Native to Europe, peppermint is a herb that is a cross between watermint and spearmint. The peppermint oil is extracted from it for use and is most commonly used for flavoring in foods and beverages and to add fragrance and freshness feel to soaps and cosmetics.
However, not many know that apart from its beauty benefits, it has many health benefits as well and thus many people consume it today as capsules and tablets. Many doctors of alternate medicine prescribe it.
Let’s understand the various uses and advantages of taking to peppermint essential oil in your daily life.
Top Advantages of Using Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil yields enormous benefits to our health, skin, and hair. However, this oil is much more concentrated and intense compared to other essential oils.
Thus, it needs to be used in the extremely diluted form. It is widely used in aromatherapy. If you are wondering what peppermint essential oil does; read through some of its leading benefits.
1. Helps to Relief from Pains and Aches
Due to its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties, the essential oil peppermint finds varied uses. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to hot water and inhale its vapors through the mouth to find relief from toothaches.
You can add few drops of peppermint essential oil in water and apply this solution to your head. Your migraine, headache, and stress would be a thing of past in record time.
This comes out because of the calcium antagonism in the oil whose cooling and soothing nature relieves the pain. The analgesic properties also bring you relief in muscle pain after workouts, nerve pain and cramps and even joints.
Few drops of the oil can be added to any carrier oil like olive oil, coconut oil etc. and massaged into the area for relief. It can be used effectively as a spot treatment.
2. Treats Respiratory Problems
Due to its menthol component, the peppermint essential oil is terrific for respiratory diseases. A highly effective expectorant, it can clear the respiratory tract and give you instant relief from several problems like nasal congestion, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, scratchy throat, cough, and cold.
It is thus a common ingredient in many inhalers, balms etc. Its vapors can be inhaled and with water and can be massaged over the chest, neck after mixed with some carrier oil.
3. Peppermint Oil Aids In Digestion
Due to its carminative and anti-inflammatory properties, peppermint essential oil is terrific for your digestive health.
Research has shown it to be effective in reducing symptoms of any stomach upset and irritable bowel symptoms.
You can just add a drop of it to your fruit juice or make a water infusion by just adding a drop to a glass of water and enjoy the flavorful sip.
4. Used for Relief from Stress and Mental Anxieties
Because of its refreshing and stimulating nature, it is one of the most relaxing essential oil available to us today and is one of the top oils used in aromatherapy.
Mixed with other essential oil like Wild Orange and Frankincense, its fragrance promotes a feeling of calmness and happiness in the mind which drains away stress and anxiety.
5. Helps to Get Higher Energy and Alertness
If you need caffeine to get your energy boosted, try switching to taking peppermint essential oil-infused water.
The oil is a terrific psycho stimulant which leaves you energized and invigorated. Some of the oil can be easily spritzed on the child’s shirt or rubbed under the nose and you would just be surprised to see an increase in her concentration and focus.
The oil is known to stimulate the mental activity and enhance your cognitive tasks.
6. Beneficial Anti-Microbial Properties
Owing to its antiviral and antibacterial properties, the oil has shown to be effective in diseases like cancer and tuberculosis. It is a terrific treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea as well as for hot flashes in women undergoing breast cancer treatment.
The oil has also established itself as being effective in treating urinary tract infections (UTI).
7. Helps Ease Herpes Infections
Because of its high anti-viral properties, the oil is highly effective on drug-resistant herpes simplex virus.
When applied topically mixed with a carrier oil, its lipophilic nature helps it pass easily through the skin and help block recurrent herpes infection.
8. Peppermint Essential Oils Make Effective Insect Repellents
The oil is an amazing insect and fleas repellent. To about 12 oz of witch hazel oil, add 15 drops each of citronella and lemongrass essential oil and 10 drops each of peppermint and tea tree oil.
Simply spray some of this in your room and watch all pests fly away. Additionally, it will smell heavenly. Few drops of peppermint oil can also be rubbed on the clothes and no mosquitoes or flies will hover near you.
9. Benefits for Skin and Face
The menthol component of peppermint oil provides a wonderful cooling effect on the skin while hydrating and nourishing it as well.
Add a few drops of it to body wash, toner, face scrub or face mask and feel the difference it makes to your skin!
Giving you a clear blemish free soft and supple skin, you cannot help but be impressed by this little minty genius!
10. Hair and Scalp Benefits from Using Peppermint Oil
The peppermint essential oil has astringent as well as pH balancing properties. It can easily hydrate a dry scalp, treat dandruff and even promote hair growth.
Just add a few drops of it to your hair massage oil and hair mask and you will feel the visible difference.
I’m Rhea, a fitness enthusiast, and a food lover. I am a housemaker, foodie, writer from NYC. I am a passionate writer and I love exploring places. Since I love cooking and working out, I am sharing my organic food recipes, fitness and beauty tips with the world. Trying to touch lives with some useful information.
