JUCA PEPPERMINT OIL (CARRIER)

Peppermint oil benefits

Records of the medicinal use of mint plants go all the way back to the times of Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. So, what does modern research say about the benefits of peppermint oil?

While some of the potential benefits of peppermint oil are based on personal testimony, research is ongoing into the health benefits. We’ll explore some of that research below.

For IBS

Some of the most extensive research into the benefits of peppermint oil has focused on IBS. IBS is a chronic (long-term) gastrointestinal (GI) condition that can involve:

• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• constipation

A 2019 reviewTrusted Source of 12 trials examined the efficacy of peppermint oil capsules in treating IBS when compared with a placebo. Researchers found that treatment with peppermint oil improved abdominal pain and other symptoms of IBS.

The specific ways peppermint oil helps ease symptoms of IBS and other GI conditions are largely unknown. Some possible effectsTrusted Source include:

• relaxing the smooth muscles of the GI tract
• having an anti-inflammatory effect
• affecting the types of bacteria that naturally live in the GI tract
• decreasing pain sensation in the GI tract

The takeaway

Peppermint oil may reduce or relieve symptoms of IBS.

For other GI conditions

Peppermint oil or menthol, one of its main chemical components, has been used in combination with caraway to remedy symptoms of functional dyspepsia. This condition is characterized by bloating, indigestion, and pain in the area of the stomach.

A 2019 reviewTrusted Source summarized the results of several studies involving peppermint, menthol, and caraway. Overall, this combination treatment appears promising in relieving symptoms associated with functional dyspepsia.

Another review of studies of herbal remedies for GI conditions in children and adolescents found that peppermint oil was effective at reducing the duration, frequency, and severity of abdominal pain when compared with a placebo.

However, peppermint oil wasn’t effective in treating colic in comparison with simethicone drops.

The takeaway

Peppermint oil may help reduce abdominal pain from GI tract issues.

For nausea

Nausea can have many causes, and it often occurs after an operation. One small 2016 studyTrusted Source assessed the effect of inhaled peppermint oil on postoperative nausea. The researchers found that patients rated their level of nausea as lower after inhaling peppermint oil.

However, a 2018 review of studiesTrusted Source also examined the effects of aromatherapy on postoperative nausea. Four of the reviewed studies involved peppermint oil compared with a placebo. The reviewers found that inhaling peppermint oil had little to no effect on the severity of nausea as a postoperative symptom.

Symptoms like nausea and vomiting are also commonly present in the early stages of pregnancy.

One 2018 studyTrusted Source of 56 pregnant patients looked at how aromatherapy with peppermint oil affected nausea and vomiting. They found no significant difference between peppermint oil and a placebo.

Researchers have also considered whether peppermint oil may have an effect on symptoms of nausea in patients with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy treatment.

A 2021 studyTrusted Source of 80 patients tested the effects of applying one drop of peppermint oil between the upper lip and nose three times a day for 5 days after chemotherapy. The researchers found that it lessened the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting.

The takeaway

Results from small studies are mixed on the effectiveness of aromatherapy with peppermint oil to help with nausea. In some cases, it may be beneficial, while in others, it is inconclusive.

For pain

Wintergreen oil and menthol have been used to remedy pain from tension headaches, migraine headaches, and other causes.

In a 2019 studyTrusted Source comparing the effects of peppermint oil and lidocaine drops for migraine attacks, researchers found that headache intensity decreased in 40% of patients receiving either drop. Peppermint oil droplets, when applied inside the nose at an angle, were shown to reduce headache frequency and pain, much like lidocaine.

Another studyTrusted Source examined the effect of peppermint oil tablets on people with difficulty swallowing and noncardiac chest pain. Over half of the participants reported an improvement in their symptoms.

The takeaway

Different forms of peppermint oil or menthol may help remedy pain from headaches and migraine attacks when applied in the nose. In tablet form, peppermint oil may relieve discomfort for people who have trouble swallowing.

For skin and hair

Peppermint oil is often used in cosmetic products. But there’s a limited amount of research into the potential benefits of peppermint when applied to the skin and hair.

A small 2016 studyTrusted Source looked at the topical application of peppermint oil and the effect it had on chronic itching. Researchers found that a 1 percent solution of peppermint oil led to improvements in how long itchiness lasted and the severity of the itch.

A 2014 studyTrusted Source in mice compared peppermint oil to minoxidil (Rogaine) and control compounds. The researchers found that a 3 percent solution of peppermint oil led to the growth of thick, long hair in mice after 4 weeks of treatment, similar to results from using minoxidil.

In a 2016 studyTrusted Source examining the effects of topical menthol, researchers found that topically applied menthol increases skin blood flow. This could also help with hair growth, as increased blood flow may help stimulate your scalp.

The takeaway

Peppermint oil may help soothe itchy skin. More research is needed on peppermint oil’s ability to stimulate hair growth in humans.

Against bacteria and yeast

Peppermint oil also has mild antimicrobial properties. Various studies have been performed to determine its effectiveness against different types of bacteria and fungi. The results have been mixed.

A 2019 studyTrusted Source highlighted the antibacterial activity of peppermint oil on different strains of bacteria, including:

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Escherichia coli
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Proteus mirabilis
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Acinetobacter baumannii

This research showed peppermint oil’s potential as a future therapeutic option for certain infections, though more research is needed.

While this result is promising, the antimicrobial activity of peppermint oil may depend on the species of bacteria.

Another studyTrusted Source found that while peppermint oil showed a potential for antimicrobial activity, it was less effective than other essential oils against 20 different strains of Streptococcus suis.

A study from 2017Trusted Source looked at the activity of several essential oils against different strains of Candida yeast in test tubes. While peppermint oil did have some antifungal activity, it had the lowest activity out of all the oils that were tested.

The takeaway