Peppermint Oil
Background
The
herb peppermint, a natural cross between two types of mint (water mint
and spearmint), grows throughout Europe and North America. Both
peppermint leaves and the essential oil from peppermint have been used
for health purposes. (Essential oils are very concentrated oils
containing substances that give a plant its characteristic odor or
flavor.) Peppermint is a common flavoring agent in foods, and
peppermint oil is used to create a pleasant fragrance in soaps
and cosmetics.
Mint has been used for health purposes for
several thousand years. It is mentioned in records from ancient Greece,
Rome, and Egypt. However, peppermint was not recognized as a distinct
kind of mint until the 1700s.
Today, peppermint is used as a
dietary supplement for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), other digestive
problems, the common cold, headaches, and other conditions. Peppermint
oil is also used topically (applied to the skin) for headache, muscle
aches, itching, and other problems. Peppermint leaf is available in
teas, capsules, and as a liquid extract. Peppermint oil is available as
liquid solutions and in capsules, including
enteric-coated capsules.
How Much Do We Know?
A small amount of research has been conducted on peppermint oil,
primarily focusing on IBS.
Very little research has been done on peppermint leaf.
What Have We Learned?
Peppermint
oil has been studied most extensively for IBS. Results from several
studies indicate that peppermint oil in enteric-coated capsules may
improve IBS symptoms.
A few studies have indicated that
peppermint oil, in combination with caraway oil, may help relieve
indigestion, but this evidence is preliminary and the product that was
tested is not available in the United States.
Peppermint oil
has been used topically for tension headaches and a limited amount of
evidence suggests that it might be helpful for this purpose.
There’s
not enough evidence to allow any conclusions to be reached about
whether peppermint oil is helpful for nausea, the common cold, or
other conditions.
There’s not enough evidence to show whether peppermint leaf is helpful
for any condition.
What Do We Know About Safety?
Peppermint
oil appears to be safe when taken orally (by mouth) in the doses
commonly used. Excessive doses of peppermint oil can be toxic.
Possible
side effects of peppermint oil include allergic reactions and
heartburn. Capsules containing peppermint oil are often enteric-coated
to reduce the likelihood of heartburn. If enteric-coated peppermint oil
capsules are taken at the same time as antacids, the coating can break
down too quickly.
Like other essential oils, peppermint oil is
highly concentrated. When the undiluted essential oil is used for
health purposes, only a few drops are used.
Side effects of
applying peppermint oil to the skin can include skin rashes and
irritation. Peppermint oil should not be applied to the face or chest
of infants or young children because serious side effects may occur if
they inhale the menthol in the oil.
No harmful effects of
peppermint leaf tea have been reported. However, the long-term safety
of consuming large amounts of peppermint leaf is unknown.
Keep in Mind
Tell
all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative
health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to
manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and
safe care.
Key References
- Ford
AC, Talley NJ, Spiegel BM, et al. Effect
of fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil in the treatment of
irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2008;337:a2313.
- Kligler
B, Chaudhary S. Peppermint
oil. American Family Physician. 2007;75(7):1027-1030.
- McKay
DL, Blumberg JB. A
review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint
tea (Mentha piperita L.). Phytotherapy Research. 2006;20(8):619-633.
- Peppermint.
In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded
Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine
Communications; 2000:297-303.
- Peppermint.
Natural Medicines Web site. Accessed at
naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com on April 20, 2015.
[Database subscription].
- Ruepert
L, Quartero AO, de Wit NJ, et al. Bulking agents, antispasmodics and
antidepressants for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic
Reviews. 2011;(8):CD003460 [edited 2013]. Accessed at http://www.thecochranelibrary.com(link
is external) on
April 20, 2015.
-NIH
