"Back to Basics" - Top Ten Single Oils - Peppermint

Today is day three of my series "Back to Basics".



Peppermint

Peppermint oil, also known as Mentha piperita, is extracted from the whole plant through steam distillation and is indigenously grown in Washington state. Peppermint plants are actually a natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint plants. The main chemical component is menthol, which has the ability to trigger cold receptors in the skin giving you a cooling sensation.

Menthol

The primary benefits of peppermint oil include promoting healthy respiratory function*, digestive health*, and a bug repellent. You can Google "peppermint oil repels spiders" and you will find many testimonies about how peppermint oil keeps spiders out of people's homes. I have yet to find any legitimate article that explains why this is the case, but people say it works.

The most common uses for peppermint oil are making toothpaste (my favorite), adding to a smoothie, coffee, or hot chocolate, and inhaling the aroma for a mid-day pick me up. The high level of menthol in peppermint oil can act as a stimulate and refresh your mind when you are mentally exhausted*.

Peppermint Leaf

My favorite way to use peppermint oil is in my homemade toothpaste recipe, which can be found in a previous blog post from September 2015 called "Healing Tooth Decay Naturally (And a toothpaste recipe)." I also love diffusing peppermint and wild orange together as a mid-day, mental pick me up. When I was working on my Master's degree that combination got me through those LONG, BORING reads that you have to do sometimes when in school.

Peppermint can be used aromatically, topically, and internally and it is gentle enough to be used neat (not diluted). If you use essential oils on little kids, you should ALWAYS dilute.

Links:

EO Spotlight: Peppermint

doTERRA Product Page: Peppermint

Buy Peppermint here

Research:

Cruz, A. B., Lee, S. E., Pagaduan, J. C., & Kim, T. H. (2011) Effects of lavender (lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and peppermint (Mentha cordifolia Opiz.) aromas on subjective viatility speed and agility. Asia Life Science-The Asian International Journal of Life Sciences, 21 (1), 31 - 37. http://journals.uplb.edu.ph/index.php/ALS/index

Kondoh, T., Yamada, S., Shioda, S., & Torii, K. (2005). Central olfactory pathway in response to olfactory stimulation in rats detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Chemical Senses, 2(30 Supplement 1), 172 173. doi:10.1093/chemse/bjh169

Norrish, M. I. K., & Dwyer, K. L. (2005). Preliminary investigation of the effect of peppermint oil on an objective measure of daytime sleepiness. International Journal of Psychology, 55(3), 291 - 298. doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2004.08.004

Rajaonarivony, J. I. M. Gershenzon, J., & Croteau, R. (1992). Characterization and mechanism of (4S)-limonene synthase, A monoterpene cyclase from the glandular trichomes of peppermint (Mentha x piperita). Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 296(1), 49 - 57. doi:10.1016/0003-9861(92)90543-6

Rios-Estepa, R., Turner G. W., Lee, J. M., Croteau, R. B., & Lange, B.M. (2008). A systems biology approach identifies the biochemical mechanisms regulation monoterpenoid essential oil composition in peppermint. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(8), 2818 - 2823. doi:10.1073pnas.0712314105

Satoh, T., & Sugawara, Y. (2003). Effects on human elicited by inhaling the fragrance of essential oils: Sensory test, multi-channel thermometric study and forehead surface potential wave measurement on basil and peppermint. Analytical Sciences, 19(1), 139 - 146. doi:10.2116/analsci.19.139

CAUTIONS: Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.