Peppermint: The Deliquent Flowering Herb

Throughout early history the herb mint had a rather shady history. Mint was named for a Greek mythology nymph, Mintha, whose extramarital affair with Pluto resulted in her death by the hands of Pluto’s wife. Pluto, full of power gave Mintha the power to live on – but as a plant. During biblical times mint was used to pay taxes and its lure was able to corrupt religious groups – who would accept mint as payment for ‘special’ favors. Later on, with the invention of the mint julep, temperance organizations set out to crush every mint plant in Virginia. Luckily, mint outlived its crooked past and is now very much in favor.

Peppermint itself was thought to have been cultivated in the late seventeenth century – although exact dates are unknown. Since the eighteenth century peppermint has been grown for commercial uses. Peppermint is used for cooking, numerous health related conditions, and widely used within the markets that produce toothpaste, gum, and mouthwash. Peppermint essential oil almost always makes the “top ten most useful oils to have around” lists in current aromatherapy texts.

Before you get started with peppermint aromatherapy, be sure to catch up on the basics of aromatherapy.

Peppermint for health

Peppermint oil has already been studied extensively for treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Other uses have also been studied – just not to the full extent. Science has concluded that peppermint oil is safe for most adults when used correctly and in small doses. According to the National Institutes of Health the following are some positive uses of peppermint that are based on scientific evidence.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Studies of peppermint treatments for IBS show early evidence that peppermint may relieve IBS. Most studies have concluded that overall, even more studies are necessary for peppermint to receive a strong recommendation.

Tension Headache: More research is necessary but a few studies report that peppermint oil relieves headaches when applied to the temples and forehead. One study in particular reported that there are no significant differences in effectiveness between acetaminophen and peppermint oil – good to know if you’re looking for a non-medical headache reliever.

Nausea: Many think that nausea can be lessoned or relieved by peppermint oil but scientists feel that evidence cannot recommend for or against peppermint for nausea at this time.

Indigestion: Early scientific evidence suggests that, peppermint oil, when combined with caraway oil can relieve heartburn. Although it’s useful to note that peppermint oil can actually cause heartburn when taken orally – many oral peppermint oil treatments are coated to relieve the heartburn side effect.

Congestion: Menthol, a component of peppermint, has been used to treat nasal congestion by way of oil massage, lotion-type rubs, and inhalation. Many people seem to use menthol with good results but scientists feel that more research is needed.

Peppermint, like most essential oils, has not been fully tested in clinical trials for every reported use. This doesn’t mean that peppermint is not useful, just that peppermint has not yet been studied as rigorously as some other treatments. Historically peppermint has been reported to successfully relieve symptoms of anorexia, arthritis, fever, gallbladder disorders, toothache, respiratory infections, morning sickness, cramps, chicken pox, vomiting, and has also been used as a mosquito repellant and local anesthetic.

The best thing to do is to try peppermint aromatherapy treatments personally. Like chemical medications, what works for one individual won’t always work for another.

Soon to come...yummy, okay, not yummy to eat, but yummy smelling, peppermint aromatherapy recipes!