Peppermint Essential Oil

Botanical Nomenclature: Mentha piperita
Extraction Method: Distillation

Peppermint essential oil is one of the few essential oils manufactured in the United States. Today, peppermint oil is made almost exclusively of two hybrids, Mentha spicata and Mentha aquatica. Today, most of the world's peppermint oil comes from the U.S. but peppermint is also widely cultivated in Europe, South America and Australia.

Characteristics of Peppermint Essential Oil

Psychological Aromatherapy

Traditional Uses for Peppermint Oil

• Analgesic
• Anesthetic
• Antiseptic
• Antispasmodic
• Astringent
• Carminative
• Cephalic
• Decongestant
• Stimulant
• Stomachic

Scientific Studies on Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil has strong antibacterial properties and essential oils made from M. piperita perform especially well in laboratory tests. A 2003 study of 3 species of peppermint essential oil found peppermint effective against strains of E. coli, Micrococcus flavous and even multi-resistant strains of Shigella sonei.

That study also found peppermint oil, especially oil made from M. piperita effective against various fungi. In this study, peppermint oil outperformed the commercial fungicide bifonazole.

Finally, this study also found peppermint oil a good antioxidant. Again, it was M. piperita that displayed the highest OH radical scavenging activity.

A 2006 Russian study also confirmed peppermint's antimicrobial properties. This study found that inhaled M. piperita oil could be effective in patients with infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis. Peppermint oil may also be used to prevent both exacerbations and recurrences of the disease.

Peppermint & Oral Health

A 2007 study of bad breath found that a diluted mixture of tea tree, peppermint and lemon essential oils could reduce bad breath in hospitalized people. These findings confirmed the findings of previous studies and suggest that peppermint is more than just a pleasant-tasting additive in oral care products.

Peppermint Oil & IBS

Though it's unclear exactly how peppermint oil works for patients with irritable bowel syndrome, several studies have shown peppermint oil more effective than pharmaceuticals at reducing symptoms like diarrhea and constipation. Side effects include heartburn and anal/perianal discomfort but not the dry mouth and blurred vision that can occur with mainstream IBS medications.

For best results, peppermint oil should be taken in the form of enteric-coated capsules. This assure that the "active" ingredients in peppermint oil reach the intestines relatively intact and any potential benefit can be maximized.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 & 2

A 2003 study from Germany looked at peppermint essential oil made from Mentha piperita and concluded that peppermint not only demonstrated significant anti-viral properties but could reduce plaque formation by 99%. This suggests that topical applications of peppermint essential oil might help reduce the severity of recurrent herpes infection.

Safety Issues

Peppermint oil has been found "minimally toxic" when administered orally. Peppermint oil typically contains menthol, menthone, pulegone, menthofuran, and limone. Of these chemical constituents, pulegone, a known hepatoxin, is likely responsible for the lesions induced in laboratory animals.

Sensitization and irritation have been seen in clinical studies but peppermint oil is not considered a sensitizer in normal use. Nor is peppermint oil considered phototoxic.

When taken internally, peppermint oil may increase absorption of other chemicals. People taking medications should discuss how peppermint essential will affect their absorption of those medications before adding peppermint oil to their list of daily supplements.

Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy

Mimica-Dukic, N., Bozin, B., Sokovic, M., Mihajlovic, B., Matavullj, M. (2003). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of three Mentha species essential oils.

Hur, M., Park, J., Maddock-Jennings, W., Kim, D., Lee, M. (2007). Reduction of mouth malodour and volatile sulphur compounds in intensive care patients using an essential oil mouthwash.

Shkurupii, V., Odintsova, O., Kazarinova, N., Tkrachenko, K. (2006). Use of essential oil of peppermint (Mentha piperita) in the complex treatment of patients with infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis.

Nair, B. (2001). Final report on the safety assessment of Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf, and Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Water.

Grigoleit, H., Grigoleit, P. (2005). Peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome.