Peppermint: What you need to know

What Is Peppermint?

This herb is a cross between two types of mints: water mint and spearmint. The taste and smell in candies or soap come from concentrated oil.

How to Use It

You can get peppermint leaf through tea, capsules, or as an extract. Peppermint oil comes in capsules and liquids. You can apply it to your skin or take it by mouth. It’s highly concentrated, so only use it in a diluted form or a few drops at a time. It can be toxic to take a lot of the oil at once.

Soothe Upset Stomach

According to animal studies peppermint relax tissues in GI tract but more human studies are needed. Other studies have been shown the effect of peppermint in treating nausea and vomiting in people having chemotherapy.

Treat IBS Symptoms

According to studies, peppermint oil capsules may relieve side effects of IBS like gas, constipation, stomach pain and diarrhoea.

Help With Headaches

Menthol a compound found in peppermint was linked to relive headache in people suffering from migraine, in addition it may ease vomiting and nausea but still more research is needed.

Kill Mouth Germs

It has nice flavour but still it contains anti-bacterial compounds that prevent bacteria from sticking to your mouth and make your teeth white.

Ease Stuffy Sinuses

As it has anit-bacterial power, it fight off cold or infected mucus. Moreover, menthol may help you to breathe more easily.

Boost Energy

Peppermint oil may give you power and ease sleepiness in waking hours but more research is needed.

Relieve Menstrual Cramps

Menthol may decrease intensity and the length of period in some women.

Fight Foodborne Bacteria

Scientists tested peppermint oil on bacteria like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella. They found that it can stop all three from growing. It can also kill Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that causes skin infections, pneumonia, meningitis, and more.

Curb Your Appetite

It may let you eat less, feel less hungry and help in weight loss but more studies are needed loss.

Calm Seasonal Allergies

Peppermint contains a compound called rosmarinic acid that can lower your body’s histamine reaction. So you may have less irritated, stuffy nose, sneezing, and red, itchy eyes.

Sharpen Your Focus

According to a small study, peppermint oil may help people to process problems faster, sharp their memory and improve their energy level.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-health-benefits-peppermint

https://bynatureskincare.com/products/peppermint-essential-oil