Learn about the benefits and uses of peppermint essential oil. Find out practical ways to use it in your daily life.
Scientific Name: Mentha piperita
Aroma: Crisp, cool, fresh, minty
Botanical Family: Lamiaceae
Extraction Method: Steam distilled from leaves and stems
Key Constituents: Menthol, Menthone, Menthofuran, 1.8-Cineole, Isomenthone, Neomenthol, Pulegone, Menthyl Acetate
Peppermint dates back to at least 1500BC and is one of the most highly regarded and oldest herbs used for soothing digestion. Originally a native plant to Europe, peppermint is a cross between spearmint and water mint. Today peppermint is mainly grown in the United States, and boasts a minty fresh flavor that supports the body in many ways. Peppermint’s benefits come from the constituents found within the peppermint plant. Peppermint essential oil is crisp, cool, and refreshing – just like a breath of fresh air! It is an extremely popular oil, and with good reason. As you will see, peppermint essential oil is incredibly versatile, and because of that, it is a wonderful essential oil to always have on hand.
“Here’s flowers for you: hot lavender, mints, savory, and marjoram.” ~ Shakespeare
Benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil:
Skin Benefits
Since peppermint boasts anti-inflammatory properties, it has been shown helpful in reducing skin irritations like redness, acne, itchiness, and inflammation. It also provides a cool, tingly sensation that many people find soothing. Peppermint is a strong essential oil, so be sure to dilute it before applying it on your skin. My personal favorite way to use peppermint on my face is with the Satin Mint Facial Scrub which you can find here. I love how fresh and bright it makes my skin feel afterwards. I also find it soothing to use when I have a tension headache. If you are looking for a way to support your skin all over, check out this bar soap that cleanses and moisturizes your skin as it cleanses.
Mental Benefits
When you are feeling mentally groggy, peppermint may offer you support as it’s clearing and invigorating to the mind. One study showed that the use of peppermint essential oil increased alertness and enhanced cognitive speed and memory of the participants. It is easy to see that peppermint is a great essential oil to grab anytime we are looking for a mental boost. We love diffusing peppermint first thing in the morning before it is time for our boys to start school. It really wakes us up and gets our brains moving.
Emotional Benefits
Peppermint’s cool and fresh aroma can be uplifting and rejuvenating to your emotions. It can help you rise above overwhelming feelings of emotional distress. Studies have shown that inhalation of peppermint may be an effective treatment for stress-induced anxiety in situations such as heart attack and childbirth. It is a wonderful essential oil to support us during stressful situations. Another thing to consider is that many times when we feel down, we also feel a lack of energy. Peppermint’s invigorating properties are beneficial for boosting energy levels. One study showed that peppermint oil reduced daytime sleepiness in the participants. Peppermint essential oil is a favorite for many people when they are looking for a boost of energy or calm in their day.
Digestion Benefits
Peppermint has been used for thousands of years for digestion support, because it is anti-spasmodic. One study has shown peppermint as an effective treatment for different types of stomach discomforts; such as cramps, bloating, and flatulence. Another study showed peppermint as a safe and effective therapy for pain and global symptoms in adults with IBS. The soothing benefits of peppermint were seen in another study that significantly reduced symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. It is easy to see why peppermint has traditionally been used for stomach ailments throughout history.
Hair Benefits
Peppermint is wonderful for hair health, because it supports your scalp with its antimicrobial properties. These properties help keep your scalp healthy by keeping irritations away. It is also extremely clarifying, so it may be beneficial if you have an oily scalp or deal with dandruff. Peppermint has also been shown to be helpful in promoting hair growth. One study showed that using peppermint oil increased dermal thickness, follicle number and depth. I personally love using peppermint essential oil on my scalp, because of how invigorating and cleansing it is. If you are interested in a ready made clarifying hair products that contain pure peppermint essential oil, you can check out my favorite shampoo and conditioner.
Tension Benefits
Peppermint is a relaxant and has shown to work well for tense muscles and tendons for many people. One study showed that peppermint essential oil was helpful in reducing tension-based headaches in the participants. I have heard of many people who find peppermint helpful when suffering from a headache. The menthol in peppermint can provide a cooling effect when used topically. This can feel good when dealing with something like a headache or muscle tension. It is also a natural analgesic, which makes it a wonderful essential oil to soothe aches and pains like sore muscles or tendons. It is a favorite essential oil in our home to message over strained muscles.
Safety:
Peppermint essential oil should be diluted. Do not use on children under the age of 4. Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult a health professional prior to use.
Uses of Peppermint Essential Oil:
- Soothe seasonal sniffles: Make your own roller bottle to have on hand for convenient use. In a 10ml glass roller bottle add 10 drops each of peppermint, lavender, and lemon essential oils. Top off with your favorite carrier oil, secure the roller top and shake gently to combine. Also try diffusing this combination using the Seasons Changing diffuser recipe below.
- Nausea and tummy help: Diffuse 4 drops or peppermint and lemon essential oils. Make this Tummy Ease roller bottle. In a 10 ml glass roller bottle add: 15 drops each of peppermint, lemon, and DiGize essential oils. Top off with carrier oil of choice. Apply to tummy.
- Ease tense muscles: Use 2 drops of peppermint essential oil with 1 tablespoon of massage oil (I prefer using Young Living V-6 because it is smooth, clean, and works into skin well). Message the sore area.
- After Sun Soother: Make this After Sun Spritz. In a 2 oz glass spray bottle add 20 drops each of: lavender, peppermint, northern lights black spruce, and helichrysum essential oils. Top off with alcohol free witch hazel. (Pure aloe vera gel may be used for 1 oz if you would like.)
- Antioxidant and wellness support: Carefully place 1 drop of peppermint vitality into a capsule and top off with a carrier oil like olive or avocado. You can find the empty capsules I use here to make your own peppermint supplements.
- Support oral health: Try using toothpaste and mouthwash that contains peppermint essential oil, and enjoy a naturally fresh mouth and breath. We like using Young Living Thieves toothpaste and Young Living Thieves mouthwash every day for our oral health.
- Freshen and invigorate the air around you: Make a simple room spray that contains peppermint essential oil to spritz around your home or even in your car. You can find my tutorial and different recipes to choose from here.
- Support healthy hair: Make a simple DIY Healthy Hair Spritz featuring peppermint and some other hair supporting essential oils. You can find the recipe I use here.
- Soothe muscle tension: Put 4-6 drops of peppermint essential oil into 1 cup of Epsom salts, mix it, then add to your water for a calming bath or foot soak.
- Support head and neck tension: Make this Head On roller bottle blend: 20 drops each of peppermint, copaiba, and lavender essential oils. 10 drops of frankincense essential oil. Top off 10 ml glass roller bottle with carrier oil of choice.
- Breathing support: Try diffusing peppermint and lemon essential oils or applying them in a roller bottle to your chest. Before taking a hot steamy shower, try adding 1 drop of peppermint to each of the floor corners, and inhale its cool minty aroma.
- Mood or energy boost: Try diffusing peppermint in the diffuser with some citrus essential oils. Also try using a diluted peppermint roller bottle on the back of your neck or behind your ears. Simply add 20 drops of peppermint to a 10 ml glass roller bottle and top of with carrier oil of choice.
Favorite peppermint essential oil diffuser recipes:
Seasons Changing
1 drop peppermint essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil
Aveda
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
4 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
Ocean Breeze
4 drops peppermint essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops lime essential oil
Herb Garden
2 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops rosemary essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
1 drop thyme essential oil
Summer Days
3 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops lemon essential oil
1 drops grapefruit essential oil
1 drops of bergamot essential oil
Crisp and Cool
3 drops peppermint essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops jade lemon essential oil
References:
- The Aromatherapy Encyclopedia, Schiller, Carol & Dave (2012) Basic Health Publications, Inc.
- Essential Oils Desk Reference 8th Edition, (2019) Life Science Publishing
