“Health Benefits of Peppermint”

What Is Peppermint? This herb is a cross between two types of mints: water mint and spearmint. The taste and smell you know from things like candies and soaps come from the concentrated oil (essential oil) inside the plant.

Peppermint’s Past: Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians used mints, including peppermint, as medicine thousands of years ago.  But peppermint wasn’t recognized as a distinct subspecies until the late 17th century.

How to Use It? You can get peppermint leaf through tea, capsules, or as an extract. Peppermint oil comes in capsules and liquids. You can apply it to your skin or take it by mouth. It’s highly concentrated, so only use it in a diluted form or a few drops at a time. It can be toxic to take a lot of the oil at once.

Soothe Upset Stomach: Peppermint has compounds that relax the tissues in animals’ GI tracts. A few studies have shown peppermint and other herbal meds can ease stomach pain in kids, but we need more proof before doctors can recommend it. Other research shows it may also help relieve nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.

Treat IBS Symptoms: Studies suggest that coated peppermint oil capsules can ease side effects of irritable bowel syndrome like gas, stomach pain, constipation, and diarrhea.

Help With Headaches: The active ingredient in peppermint is menthol. Some small studies show it can lessen the pain of migraine headaches. It may also reduce other symptoms like light sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting. A few studies suggest that applying a peppermint oil solution to your forehead and temples can help take away tension headaches, too.

Kill Mouth Germs: Not only does the flavor of peppermint freshen your breath, but its antibacterial properties may also help get rid of the source of the smell: germs. It’s believed to keep bacteria from forming a film on your teeth, which helps keep your pearly whites healthy. 

Ease Stuffy Sinuses: Peppermint’s antimicrobial powers may help you fight off the common cold or the infected mucus that sets up shop in your sinuses as a result. The menthol can also make you feel that you can breathe more easily.

Boost Energy: If you want to feel more awake during the day, peppermint oil might do the trick. Experts aren’t quite sure what happens in your body when you smell peppermint oil, but it may help ease sleepiness during waking hours.

Relieve Menstrual Cramps: It doesn’t seem to affect the amount of blood loss, but the menthol in peppermint can ease the intensity and shorten the length of period pain in some women.

Fight Foodborne Bacteria: Scientists tested peppermint oil on bacteria like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella. They found that it can stop all three from growing. It can also kill Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that causes skin infections, pneumonia, meningitis, and more.

Curb Your Appetite: Research goes on, but some studies show peppermint oil may make you feel less hungry. This can help you eat less and possibly lead to weight loss.

Calm Seasonal Allergies: Peppermint can help you enjoy the outdoors more when it’s allergy season. It has a compound called rosmarinic acid that can lower your body’s histamine reaction. This may mean fewer symptoms like an irritated, stuffy nose, sneezing, and red, itchy eyes.

Sharpen Your Focus: In a small study, capsules of peppermint oil helped people process problems longer without getting mentally tired. The herb’s sharp smell may also boost your memory and keep you extra alert.

Reviewed by: Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on January 31, 2019

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: “Peppermint Oil.”
American Botanical Council: “Peppermint Leaf.”
Phytotherapy Research: “A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.).”
Pediatrics: “Herbal Medicines for Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.”
Ecancermedicalscience: “Antiemetic activity of volatile oil from Mentha spicata and Mentha × piperita in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.”
Digestive and Liver Disease: “Peppermint oil (Mintoil) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective double blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.”
International Journal of Clinical Practice: “Cutaneous application of menthol 10% solution as an abortive treatment of migraine without aura: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossed-over study.”
The Nerve Doctor: “Effectiveness of Oleum menthae piperitae and paracetamol in therapy of headache of the tension type.”
Journal of the International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry: “Essential oils, their therapeutic properties, and implication in dentistry: A review.”
Harefuah: “The treatment of respiratory ailments with essential oils of some aromatic medicinal plants.”
Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences: “The effects of menthol isomers on nasal sensation of airflow.”
International Journal of Psychophysiology: “Preliminary investigation of the effect of peppermint oil on an objective measure of daytime sleepiness.”
Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research: “Evaluation of mint efficacy regarding dysmenorrhea in comparison with mefenamic acid: A double blinded randomized crossover study.”
Food Microbiology: “Investigation of damage to Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis exposed to Mentha arvensis L. and M. piperita L. essential oils in pineapple and mango juice by flow cytometry.”
Pharmacognosy Magazine: “Comparative study of rosmarinic acid content in some plants of Labiatae family,” “Protective effects of bioactive phytochemicals from Mentha piperita with multiple health potentials.”
Neurogastroenterology and Motility: “Effect of acute peppermint oil administration on gastric sensorimotor function and nutrient tolerance in health.”
Experimental Biology and Medicine: “Effect of Perilla frutescens var. acuta Kudo and rosmarinic acid on allergic inflammatory reactions.”
Nutrients: “Volatile Terpenes and Brain Function: Investigation of the Cognitive and Mood Effects of Mentha × Piperita L. Essential Oil with In Vitro Properties Relevant to Central Nervous System Function.”
International Journal of Neuroscience: “Modulation of cognitive performance and mood by aromas of peppermint and ylang-ylang.”

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk. 

“Surprising Uses for Lavender”

Soothe Wounds and Pain: You’ve probably never heard your doctor shout, “Quick, get the lavender!” But this purple flowering plant may be a powerful healer. One small study found that lavender essential oil relieved soreness and redness for women who had episiotomies, vaginal cuts made to deliver babies. Another study showed that inhaling lavender essence, aka aromatherapy, eased pain from C-section childbirths.

Stop Hair Loss: Massaging your scalp regularly with a mix of lavender oil and other herb essential oils may help slow hair loss from alopecia areata. This autoimmune disease, which can run in families, makes your body mistakenly attack your hair follicles. Research goes on to see if lavender oil might help hair grow, too. In one study, mice treated with lavender oil sprouted furrier coats.

Salt Substitute: Culinary lavender adds a clean sweetness to just about any dish. It also packs ursolic acid, a nutrient that may help fight cancer and burn more calories. Blend your own salt-free herbs de Provence seasoning with lavender, rosemary, thyme, fennel, chives, and other herbs.

Tame Your Tummy: Ancient Roman soldiers counted on lavender’s antibacterial powers to treat upset stomach and other illnesses. Some research suggests that the plant’s essential oil can help fight colitis, inflammation of the colon that can lead to pain and diarrhea. It may do this by helping fend off bad bacteria and protecting the infection-fighting strains. Try sprinkling dried culinary lavender on Greek yogurt.

Soak Up Toxins: It’s tender but tough. Lavender thrives in toxic places that would quickly kill less hardy plants. Its roots absorb heavy metals like lead and zinc and store them in their leaves. This can help clean and restore industrial sites and contaminated garden plots.

Freshen Your Floors: House cleaners in Medieval times sprinkled floors with this aromatic herb to refresh stale or sickly air. It still works great on modern carpets to quash bad odors and to fight bacteria. Make your own floor deodorizer with 8 drops of lavender oil to ½ cup of baking soda. Sprinkle it over your carpet, let it sit for a few minutes, and vacuum.

Rev Up Your Recall: What else can lavender do again? Oh, yes -- improve your memory. A recent study found that nursing students who took a sniff of lavender right before a test scored much higher than their peers. Those test takers retained more information, concentrated better, and were less anxious. The study also suggested college kids might find aromatherapy a cost-effective remedy.

Tamp Down Motion Sickness: You get this condition when your inner ear’s senses go at odds with how you see movement around you. That confusion can make you dizzy and nauseated. Lavender can counteract that by distracting you with your sense of smell. Add in other sensory treats like ginger candies (and a smart seat choice) for a smooth ride.

Calm a Fussy Baby: Is your newborn fussy and colicky? Lavender might save the day -- and maybe the night. In one study, moms of 40 infants between 2 and 6 weeks old massaged their babies’ tummies with 1 drop of lavender oil in 20 milliliters of almond oil. The massaged babies quieted down more quickly than others, and they cried less each week of the study.

Zap Lice: Looking for a natural, nontoxic remedy to quash these buggers? In a study, a lavender and tea tree oil treatment worked better than pyrethrin, a pesticide made from chrysanthemum flowers.

Chill Hot Flashes: Menopause happens when a woman stops having a monthly period, usually around her late 40s or early 50s. It can bring on hot flashes, sudden warm flushes that sweep over your body and put a wrench in your daily life. But women in a study who sniffed lavender for 20 minutes twice a week reported their flashes faded up to 50% more than women who did not use the lavender aromatherapy. 

Soap Stand-In: Not only does it smell nice, lavender fights bacteria. It’s an ideal ingredient for a DIY hand sanitizer.

Prevent Falls: Lavender can’t catch your fall, but it might help keep you from falling. Nursing home residents in Japan who wore lavender patches every day for a year fell less often than those who went scent-free. Researchers don’t know exactly why. But it could be that lavender helped soothe agitation and improved balance. However it works, it’s a pleasant way to sail through the day.

Jazz Up Your Laundry: Lavender is thought to come from the Latin word lavare, meaning “to wash.” No wonder it makes such a great deodorizer-freshener duo for your laundry. Add 4 drops of lavender oil to the water in your iron for a steamy scent. You can also put a few drops right into your washing machine. Or make your own fragrant dryer sheet with a few drops of lavender on a dry cloth. Toss it into the dryer with your wet laundry.

Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on August 17, 2018

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice: “Healing Advantages of Lavender Essential Oil During Episiotomy Recovery: A Clinical Trial.”

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences: “Lavender Essence For Post-Cesarean Pain.”

Archives of Dermatology: “Randomized Trial of Aromatherapy. Successful Treatment for Alopecia Areata.”

Toxicological Research: “Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice.”

Food Science and Human Wellness: “Phytochemicals in Diets For Breast Cancer Prevention: The Importance of Resveratrol and Ursolic Acid.”

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: “Herbs de Provence Blend Recipe.”

Oregon Lavender Association: “Herbs de Provence.”

Herb Society of America: “Lavender Facts.”

American Journal of Physiology: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology: “Medicinal Lavender Modulates the Enteric Microbiota to Protect Against Citrobacter Rodentium-induced Colitis.”

Virginia Mason Health System: “Colitis and Chronic Ulcerative Colitis.”

World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Biological, Food, Veterinary and Agricultural Engineering: “Potential of Lavender (Lavandula vera L.) for Phytoremediation of Soils Contaminated with Heavy Metals.”

New Phytologist: “Heavy Metal Hyperaccumulators: Plants That Clean Up.”

Missouri Botanical Garden: “St. Louis Herb Society Garden.”

American College of Healthcare Sciences: “Green Cleaning: Why We Love Lavender Essential Oil (And You Should, Too!).”

Journal of Nursing & Care: “The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy to Junior Nursing Students’ Anxiety, Concentration and Memory Retention.”

CDC: “Motion Sickness.”

International Journal of Nursing Practice: “The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy Massage Using Lavender Oil as a Treatment For Infantile Colic.”

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine: “Chemical Composition of Rosmarinus and Lavandula Essential Oils and Their Insecticidal Effects on Orgyia trigotephras (Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae).”

Colourage: “Fragrance Release and Moth Repellent Activity of Natural Essential Oils.”

Oregon Lavender Association: “Herbal Moth Sachets.”

BMC Dermatology: “A Randomised, Assessor Blind, Parallel Group Comparative Efficacy Trial of Three Products For the Treatment of Head Lice in Children -- Melaleuca Oil and Lavender Oil, Pyrethrins and Piperonyl Butoxide, and a ‘Suffocation’ Product.”

Extension Toxicology Network: “Pyrethrins.”

American Academy of Dermatology: “Head Lice.”

Cleveland Clinic: “Menopause, Perimenopause, and Postmenopause.”
Journal of the Chinese Medical Association: “Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Menopause Hot Flushing: A Crossover Randomized Clinical Trial.”

Laboratory Animal Research: “Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oil From Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Against Pet Turtle-Borne Pathogenic Bacteria.”

Rodale’s Organic Life: “How To Make A Natural Hand Sanitizer With 3 Simple Ingredients.”

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society: “Fall Prevention Using Olfactory Stimulation With Lavender Odor in Elderly Nursing Home Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial.”

HerbalGram: The Journal of the American Botanical Council: “Lavender Oil Aromatherapy Reduces Falls in Elderly Nursing Home Residents in Long-Term Trial.”

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2Live

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.