Peppermint Essential Oil Benefits & Uses

Peppermint Essential Oils have an abundance of oral and topical uses, Peppermint may be the most versatile essential oil in the world along with lavender.

Peppermint essential oil gives a cooling sensation and has a calming effect on the body which can relieve sore muscles when used topically. It also has antimicrobial properties so it can help freshen bad breath and soothe digestive issues. Pleasantly suitable for an abundance of oral and topical uses, peppermint may be the most versatile essential oil in the world along with lavender. Literally, there are few issues that it can’t help.

Peppermint essential oil gives a cooling sensation and has a calming effect on the body which can relieve sore muscles when used topically. It also has antimicrobial properties so it can help freshen bad breath and soothe digestive issues.

Peppermint is a hybrid species of spearmint and water mint (Mentha aquatica). The essential oils are gathered by steam distillation of the fresh aerial parts of the flowering plant. The most active ingredients include menthol (35–45%) and menthone (10–30%).

Clinically speaking, peppermint oil is recommended for its anti-nausea benefits and soothing effects on the gastric lining and colon because of its ability to reduce muscle spasms.

Not only is peppermint one of the oldest European herbs used for medicinal purposes, other historical accounts date its use to ancient Chinese and Japanese folk medicine. It’s also mentioned in Greek mythology the nymph Mentha was transformed into an herb by Pluto who had fallen in love with her and wanted people to appreciate her for years to come.

The health benefits of peppermint oil have been documented back to 1,000 BC and have been found in several Egyptian pyramids.

Some of the most common benefits of peppermint essential oil include:

Reduces stomach aches
Freshens breath
Relieves headaches
Improves focus
Clears respiratory tract
Boosts energy
Releases tight muscles
Cost effective natural solution to replace drugs
I cannot honestly think of one reason why anyone on the planet would choose not to have peppermint oil in his or her medicine cabinet at home!

Top 25 Peppermint Oil Uses:

1. Muscle Pain Relief – Peppermint EO is a very effective natural painkiller and muscle relaxant. It is especially helpful in soothing an aching back, sore muscles, melting away a tension headache.

2. Sinus Care – Inhaling diffused peppermint oil can oftentimes immediately unclog your sinuses and offer relief to scratch throats. Peppermint acts as an expectorant and may provide relief for colds, cough, sinusitis, asthma, and bronchitis.

3. Joint Therapy – When your joints get achy, applying some pure peppermint oil mixed with lavender oil can cools like an ice bath, but help you to stay warm and dry.

4. Reduce Hunger Cravings – Inhaling peppermint EO can stave off the munchies and can help you feel full faster. If you can’t have a diffuser with you at dinnertime, try applying a couple drops on your sinuses and chest.

5. Natural Energizer – For a non-toxic alternative to dangerous energy drinks, take a few whiffs of peppermint. It will perk up on long drives, in school or any other time you need to “burn the midnight oil.”

6. Improve Your Shampoo –Add 2-3 drops of peppermint EO to your regular morning shampoo and conditioner portion to stimulate the scalp, energize and wake up! Because it is a powerful antiseptic, peppermint can also help remove dandruff and lice.

7. Allergy Relief – Peppermint highly effective at relaxing smooth muscles in your nasal passages and can help clear out the muck and pollen during allergy season. Diffusing peppermint along with clove oil and eucalyptus oil can also reduce allergy symptoms.

8. ADHD Support – Try spritzing some peppermint on your child’s shirt before study time or placing a drop on her tongue or under her nose for improved concentration and alertness.

9. Anti-Itch – Whether you’re battling a rash or poison ivy, applying some peppermint mixed with lavender is certain to cool and sooth any itch.

10. Fever Reducer – Because of peppermint oil’s cooling effects it is an excellent natural treatment to bring down a fever especially with children.  Simply mix peppermint oil with coconut oil and rub it on a child’s neck and on the bottom of their feet to help stabilize a fever instead of aspirin or other drugs.

11. Natural Bug Repellant – Ticks aren’t the only bugs that hate peppermint. Peppermint oil for ants, spiders, cockroaches, mice, and even lice will be repelled. Follow this recipe and make your own natural bug floor cleaner!

12. Skin Health – Peppermint oil has calming effects on skin inflammation. You can mix peppermint oil into lip balm and body lotion for a nice cooling sensation. Also, mixing peppermint with lavender essential oil can improve eczema and psoriasis.

13. Acne Treatment – According to medicinal studies peppermint has anti-microbial properties so is an excellent ingredient in an acne free face wash along with raw honey and tea tree oil.

14. Headache Cure – Peppermint oil has the ability to improve circulation, heal the gut and relax tense muscle. All of these conditions can cause tension headaches or migraine headaches so peppermint is an excellent natural treatment.

15. Hair Growth – Peppermint oil is used in many high quality hair care products because it can naturally thicken and nourish damaged hair. Simply add some peppermint oil to your current shampoo or make your own homemade rosemary peppermint shampoo.

16. Sunburn Relief – Peppermint oil can hydrate burnt skin and relieve the pain from a sunburn. You can mix peppermint oil with a bit of coconut oil and apply it directly to a sunburn or make homemade natural sunburn spray.

17. IBS Treatment – Peppermint oil taken internally in capsule form has been proven to be effective at naturally treating IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). One study found a 50% reduction in IBS symptoms with 75% of patients who used it.

18. Improve Bloating and Indigestion – Peppermint oil has been established as a natural alternative to drugs like Buscopan to reduce spasms of the colon. It works by relaxing the muscles of your intestines which can also reduce bloating and gas. Try peppermint tea or adding 1 drop of peppermint oil to your water before meals.

19. Freshen Breath and Reduce Cavities – Tried and true for well over 1,000 years peppermint has been used to naturally freshen breath. According to studies, peppermint oil performed better than the mouthwash chemicals chlorhexidine at reducing cavities. You can make homemade toothpaste, mouthwash or add a drop under your tongue followed with glass of water to freshen breath.

20. Reduce Nausea- A medical study found that peppermint oil reduced nausea that is induced by chemotherapy better than standard medical treatments. Simply adding a drop to water, rubbing 1-2 drops behind your ears or diffuse it in the air.

21. Respiratory benefits – Peppermint essential oil has the ability to open your airways and act as a decongestant. Mix it with coconut oil and eucalyptus essential to make homemade vapor rub to improve breathing and reduce symptoms of asthma.

22. Colic – Medical research has discovered using peppermint is equally effective as the drug Simethione for treating infantile colic without the side effects.

23. Teething – Peppermint oil is a great natural remedy to relieve the pain associated with teething for infants. Simply mix peppermint oil with coconut oil at a 1:1 ratio and rub on the gum area.

24. Balance hormones and PCOS – A recent study found that peppermint oil may have hormone balancing effects and be therapeutic for polycystic ovarian syndrome.

25. Cancer treatment – Clinical research indicates that peppermint contains a compound menthol which inhibits prostate cancer growth. Also, studies found peppermint protects against radiation-induced DNA damage and cell death.


*New research has found peppermint can improve antibiotic resistance and help heal your body from the overuse of prescription antibiotics and other chemicals that effect your body. This is probably part of the reason it is so effective in treating IBS.

I use peppermint essential oil for making my own breath mints, in some recipes and shampoos for a minty fresh aroma.



How about you? What do YOU use peppermint essential oil for?


Intuitively Yours,
Laurel  XXXX