When I think of Peppermint, I think of a young cartoon girl with the second name Patty, who eventually became a candy bar I once loved as a girl. The truth is though, the wonderful minty fresh taste inside of that chocolate bar came from somewhere. The white cool center in that candy bar gets its flavor from the extract version of this flavor, but you will find no health benefits inside that chocolate pocket.
As for the essential oil with the same name, this is a powerful volatile compound extracted from a hybrid of watermint and spearmint, which are found primarily in Europe. As far back as people could pull the essences from these plants, they have been used as a remedy for a myriad of issues. Let’s take a look at the many ways this oil and aromatherapy could give you aid.
Table of Contents
1. Headaches
Did you ever get a splitting pain in the back of your head? Maybe you are more familiar with the type of headache that settles behind your eyes. No matter where that ache lands on that head of yours, this oil could be a natural way to alleviate the pressure and give you the relief you need. It has been reported to help people with migraines, which are the mother of all headaches.
All you need to do is dilute it well with a carrier, like a jojoba, and apply it topically to your temples or the back of your neck.
2. Relieves Congestion
One of the most popular medical uses of this natural remedy is to ease congestion , which could be a symptom of asthma, cough, cold, allergies, or bronchitis. The next time you feel your sinuses tighten up and you find that breathing has become somewhat difficult, put a few drops of some pure oil, like this one from doTERRA , into a diffuser and let the scents find their way to your nose.
A better way to get the full effect is to put a drop or two in a pot of water and let it boil. Once it is boiling, shut off the flame and put your face over it with a towel over your head. The steam will enter your cavities and you’ll get some relief. Another way to take advantage of this method is to put a few drops in your bath water.
3. Eases Achy Joints
I don’t know about you but as a middle-aged woman who has spent most of her life working physically laborious jobs, having my knee or shoulder massaged with a blend or carrier mixed with this scent does wonder for those aches and pains. There are many reasons why our elbows might hurt. Life just does that to you. The heat from this oil penetrates the skin and settles in the muscles making its way to the most active parts of our body.
You’ll notice that, in the words tendonitis and bursitis, the commonality is the“itis”, which means inflammation in medical terminology. This oil works as an anti-inflammatory, so it makes sense it would work on this type of problem.
4. Adds Energy
We all get lethargic from time to time, whether we are working too hard or possibly from some sort of illness. No matter the reason, there are times when we need an energy boost . One way to get this is with the scent of this minty oil. All you need is to use the diffuser or just put a few drops on a cotton ball and wave it under your nose when you are feeling tired.
5. Boosts Concentration
The minty scent of this oil is also a wonderful way to help you focus on the task at hand. It could be the fact that this scent is so potent, but people who find that when it reboots their energy, it levels their ability to concentrate as well. When we are focused, we perform much better at our tasks.
You can add some to your nebulizer or just put a few drops of a diluted version on the back of your neck. The scent will stay with you, giving you little boosts of focus for some time.
6. Stops Itching
Who doesn’t hate to feel an itch? I certainly do. When my back starts to itch, I have to grab the bamboo scratcher right away. Of course, momentary itches are no need to break out the oil or a blend. But what about when you contract a rash like poison ivy or possibly an insect bite? Those little buggers can itch for a long time.
In this instance, topical treatment is the way to go. Make a nice blend of this with lavender, and you will have an anti-itch serum to boast about.
7. Nausea
This is another problem that can be a symptom of almost anything from chemotherapy treatments to simple motion sickness. Yet, it’s a hindrance to our happiness. We don’t like having an upset stomach, and nausea causes us to miss out on fun and great food and drink.
While you can take some of these volatile compounds internally, like the Vitality series from Young Living, a great way to relieve nausea is by applying a mixture of water and oil behind your ears
8. Improves Digestion
Gastrointestinal issues are abundant in some westernized societies like the United States, which might have something to do with the overworked lifestyle, or maybe it's the easy access to fast foods. Some experts blame it on the use of antibiotics . The fact is, as a writer, I don’t know the reason why stomach issues are on the rise any more than you do.
The good news is you don’t need to be an expert to find a way to ease the ailments in your belly. Put few drops of ingestible oil, like the Vitality series we mentioned earlier, in a twelve-ounce glass of water after you eat a meal, and you might find that these issues disappear. It is worth mentioning that everyone’s situation is different and this blog is, in no way, trying to diagnose your specific stomach issue. When in doubt, see a healthcare professional before ingesting anything.
9. Help With Herpes
This is a word no one wants to hear, yet the fact is, herpes is a broad term for many kinds of viral issues. Cold sores are a form of herpes as well as those dreaded shingles that arise for dormant chickenpox issues. Of course, before applying any oil topically, you should talk to your doctor, especially in any areas where you might cause damage.
That said, when placed in a test tube with this essence, the herpes virus was stopped from multiplying, so diluting some with sweet almond oil and dabbing it on any blisters you might find around your mouth might ease the pain and speed up the healing process.
10. Relieve Sunburn
We know how bad the sun is for us, and we are especially inundated with warnings when the warmer months come around, no matter what time of year that is in your hometown. As smart individuals, we take precautions to stop our skin from toasting like that crisp piece of bacon in a frying pan but things and time get away from us. We’re human and we make mistakes.
If you find your skin or your child's back went from pale to lobster after a short visit to the beach, then put a few drops of this oil into a good tablespoon of fractionated coconut oil for pain relief.
11. Promotes Dental Care
Because it's a germ fighter, you’ll find that this scent is added to a ton of commercial toothpaste, flosses, and mouthwashes. The fact is though, these products do not contain the beneficial properties of the pure oil and treat your mouth issues with synthetic chemicals, which is a shame.
If you use a homeopathic approach, like incorporating this oil into your oral cleansing routine, then you might find you can achieve the same results without chemicals.
12. Great For Skin and Hair
Menthol is one of the many compounds that make up this essence. When applied to the skin, after an appropriate dilution, this oil will help free your face from oil and unwanted grease. It can bring life back to a dull looking epidermis, and it can even help your teenager rid himself of that acne. It's the antimicrobial properties in this powerhouse that works on those red bumps we hate to see on our faces. Once the bacteria is gone, so are the pimples.
As for your hair, there are studies that suggest this oil can help with new growth, which is great news for anyone suffering from premature or just regular baldness. Some experts attribute this to the menthol.
13. Bye Bye Halitosis
There is a reason why mint is a regular flavor for things like mouthwash, toothpaste, breath mints, and gum. It is one of the best ways to make our bad breath go away . There are a ton of reasons why our breath might smell. We could suffer from gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums, or we could’ve just had a very garlicky meal.
Whatever the reason, a few drops of edible oil into a little bit of water swished through the mouth should alleviate your odor problems and do it well without any alcohol involved like conventional mouthwashes.
14. Appetite Suppressant
Contrary to what you might be thinking, you don’t need to ingest any of this essence to stop yourself from feeling hungry. All you need to do is smell it and those pangs should go away. We fully support a healthy lifestyle here at Better Mind Body Soul so we want to make it clear that we don’t feel anyone should deprive themselves of food for the sake of anything other than obtaining a healthy lifestyle.
This means that different people work at different weights and shape, so we don’t want anyone using this as a way to achieve unhealthy weight goals. But, if you are like me, the owner of a hiatal hernia, who needs to lose a little weight to remedy the problem, then this might help you. I find myself getting hungry because I once smoked cigarettes (I’ve quit for some time now) or if I am bored. There is nothing wrong with having control over what goes into your body.
15. Strengthens Immune System
Our immune system is what keeps us alive, well, it has a hand in it. Our bodies are tied together so tightly it’s amazing anything can make its way in. But the fact is viruses, bacteria, and pathogens are floating around in our air and inside our food and drink some of the time. Once they get inside of us, we need our military, which is the immune system.
A great way to keep your fighting friends in shape is to eat healthily and incorporate a holistic lifestyle, which includes this extract.
16. Help With Circulation
When a person smells this scent, they are immediately stimulated, which is a great reaction when it comes to our cardiovascular system. When the heart is moving, the blood is moving and that’s good for every corner of our bodies. This enables us to get oxygen and nutrients to our extremities as well as the rest of our bodies.
And dementia. Because of the improved circulation and a readily available oxygen supply, your cognitive functions will improve, which should stave off this horrifying disease. Diabetics find this benefit helpful since circulation is a complication with that disease.
17. Relieves UTIs
As embarrassing or unpopular as this subject might be, this is an issue that plagues many women and menin our world. There are tons of home remedies for this problem including cranberry juice and drinking a lot of water. From personal experience, I can honestly say that these all work great. Add a few drops of this antibacterial oil to water, the edible version, of course, the water should help for a speedy recovery. Inhaling the scent would not be the way to go in this situation.
Conclusion
When it comes to essential oils, this scent is one of those that sits on the top of the heap of extractions that can benefit us from day to day if used correctly. It has amazing medicinal properties that people take advantage of every day. I rub some on my feet every night.
I can’t overstate enough though, that consuming anything internally, especially when you are on some type of medication, is not a good idea unless you speak to a healthcare professional. Safety first at all times.
If you enjoyed this post and would like to share it with your friends, we would love that. If you feel you have a different insight into this topic, please leave us a comment in the section below. We all need to work together to achieve a better mind, body, and soul.
The post Peppermint Essential Oil: 17 Benefits For Everyday Life appeared first on Better Mind Body Soul.
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