Peppermint enhances digestion & relieves gas
Peppermint: More Than Just Fresh Breath
Updated Nov. 07th, 2024 | Read Time: 2 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- Key Advantages of Peppermint
- Digestive Health Support
- Essential Oil Support
- Peppermint Supplement Varieties
- Cautions & Considerations
- Nutritional Information
- Reader Comments (13)
Peppermint is found in many candies, mints and gums that line the supermarket checkout. Its fresh, clean taste and smell are a favourite for breath freshening products.
However, did you know that it does more than freshen your breath after you eat? Let's explore the spectrum of benefits this herb has to offer.
Key Advantages of Peppermint
Digestive Health Support
Medicinally, it is known as a carminative, an herb that decreases gas and bloating. It also decreases spasms in the digestive tract that cause diarrhea and symptoms characterizing irritable bowel syndrome. Peppermint may also be a part of formulas containing charcoal or ginger for soothing digestion. Its antispasmodic activity is due to the blockage of calcium channels in intestinal muscle cells. By preventing calcium exchange muscles do not contract.
Essential Oil Support
It is also used in aromatherapy as an energizing agent. The essential oil of peppermint is a highly concentrated substance. When using essential oils they can be diluted in carrier oil, such as olive, almond or any cooking oil.
The essential oil can be used topically on the abdomen to help digestive issues. It can also be applied to the base of the skull or temples to alleviate headaches. Peppermint oil can also be added to baths to soothe sore muscles or diffused to clean the air in your home.
Peppermint Supplement Varieties
It can be purchased as a loose herb, encapsulated herb, enteric-coated oil tablet, ingestible oil or essential oil. The loose herb is a popular tea.
Cautions & Considerations
Essential oils can be toxic when taken internally therefore, only ingest food grade oils and never essential oils. Some essential oils are also toxic to pets so make sure the one's you're using are well tolerated by cats and dogs.
Do not give peppermint to individuals with gallstones, biliary obstruction, hiatal hernia or liver damage. Do not give peppermint oil to children, pregnant women, nursing mothers or individuals with allergies to the mint family. Do not take peppermint oil concurrently with calcium channel blockers.
I wish I could afford to buy the peppermint oil, I have bad stomach problems, take pain meds and am on disability, I am awaiting my second spine surgery in 7 months, I also have Fibromyalgia and Degenerative Disc Disease.
Peppermint oil should not really be used internally. The peppermint tea is not too expensive.
Hello Valerie-Jean,
That is correct! There are food grade oils that can be ingested; however, essential oils aren't food grade and should only be used for diffusing, topical application when diluted or home DIY's. Peppermint tea or loose herbs is a safer alternative or for upset stomach, one can dilute peppermint essential oil and rub in in a clockwise motion on the abdomen.
Stay healthy & safe.
This article is full of useful information such as: When using essential oils they can be diluted in carrier oil, such as olive, almond or any cooking oil. AND: Essential oils can be toxic when taken internally therefore, Use the essential oil of peppermint cautiously. I always wondered if peppermint essential oil could be taken internally, now I now I must use caution, if I ever decide to do that, and the article explains why. Very useful information to have. These articles are a real time saver, I don't have to go searching the internet for information, it is here to read!
Hello Valerie-Jean,
We are glad you have enjoyed our article on Peppermint. It's important to remember, while essential oils need to be diluted in oils before being applied to the skin, essential oils should never be ingested. There are food grade oils that can be ingested, but as you read, essential oils are not food grade. Peppermint oil does help with digestion and headaches or muscle soreness when mixed with grape seed oil and applied topically on the abdomen, temples or area of soreness. Thank you for your comment and if you'd like to learn more about essential oils, check out these articles too:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/essential-oils/lavender-essential-oil/
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/essential-oils/eucalyptus-essential-oil/
Have a healthy day!
I have started buying peppermint as a loose herb as well as in tea form and has made a world of difference with issues caused by gas and bloating. I would definitely recommend trying peppermint if you currently have digestion issues. I even toss the herbs into a jug of water and that also adds a great taste and assists with digestion.
Hello Joey,
Peppermint is a great supplement to help with digestive issues and bloating. It can also be used topically in essential oil form when diluted with grape seed oil. It can be rubbed in a clockwise motion on the abdomen for relief. You may also enjoy our article on ginger, because it also helps very well with bloating and digestion.
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/ginger/
Stay healthy & well
I really like Peppermint! I used to drink peppermint tea all the time. I did find it very relaxing. I did not know specifically how it affected the intestines, but now I do. It's a short article but has some really great information. Unfortunately, drinking tea is something I can no longer do. Instead, for internal use,
I use the Peppermint Drops diluted in a bottle of water, that are safe to take internally. You only need one drop in a bottle of water. It's quite strong. It sounds like it would taste awful, but it doesn't. You just have to make sure that they are safe to take internally. I also use peppermint for bathing. So refreshing and relaxing. And of course I put peppermint and lavender in my diffuser. This combination also makes a nice linen spray, since, if these oils are used in small amounts, it quite soothing and promote sleep. I find these 2 oils in large amounts to do quite the opposite. They can be quite revitalizing.
Hello Kalyani,
Peppermint is a great way to promote relaxation and soothing vibes. It also helps with gut health and digestion when taken internally or applied topically. You're right, when used in higher amounts, it can be quite energizing, it's actually great to add to body wash or lotion to increase circulation. As you mentioned, when taken internally, it needs to be certified safe for ingestion as essential oils are not safe for ingestion.
Since you also enjoy diffusing lavender oil, here's our article with some lovely essential oil DIY's:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/essential-oils/lavender-essential-oil/
Have a healthy day!
I love peppermint! I love peppermint toothpaste, mouthwash, candies, lotions, chapstick, tea, etc! I love anything flavored with peppermint mainly because of its refreshing scent and feeling. I just feel so clean and when using peppermint items and love the way it makes your breath feel, so fresh and so clean! Peppermint also energizes me and reminds me of the holidays (probably because of candy canes). Peppermint just gives me all the feels and I'm so happy that it has so many great benefits to it as well!
Hello,
Peppermint is great in natural body wash to revitalize the skin and wake it up, but as an essential oil it can support headaches and upset stomach when applied topically. As a tea, peppermint is very soothing and a great tea to have after consuming a large meal for boosted digestion.
We think you'll enjoy our video on peppermint essential oil:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP4zREFLj90
Enjoy!
I did not know that there were so many situations where peppermint shouldn't be consumed (eg in case of gallstones, biliary tract obstruction, liver damage, pregnancy, nursing, and liver damage)-I'll make a note to be careful with this herb! Anyway, I didn't know that peppermint exerts its antispasmodic activity antispasmodic activity iby blocking calcium channels in intestinal muscle cells. I also didn't know that it is also called carminative!
Hello Rachel,
Indeed, peppermint has many great health implications, but like anything, there are times when it's not recommended. Peppermint can also be applied topically to soothe sore muscles, digestion, headaches and migraines. You can simply mix peppermint oil with a carrier oil. You can learn more about this article here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP4zREFLj90&list=PLFydSZTC8qlbfjY2KHRR9lCDLZNLDd5k5&index=11&pp=iAQB