The minty cool flavour of our mouth fresheners that we all know too well, is the flavour of peppermint. A peppermint mouth freshener keeps that bad breath away from your mouth and helps you feel fresh as well. Peppermint is a commonly used herb which is known for its distinctive aroma and medicinal value. This herb has a gentle, refreshing, cool breeze sensation on your palate and throat. It stimulates your olfactory glands when inhaled. This unique quality of Peppermint is because of the presence of Menthol which is present in its fresh leaves and stem.
Peppermint can be commonly found in the Indian kitchen, and is also known as ‘Pudina’. Its scientific name is Mentha piperita and belongs to family Lamiaceae. You may not be aware of the fact that Peppermint is a cross hybrid between Water mint (Mentha aquatica) and Spearmint (Mentha spicata). Originally a native of Europe, Peppermint herb is now cultivated all over the world.
What is Peppermint Oil
Peppermint Oil is the extract of the leaves of peppermint plant and is much stronger and potent than Peppermint leaves as it contains the essence of peppermint leaves in concentrated form. The health benefits of Peppermint Oil has been proven in both traditional medicines and in modern studies. Peppermint Oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. It also contains numerous minerals such as manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, folate, potassium, calcium and copper. Peppermint Oil has got antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, analgesic properties.
Since peppermint oil is highly concentrated, it has to be diluted in a suitable medium before use. Topical applications dilute peppermint oil in a suitable carrier oil. Diffusers can be used to spread the aroma of peppermint oil. Recipes use peppermint oil with other ingredients as well. Refer to recommendations from experts. Check these general ways in which essential oils are diluted before use.
ANVEYA PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL, 100% PURE, 15ML
- COLD & CONGESTION: used as a decongestant
- HAIR & SCALP HEALTH: soothes the scalp, preventing dryness
- Good source of Vitamin E Benefits for SKIN
- A natural PAIN RELIEVER
Health Benefits
Peppermint Oil has numerous health benefits. It is available as a pure essential oil as well as in the form of capsules and tablets. With a relevant dilution, Peppermint Oil can be taken orally as a dietary supplement and to treat various health conditions or applied topically as a skincare cream/ointment.
1. Improve Digestion
Peppermint Oil is known for its carminative property i.e prevents the formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract. This oil is also good for people with low appetite and helpful in treating bloating, abdominal pain, nausea and indigestion.
How to Use
Massage a few diluted drops (2% peppermint oil in a base of regular carrier oil) on your abdomen. Gently inhale to relieve nausea and gas.
2. Cough Relief
Peppermint Oil is known for its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory property. It also acts as an expectorant. This property is of Peppermint Oil is due to the presence of Menthol, which helps to clear the respiratory tract and give instant relief from nasal and chest congestion. Therefore this oil is mostly used in cold rubs and balms.
How to Use
Use it as a cold rub or inhale its vapours for relief from cough and nasal congestion.
3. Treat Nausea
Peppermint oil is a good remedy to cure nausea because it has a relaxing and soothing effect. Peppermint Oil gives instant relief from nausea and headaches due to its anti-inflammatory property and its cooling effect.
How to Use
Apply Peppermint Oil in diluted form on your forehead or gently inhaling this oil can give relief from nausea.
4. Treat Mouth Ulcer
Mouth Ulcer is lesions inside the mouth which can be very painful making it difficult to talk, eat or drink. Peppermint Oil is considered very effective in treating Mouth Ulcers.
How to Use
Apply diluted peppermint oil with a cotton swab on the affected part and let it remain for 15 minutes. Spit out the peppermint oil and rinse your mouth well.
5. Treat Stomach Ache
Peppermint oil helps the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract to relax and stimulates the flow of bile, which facilitates the process of breakdown of fat and allows the food to easily pass through the gut. This helps in acid reflux and has a cooling effect of the stomach. This oil also provides relief from heartburn.
How to Use
Mix 2-3 drops of peppermint oil to a teaspoon of carrier oil such as coconut oil and apply on your stomach.
6. Gas Relief
Peppermint oil is a natural carminative, thus effective in treating indigestion and bloating. Peppermint oil helps to relieve flatulence from the stomach and intestines by relaxing the abdominal and intestinal muscles and provides relief from spasms in the colon. It helps to alleviate stomach ache by decreasing bloating and gas
How to Use
Mix 2-3 drops of peppermint oil to a carrier oil such as olive oil and apply on your stomach.
7. Joint Pain Relief
Peppermint Oil has got both analgesic and anaesthetic property which helps to soothe the inflammation and pain in the joints. Joint pain may be caused due to conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Peppermint oil effectively treats all kinds of pains such as knee pain, back pain, and neck pain.
How to Use
Combine Peppermint Oil and Eucalyptus Oil (8 drops) is equal quantities and mix it with a carrier oil such as Moringa Oil (known to have anti-inflammatory properties) and massage on your joints.
8. Help to Remove Symptoms of Teething in Babies
Teething in babies can be very painful and cause a lot of discomforts. Common symptoms of teething are drooling or dribbling, irritability and crankiness, becoming fussier, increased chewing or biting things, mood changes and swollen gums. Peppermint oil is a natural and safe remedy for treating teething in babies. It acts as a pain reliever as it has a cooling effect and numbs your baby’s gums.
How to Use
Mix 1 drop of peppermint oil to 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and gently massage on your baby’s gums.
9. Treat Headache
If you are tired of frequent headaches, then peppermint oil is a solution to your problem. Stress and tension cause a headache and peppermint oil helps to effectively treat headaches and migraines by reducing nausea and its cooling and relaxing effect helps people suffering from a constant headache and migraines.
How to Use
Mix a few drops of peppermint oil to a teaspoon of carrier oil like jojoba oil and apply on your temples and behind the back of your neck for instant relief.
Skin Benefits
Peppermint Oil is a miracle oil and is a one-stop solution to all your skin problems. Peppermint oil makes your skin healthy and more radiant. Let’s discuss some skincare benefits of Peppermint Oil.
1. Treat Acne
Peppermint Oil is very effective in treating acne because it exhibits 3 main properties- prevents bacterial growth, has a cooling effect and decreases the production of testosterone 5 ALPHA- reductase hormone. Acne is caused due to excess oil and sebum production by the skin and it clogs the pores, causing breakouts on the skin. Testosterone 5 ALPHA- reductase hormone is responsible for the production of excess oil and sebum. The cooling property of Menthol helps to reduce inflammation.
How to Use
After diluting with a suitable carrier oil, apply this oil on the affected part up to 2-4 times a day. It is important to do a skin sensitivity test before you do this as some people might be allergic to peppermint or peppermint oil.
Also Read : Peppermint Oil for Acne - Benefits, Usage and Side Effects
You can also check out Anveya's 24k Gold Goodbye Acne Kit. It comes with a cleanser and serum containing Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide, Tea tree oil, and other ingredients immensely effective in fighting acne.
ANVEYA 24K GOLD GOODBYE ACNE KIT
- Helps in skin renewal
- Fights against acne causing bacteria
- Control sebum secretion
- Calms and soothes active acne
- Works on acne scarring and blemishes
2. Treat Infection
Peppermint Oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties due to which it is very effective in treating bacterial infections on your skin. It has a cool and soothing effect on your skin.
How to Use
Mix 2-3 drops of Peppermint oil to a teaspoon of carrier oil (coconut oil) and apply on your face and neck. After 15 minutes, wash off with water.
3. Improve Skin Quality
Peppermint Oil is suitable for all skin types, especially helpful for people with oily and combination skin. It helps to balance natural oil and unclog the blocked pores, making your skin healthy and improving its quality.
How to Use
Take 2 teaspoons of grated coconut with few drops of peppermint oil in a clean glass bowl. Then add green clay to the mixture and mix well. Apply on your face and neck and let it dry. Wash of with warm water. Do this twice a week to get clear and glowing skin.
4. Protect Skin from Sun
Peppermint Oil is very effective in treating sunburn. Peppermint Oil has analgesic and cooling effect on the skin because of the high content of Menthol. Its anti-inflammatory property helps to reduce the burning sensation, redness and swelling due to sunburn.
How to Use
Add a few drops of Peppermint Oil to 1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil (helps to keep skin hydrated) and apply well on the affected area. It helps to soothe the burning sensation.
5. Treat Chapped Lips
Peppermint Oil helps to heal chapped lips due to which this oil is widely used in lip gloss and lip balms. It has a cooling and refreshing property due to the presence of Menthol. It stimulates circulation and helps to treat chapped lips. Peppermint Oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties due to which it is very effective for treating dry and chapped lips.
How to Use
Add 1-2 drops of Peppermint Oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil (Coconut Oil) and apply on your lips. Do this 2-3 times a day.
6. Remove Itchiness
Peppermint oil is known for its anti-inflammatory property, which helps to calm and soothe irritated and itchy skin. Peppermint Oil is effective in treating minor skin irritations as well as eczema and psoriasis.
How to Use
For minor skin irritation
Add a few drops of Peppermint oil to 1 teaspoon of Moringa Oil (known to have anti-inflammatory properties) and apply on the affected area.
For Eczema and Psoriasis
Take 5-6 drops of Peppermint oil, 1 tablespoon of Moringa Oil and 5-6 drops of Sandalwood Oil. Mix well and apply on the affected part.
7. Treat Burns
Peppermint Oil is very effective in treating minor burns because of its high content of Menthol which is very effective to reduce inflammation and has a cooling effect on the skin. It provides instant relief from the burning sensation.
How to Use
Take a spray bottle and fill it with water and 20-22 drops of Peppermint Oil. Shake well and spray this blend generously on the affected area for instant relief.
Hair Benefits
Peppermint Oil is also beneficial for hair growth. Increasing circulation with a vasodilator like a peppermint oil helps in hair growth and helps to prevent hair loss to some extent.
Also Read : Peppermint Oil for Hair - Benefits, Uses and Precautionary Tips
1. Promote Hair Growth
Peppermint Oil is beneficial for hair growth as it contains Menthol which is a vasodilator and helps to increase blood circulation to your scalp, thus providing nourishment to your hair follicles which in turn promotes hair growth.
How to Use
Add a few drops of peppermint oil to 1 tablespoon of carrier oil such as castor oil. Massage all over your scalp and let it remain for 30 minutes before washing off with a mild shampoo.
2. Treat Dandruff
Peppermint oil effectively treats dandruff due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to soothe the irritated scalp and helps to keep your scalp moisturized because Peppermint Oil also exhibits hydrating properties.
How to Use
Add 5-6 drops of Peppermint Oil to 1 tablespoon of carrier oil like Coconut Oil. Massage gently on your scalp and wash off after 30 minutes.
3. Help to Remove Head Lice
Peppermint Oil also acts as a natural insect repellent. Applying Peppermint Oil to your hair can help to get rid of lice.
How to Use
Dilute Peppermint Oil with Olive Oil and massage it well on your head. Leave it overnight before washing off. Repeat this process at least thrice a week.
Additional Benefits
1. Insect Repellent
Peppermint Oil also acts as a natural Insect Repellent as it has got a distinct fragrance which is due to the presence of Menthol. It effectively repels mosquitoes and house fly.
How to Use
Keep the cotton balls dipped in Peppermint Oil in the corners of your house and under sofas and bed, beneath curtains. OR Make your own insect repellent spray by mixing ½ cup of Witch Hazel to 1½ cup of distilled water and fill it in a spray bottle. Add 10-12 drops of Peppermint Oil to it. Transfer the contents in a spray bottle and spray wherever required.
2. Remove Rats from Home
Peppermint Oil also used to repel the rodents from your house. Using pure Peppermint Oil which is in the concentrated form is quite potent and the mice cannot tolerate its strong smell. But also remember that it is not 100% effective in repelling rodents.
How to Use
Keep the cotton balls dipped in Peppermint Oil in the corners of your house and in the entrance of your house.
Preventive Tips
- Use of Peppermint Oil is not recommended for people suffering from diabetes, as it lowers the blood sugar level and increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Peppermint Oil is not recommended for people suffering from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
- Peppermint Oil should not be taken with an antacid.
- Peppermint Oil has the tendency to react with other drugs, so people already under medication should avoid using peppermint oil.
- Pregnant and nursing women and people under medical care should not use peppermint oil unless advised by their doctor.
- Peppermint oil usage should be avoided for kids and pets.
- Using peppermint in concentrated form, or an overdose or an allergy to peppermint oil can lead to several side effects as well. Always remember to use essential oils as per recipes and guidance from an expert source. You can read the complete list of known side effects of peppermint oil here.
Also Read : Side Effects Of Peppermint Oil That You Should Be Aware Of
If you plan to diffuse peppermint oil for its aroma therapeutic benefits but you haven't obtained a diffuser yet, go through our guide on how to choose a diffuser for home.
Also, like peppermint oil, clove oil is another essential oil that comes from an ingredient omnipresent in Indian kitchens. Explore more about the range of benefits for skin, hair and dental health from clove oil.
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