Peppermint, or varieties of the
modern plant, has been used
medicinally since the heydays of the
Greeks and Romans, who used the
plant's essence in cooking, wine and
as a medicinal remedy. Prior to
their time, the Egyptians cultivated
peppermint and it was later
mentioned in the Icelandic
pharmacopoeia in the thirteenth
century. Peppermint
did not become part of the medicinal
compendium in modern times until it
was reintroduced in Western Europe
in the mid-eighteenth century.
Early
herbal medicine texts mention
peppermint as a good remedy for
‘raising internal heat and inducing
perspiration', and was recommended
as an early treatment for colds to
affect a cure. Peppermint is
known as a stomachic (aids and
improves the action of the stomach)
and as a carminative, which is
typically defined as a plant rich in
aromatic volatile oils that assists
in proper digestive tract function,
soothing the gut, decreasing
inflammatory conditions, and helps
with expelling gas from the
digestive tract. Having these
actions, peppermint is most suited
for certain types of indigestion,
typically flatulence and colic. It
is also useful for treating sharp
cramping pains beneath the
diaphragm. Apart from the leaves of
the plant, peppermint oil is
the most widely used volatile oil in
medicine and other commercial
purposes. Peppermint oil exerts the
strongest anti-spasmodic action of
any other volatile oil, and is
widely used in medicines for this
purpose.
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Peppermint Oil Food Sources
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Parts Used
The
aerial parts of the peppermint
plant are used when using the
herb, while the oil is produced by
steam distillation of fresh,
flowering peppermint.[1]
Peppermint leaves contain many
active compounds, the chief ones
being menthol, hesperidin, diosmin,
and rosmarinic acid. Peppermint
oil is typically comprised of
28% menthol, 20-30% menthone, and
3-10% menthyl acetate.[2]
Higher quality oils often have even
higher amounts of menthol in them,
approaching 44%.
Peppermint Oil Uses
Peppermint leaf has several
indications, many of them involving
gastrointestinal (GI) tract
ailments. Among these are gastritis,
flatulence, nausea and vomiting,
loss of appetite, and spasms of the
GI tract including the gallbladder
and bile ducts.[3]
Other ‘above the belly' uses include
treatment of the common cold,
bronchitis, sinusitis, fever and
cough. Peppermint may also be useful
in treating painful menses
(cramping) and for morning
sickness-associated nausea.
Newer
research demonstrates a possible
role of peppermint in
treating symptoms of allergic
rhinitis, or hay fever. Although
this particular study was performed
using laboratory animals, peppermint
appeared to significantly decrease
allergic symptoms; application of
these results in human subjects is
yet to be determined.[4]
Meanwhile, peppermint oil is
more widely used for treatment of
medical conditions. Peppermint oil
can be used internally for many of
the above-mentioned symptoms, yet
must be specifically dosed in order
to avoid toxicity. Applied
topically, it is useful for treating
headaches, muscle pain, toothaches,
and joint pain and as a mosquito
repellent. Perhaps the most
applicable use of the oil is its use
as an aromatic treatment for cough
and cold symptoms, and has been used
for treating pain when inhaled.
Peppermint oil is especially proven
in relieving GI spasms; this is
documented in several different
studies and the oil was mixed in a
solution with another volatile oil
(caraway oil).[5-7]
For tension headaches, peppermint
oil applied topically across the
forehead and temple regions and its
efficacy was shown to be comparable
to 1000 milligrams of acetaminophen
for pain relief.[8]
Peppermint leaf is typically
dosed as an infusion, otherwise
known as a tea. Standard dosing is 2
to 3 grams of fresh leaf added to
infusions, two to three times per
day. Peppermint dosed in this way is
typically used for less severe
complaints, while the oil may be
dosed (for adults) at roughly 0.2 to
0.4 milliliters of oil, three times
per day. Caution must be used when
taking volatile oils internally as
there is a relatively high risk of
overdosage due to the concentrated
nature of the oil. For purposes of
inhalation, 2 to 3 drops of the oil
in a steaming apparatus is
sufficient.
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Peppermint Oil Toxicities and
Contraindications |
Side
effects
Peppermint Leaf:
There is
some speculation that large amounts
of peppermint leaf may negatively
affect male libido by lowering
testosterone levels.[9]
This study was performed on
laboratory animals and cannot be
extrapolated directly to humans;
however some anecdotal evidence
exists suggesting that more than 4
cups of peppermint leaf tea in a day
may decrease libido.
Peppermint Oil:
Peppermint oil may cause heartburn,
allergic reactions and nausea and
vomiting; this is why peppermint oil
is typically available in
enteric-coated capsules.[10]
General interactions (supplement,
herb, food, lab)
Peppermint Leaf:
There
are no known interactions with other
herbs, supplements or foods. As
mentioned previously, peppermint may
lower testosterone levels in male
animals and if this occurs in
humans, then testosterone laboratory
levels will be lower. Similarly,
this original study noted
alterations in follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) and luteinizing
hormone (LH) in the study animals.
This may occur in humans as well but
this is unknown at this time.
Peppermint Oil:
Enterically coated peppermint oil
capsules may prematurely dissolve in
the gut when taken with food, due to
the accompanying increase in acid
production; therefore they should be
taken at least 2 hours away from
meals.[11]
Drug
interactions
Peppermint Leaf:
There is some evidence that
peppermint leaf may inhibit certain
liver enzymes that are responsible
for metabolizing specific types of
drugs; this evidence has not been
shown in humans but lab animals.[12]
Peppermint Oil:
Similarly, peppermint oil may
inhibit several different types of
liver enzymes that are responsible
for regulating drug metabolism; this
can lead to increased levels of
drugs in the body.[13,
14]
Antacid medications may lead to
premature dissolution of
enteric-coated capsules leading to
GI upset.[11]Similarly,
drugs that are meant to decrease
stomach acid (H2-Blockers and Proton
pump inhibitors) may cause premature
dissolution of the capsules.
Disease conditions
Peppermint
Leaf:
Peppermint leaf has not been shown
to interfere with any disease
conditions.
Peppermint Oil:
The oil may worsen gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) because of
peppermint's effect on relaxing
muscles surrounding the stomach and
other areas in the GI tract.
[15]
The following table lists various
products that contain a safe and
reliable source of Peppermint Oil:
|
Manufacturer |
Ingredient |
Amount |
US RDA |
Learn More |
|
Nature's Way |
Peppermint Oil |
0.2ml |
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Click Here
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