From after-dinner mints to everyday toothpaste, peppermint is in many of the things we use on a daily basis. And with its pleasant smell, cooling sensation, and calming nature, peppermint essential oil is one of the most popular and best-loved essential oils on the market. Read on to learn about the top five peppermint essential oil uses for your health!
What is Peppermint Essential Oil?
A hybrid herb of spearmint and water mint (Mentha aquatica), peppermint essential oil is created from the steam distillation of the flowering plant, which grows mainly throughout Europe and North America. But peppermint essential oil uses have ranged from food flavoring to product scenting to healthy living for thousands of years. And while peppermint was officially recognized on its own in the 1700s, citizens of ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt all mention using some form of mint in their ancient records!
Suitable for a myriad of things related to the body and mind, peppermint essential oil uses and potential health benefits are far-reaching and wide-ranging. While it makes a great addition to everything from household cleaners to aromatherapy lotions to fragrances, we’ll be focusing on how peppermint essential oil may be used to positively impact your health. Here are five of our favorite peppermint essential oil uses.
Why Try Peppermint Essential Oil?
01. Digestion and Detoxification Support
Peppermint Essential Oil Uses
In everything from nausea to detoxification, peppermint essential oil can be used to help a digestive system do its best work. You can mix it with carrier like coconut oil or lotion and rub it directly on your stomach. You can use it in a diffuser, or you can even inhale it directly from the bottle. Whichever way you choose, peppermint essential oil may help promote gut health. A little bit goes a long way too! Just one drop of peppermint essential oil added to a bit of apple cider and honey has been shown to temporarily relieve symptoms related to indigestion, stomach aches, and even heartburn.
Potential Health Benefits
- Supports a calm stomach
- Supports a healthy digestive system
- Provides temporary relief from symptoms related to indigestion
- Promotes detoxification
02. Alertness and Energy Support
Peppermint Essential Oil Uses
Peppermint essential oil can also help promote feelings of alertness and energy in our everyday lives. Rub a drop of peppermint essential oil underneath your nose if you need help concentrating, or place just one drop on your tongue for instant energy support. Diffuse your peppermint oil or inhale it directly. You can even create a mist by combining peppermint essential oil and water in a spray bottle and create a whole room of concentration not to mention an amazing aroma!
Potential Health Benefits
- Supports memory
- Provides temporary relief from feelings of stress
- Promotes focus and concentration
- Supports energy levels
03. Joint and Muscle Support
Peppermint Essential Oil Uses
When it comes to healthy joints and muscles, peppermint essential oil can be used in a variety of ways to maximize its potential benefits. Because of its cooling effect, peppermint essential oil can help to temporarily relieve painful areas whether it’s applied topically or used in a bath or lotion. Uses of peppermint essential oil for joint support include rubbing a mix of peppermint and lavender oil on aching joints, and it also promotes temporary relief from symptoms related to back pain, sore muscles, and tension headaches.
Potential Health Benefits
- Provides temporary relief from symptoms related to headaches
- Soothes muscle discomfort
- Promotes healthy joints
- Provides temporary relief of symptoms related to inflammation
04. Sinus Care and Upper Respiratory System Support
Peppermint Essential Oil Uses
Anyone who’s experienced the calming effects of a menthol chest rub when they’re sick can attest to the potential benefits of peppermint essential oil when it comes to sinus, respiratory, and allergy care. Of course, there’s that time-tested menthol rub, but peppermint essential oil can also be gargled for sore throats, or used in a humidifier or a diffuser for sinus congestion. It can even be inhaled directly for airflow and invigorating the senses.
Potential Health Benefits
- Provides temporary relief from symptoms related to the common cold
- Supports healthy sinuses
- Defends against symptoms related to seasonal health challenges
- Supports a healthy respiratory system
05. Skin Care Support
Peppermint Essential Oil Uses
Peppermint essential oil aids in the promotion of healthy skin. It can be used for everything from acne to sunburns to natural mosquito repellant! Place a few drops of peppermint essential oil in an exfoliating facial scrub, mix it into a lip balm, or rub it onto sunburned or irritated skin and it may help your support healthy-looking skin.
Potential Health Benefits
- Soothes symptoms related to itchy or irritated skin
- Naturally repels bugs like mosquitoes
- Provides temporary relief from sunburns or skin burns
- Promotes healthy-looking skin
Try These 3 Peppermint Essential Oils
Here are a few of our favorite peppermint essential oil extracts to get you started on your health journey today. Try them for yourself. They may make a difference to your health!
Organic Peppermint Essential Oil from Dr. Mercola is steam distilled from fresh peppermint leaves for a scent that’s revitalizing, invigorating, and cooling to support mental focus and more.
Organic Peppermint Essential Oil from Plant Therapy is a fresh, stimulating oil, and when diffused may help support alertness and energy levels.
Certified Organic Peppermint Essential Oil by Wyndmere Essential Oils supports concentration and soothes nerves related to stress.
A Few Final Thoughts
Remember that peppermint essential oil uses are extremely wide-ranging. We listed our top 5 favorites above, but the secret to your success is finding the right combination and usage that will work best for your unique body. Feel free to experiment with peppermint essential oil to find out how it best works for you. To learn more about the potential benefits and uses of peppermint essential oil, check out this infographic!
Have you used peppermint essential oil to support your health? Tell us your story in the comments section below!
