cold, the flu,
allergies, or anything else, hydration is key. But why not supplement
that hydration with something extra capable of reducing nasal congestion
and killing those germs? A perfect candidate is peppermint tea and
peppermint oil, which are known to have powerful antimicrobial and
anti-inflammatory properties that will help you get rid of that stuffy
nose and let you breathe easier.
Apart from that, peppermint is rich in menthol, which improves the
sensation of airflow through the nose when inhaled, and this can provide
added relief to patients suffering from nasal congestion.
3. Provides an Energy Boost and Helps You Focus
It also appears that inhaling peppermint oil is capable of boosting your
cognition, too. For one, peppermint has been shown to increase focus,
alertness and the ability to memorize new information in a 2008 study.
Other research also supports that smelling peppermint can make you more
alert, since participants who experience daytime sleepiness reported to
be more awake after they smelled peppermint oil, and the movements of
their pupils also measured in the study further supported the
participants' responses.
So, maybe it's worth switching from coffee to peppermint tea, or simply
diffuse some peppermint in the room, if you need that extra boost of
energy and focus throughout the day.
4. Kills Germs in Your Mouth and Prolongs a Fresh Breath
As mentioned previously, peppermint has antimicrobial properties. In
fact, test-tube studies have confirmed that it helps kill such common
germs as E. coli, listeria, salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus, which
cause a wide range of different infections in the human body. The germs
that live in your mouth and cause plaque are not saved from peppermint
either, which is exactly why it is added to toothpastes and mouthwash so
often.
5. Helps Tension Headaches and Migraines
Menthol, the active ingredient in peppermint, may be capable of
decreasing the pain intensity in migraine sufferers and relieving other
symptoms of migraines, such as nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity.
Tension headaches may also be improved with the help of peppermint oil.
To use peppermint to reduce headaches and migraines, dilute a few drops
of peppermint oil in a carrier oil, and apply a drop of the mixture on
your temples and forehead.
6. Improves Menstrual Cramps
As we've mentioned above, peppermint acts as a muscle relaxant, which is
why it has been suggested to improve menstrual cramps. One article that
included women who experience painful periods found that peppermint
supplements helped relieve menstrual cramps equally as well as NSAID
pain relief medications. Some suggest peppermint tea may work just as
well.
7. Curbs Your Appetite
Needless to say, drinking unsweetened herbal tea like peppermint tea is a
good way to diversify your drinks without having to resort to soda and
other high-calorie beverages. In addition to that, however, there is
also one study showing that peppermint oil supplements can reduce the
appetite in healthy individuals, so peppermint could be beneficial for
weight loss, too.
8. Brings Relief to Seasonal Allergies
Nasal congestion is one of those uncomfortable symptoms of allergies
that peppermint can relieve, as we've previously discussed. However,
there is one more way peppermint can help relieve seasonal allergy
symptoms, and a compound called rosmarinic acid also present both in
rosemary and peppermint might be why.
It seems like rosmarinic acid is capable of reversing the immune
reaction triggered by seasonal allergens and reducing symptoms like
itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, and nasal congestion. In fact, a
rosmarinic acid supplement was shown to be effective at reducing all of
these allergy symptoms in a 2004 study. Thus, peppermint as well might
be capable of the same.