Peppermint oil

Peppermint oil is extracted from Peppermint (Mentha x piperita), which is a cross between spearmint and water mint.

Although there is no scientific evidence that peppermint oil can be used to treat human health problems, it has long been used as a natural medicine – especially for digestive problems.

In this article, we'll go through all the properties of peppermint oil in relation to human health. You'll also get an overview of the oil's uses, precautions, side effects, etc.

The effects of peppermint oil

Undocumented properties

There is no scientific evidence that peppermint oil can help the following diseases and health problems:

Investigated properties with lack of evidence

Although peppermint oil has been investigated in the studies listed below, its efficacy is still considered to be undocumented for the following applications:

• Colonoscopy: One study has shown that peppermint oil can be used to facilitate colonoscopies (scope examinations of the rectum and colon) by reducing patient pain and intestinal spasms as well as the duration of individual colonoscopies.

• Tension headaches: Several studies have indicated that peppermint oil can be used to reduce the discomfort of tension headaches in some people. When used for tension headaches, peppermint oil should be applied topically – not taken as capsules.

• Digestion: Peppermint oil has long been used as a natural remedy for digestive problems. There are several studies on the effect of peppermint oil on digestion and the digestive system (also in combination with caraway oil), but it has not yet been proven that peppermint oil has an actual improving effect on digestion or can alleviate some types of digestive problems. This is due to both the somewhat vague basis of the studies and the fact that “digestion” itself is a somewhat loose concept and generally a mechanism that is difficult to study.

However, several studies have shown that peppermint oil has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the digestive system, which is particularly effective – and causes minimal discomfort – when taken in capsule form. The advantages and disadvantages of the effect are:

• • Pros: The relaxing effect on the muscles means that peppermint oil – according to some studies – can be used to relieve the symptoms of the following digestive system disorders:
    • Irritable bowel (irritable bowel syndrome)
    • Gastritis (functional dyspepsia) – possibly in combination with caraway oil

• • Cons: The effect also means that peppermint oil can cause the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach to “relax”, causing stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus – commonly known as heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, this can largely be avoided by taking peppermint oil in capsules.

It should be emphasized that there are no scientific studies proving that peppermint oil can be used to treat the above diseases and health problems.

Documented properties

• Insecticides: Peppermint oil has a deterrent effect on insects and is therefore used in some insecticides

Uses of peppermint oil

Food applications

Peppermint oil is used in the following foods, among others:

Aromatherapy

In the world of aromatherapy, peppermint oil is used in massage oil, hot baths, mouthwash and for diffusion in the air. Peppermint oil is particularly suitable for blending with these essential oils:

Peppermint oil in capsules

Peppermint oil is available both as pure oil and as capsules.

The big difference between capsules and pure oil is that the capsules protect and seal in the oil and are therefore only released further down the digestive system (compared to the pure oil).

In practice, this means that the capsules – unlike the pure oil – can be used for symptoms deeper in the digestive system and the risk of heartburn is significantly reduced.

Below is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of peppermint oil:

Precautions to take

Overall, the toxicity of peppermint oil is a topic characterized by controversial theories and conflicting results from different studies – but if you follow the recommendations and precautions below, you should be on the safe side:

• Dosage: In large doses, peppermint oil can be harmful and cause kidney failure. However, in small doses, the oil is considered safe for most adults. The recommended dosage for adults is 0.2-0.4 ml (in capsules) up to 3 times daily.

• Contraindications: People who have biliary tract diseases or gastroesophageal reflux should not use peppermint oil. Young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women should also not use peppermint oil.

Side effects of peppermint oil

The side effects of peppermint oil include: