Peppermint is a combination of spearmint and water mint i.e. Mentha aquatica. The essential oils are extracted from the flowering plant’s fresh aerial portions using CO2 or cold extraction methods. The most active components are menthol i.e. 50-60% and menthone i.e. 10-30%. Peppermint comes in numerous forms, including essential oil, leaves, spray, and pills.
Peppermint’s active compounds offer the leaves an exhilarating and energising impact. Menthol oil is often utilised in balms, shampoos, and other body treatments due to its therapeutic characteristics. Peppermint oil is one of the earliest European herbs used for therapeutic purposes, and other historical reports trace its use back to ancient Japanese and Chinese folk medicine.
Here are the Benefits of using Peppermint Oil
1. Relieves muscular and joint discomfort
If you’re wondering if peppermint oil works for pain, the answer is a hearty “yes!” Peppermint essential oil is a highly efficient natural pain reliever and muscle relaxant. It also has cooling, stimulating, and antispasmodic qualities. Peppermint oil is extremely effective in relieving tension headaches. One clinical trial found that it is as effective as paracetamol. Another study found that using peppermint oil topically can help relieve pain linked with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. Researchers discovered that peppermint oil, eucalyptus, capsaicin, and other herbal medicines may be beneficial because they act as topical analgesics. To use peppermint oil for pain treatment, simply apply two to three drops topically to the region of issue three times each day.
2. Helps in Sinus treatment and respiratory support
Peppermint aromatherapy might help clear your sinuses and soothe a scratchy throat. It works as a pleasant expectorant, opening your airways, clearing mucus, and relieving congestion. It is also an effective treatment for colds, the flu, coughs, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments. According to lab research, the chemicals present in peppermint oil have antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant effects, which means it may help fight infections that cause respiratory tract symptoms. Combine peppermint oil, coconut oil, and eucalyptus oil to make my own vapour rub. You can also diffuse five drops of peppermint oil or apply two to three drops topically to your temples, chest, and back of neck.
3. Seasonal allergy relief
Peppermint oil is extremely helpful for relaxing nasal passage muscles and clearing gunk and pollen from your respiratory tract during allergy season. It is regarded as one of the greatest essential oils for allergies due to its expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and energising qualities. A lab study published in the European Journal of Medical Research discovered that peppermint chemicals have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of chronic inflammatory illnesses such as allergic rhinitis, colitis, and bronchial asthma.
4. Increases energy and enhances exercise performance
A few whiffs of peppermint provide a non-toxic alternative to hazardous energy drinks. It boosts your energy levels on lengthy road trips, at school, or whenever you need to “burn the midnight oil.” According to research, inhaling it may also assist increase memory and alertness. It can be utilised to improve your physical performance, whether you need a little extra motivation during your weekly workouts or are preparing for an athletic tournament. The peppermint oil group also demonstrated a considerable increase in the amount of air exhaled from the lungs, as well as peak breathing and exhaling flow rates. This shows peppermint may have a favourable effect on the bronchial smooth muscle.
5. Freshens breath and promotes dental health
For more than a thousand years, the peppermint plant has been used to naturally refresh breath. This is most likely related to the way peppermint oil eliminates germs and fungi, which can cause to cavities or infections.
6. Promotes skin health
When applied topically, peppermint oil calms, softens, tones, and reduces inflammation. It contains antibacterial and antimicrobial effects. Peppermint oil is beneficial for reducing: Common skin issues include blackheads, chicken pox, oily skin, dermatitis, and inflammation. itching skin Skin conditions include ringworm, scabies, and sunburn.
7. Promising anticancer drug
Although more research is needed in this area, certain laboratory experiments suggest that peppermint may be effective as an anticancer drug. One such study discovered that the chemical menthol slows prostate cancer growth by causing cell death and regulating biological functions.
