Peppermint Essential Oil

Cooling, energizing and minty-fresh!

Peppermint essential oil is famous for flavoring candy canes and gum and all those yummy minty-sweet goodies. It's also terrific for a morning wake-up in the shower.

Try using peppermint oil to help relieve migraines and headaches - some days it works for me, some days not. Dilute a drop or two in a tablespoon of carrier oil and massage gently into the back of your neck and your temples (do not get it in your eyes - ow!)

For nausea, opening the bottle and taking a sniff may be all you need to settle your stomach.

For a more portable option, put a few drops on a tissue and carry it with you. This is great for kids who get car sick, as well as for morning sickness and hangovers. You can also put a few drops in a aromatherapy diffuser for stomach flu.

For minty-fresh breath, add one drop of peppermint to a cup of water and use it as a mouthwash.

Peppermint can help relieve the itching pain of shingles. Click here for a good peppermint lotion recipe.

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Botanical Name and Characteristics

Mentha piperata

Peppermint is a perennial, summer-growing flowering herb that grows between one to three feet (30cm to 90cm) high and has pale violet flowers.

The essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from fresh or partly dried plants.

Strong, fresh, sharp, clean minty scent.

Therapeutic Action

Lifts mood, calms nerves

Relieves occasional stomach upset, supports digestion and increases appetite

Stimulates physical and mental energy

Helps relieve joint and muscle pain, e.g. sprains, strains or arthritis

Supports alertness, memory, focus and mental clarity

Soothes itchy skin

Supports physical strength and endurance

Repels insects

Promotes clear breathing when used as an inhalation

Disinfectant

Refreshes breath and supports oral health

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Peppermint Quick Tricks

Mid-day pick-me-up: Put a dab of coconut oil or unscented lotion in your hand and mix in 1 drop each peppermint and orange. Rub on the back of your neck and behind your ears.

Diffuse peppermint during study time.

Blends well with lavender oil for a soothing massage blend.

Add to shampoo or conditioner for a stimulating scalp massage.

Inhale for an energizing pick-me-up on long drives.

Spritz around windows and doors for a fresh scent that discourages bugs.

Blending

Peppermint oil's strong, penetrating top note blends well with all the citrus oils, as well as with eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, palmarosa, tea tree and ylang ylang.

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Cautions

Peppermint essential oil is non-toxic and non-irritant in low dilutions, but could sensitize or irritate skin if not diluted properly. It can also cause irritation to the mucus membranes, and you should keep it well away from your eyes.

Do not use on skin during pregnancy or as a skin application for children under seven.

What Next?

Click on the links below to learn more about properties, safety and blending of some popular essential oils.

Bergamot

Carrot Seed

Cedarwood

Chamomile

Cinnamon

Clary Sage

Cypress

Eucalyptus

Frankincense

Geranium

Ginger

Grapefruit

Helichrysum

Jasmine

Lavender

Lemon

Lemongrass

Marjoram

Orange

Palmarosa

Patchouli

Peppermint

Petitgrain

Pine

Rose

Rosemary

Sandalwood

Tea Tree

Thyme

Vanilla

Vetiver

Ylang Ylang

Or check out some tingly-cool, uplifting recipes using peppermint essential oil...

Peppermint Lotion

Citrus Peppermint Body Scrub

Lavender Mint Foot Scrub

Anti-Nausea Inhaler

Aromatherapy Recipes Homepage

Want More Minty Goodness?

That was just a few of the recipes using peppermint essential oil you can find here. To look for more, use the Search Box below.

Simply type in "peppermint" (without the quotes) and hit Search. Every page on this website that includes the word Peppermint will pop up. Poke through them and decide what recipe to try next.

Disclaimer

This information is for information and entertainment purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the US Food & Drug Administration.

Do not use information from Easy-Aromatherapy-Recipes.com to diagnose or treat a medical or psychological condition. See full disclaimer.

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