Peppermint oil is known to have multiple benefits, one of which is tension headache relief. Putting a few drops of peppermint oil on your temples or forehead has long been a home remedy for headaches, but is that all this refreshing scent does? Peppermint oil is one of the most well-known essential oils, and the reason for that is the vast amount of benefits from using these oils.
These effects of peppermint oil range from basic pain, irritation, and discomfort relief to skin and hair care, and even to disinfectant benefits. With these different benefits, you can use peppermint oil for both hangovers, and basic day-to-day life, especially in terms of mental health and destressing.
1. Pain Relief
One of the most well-known benefits of peppermint oil is pain relief. Oftentimes you hear people say it's good for headaches, but what is often not known is that it is helpful with other causes of pain as well. It contains menthol, which is a sort of numbing property. This makes it beneficial for pain, and also makes it helpful with migraines, since it has been used to treat migraines for years.
For this, the Pain Relief Roll-On can be helpful, especially when you do not have enough time to dilute it, or you need it on the go. You simply apply it to the affected area and let it do its job.
Aside from this, you can always dilute peppermint oil and apply it to your bath for larger areas in pain, like your back or legs. Menthol does the same to these areas as it does with the headache.
2. Nausea
Peppermint oil can also help with nausea through inhalation. By inhaling the peppermint oil, you can decrease the severity of your nausea, whether it’s postoperative nausea or another kind of nausea, like after a hangover.
This, grouped with the idea of using it for headaches, shows how it would benefit someone to help reduce the effects of a hangover, morning sickness during pregnancy, and other such illnesses.
In order to use it for nausea, though, it must be inhaled in the form of steam. In order to do this, you would need a diffuser or boil water with a couple of drops of oil into it. The recommended method, though, is through the use of a diffuser.
3. GI Tract Problems
The different studies conducted on peppermint oil also showed that inhaling the peppermint oil can help to increase the body’s immune response to GI tract issues. An example concluded that the peppermint oil was able to reduce bloating and stomach pain because of the menthol, yet was not as strong in treating Colic. This shows that during the flu and cold seasons, peppermint oil is a definite go-to for on the go diffusing.
The prospect of peppermint oil helping with the GI Tract, and even with IBS is still new, so the reason for it helping is not fully known. Yet what is speculated is that the reason it helps is that it relaxes the muscles in the GI tract, and further eliminates other similar pain through the numbing properties of menthol.
4. Skin and Hair
Like many other products, peppermint oil can also have benefits to the skin and hair. One of these is the ability to reduce itching of the skin. When having dry, itchy skin as well as other dry skin conditions, peppermint can help reduce itching.
The same can be said of scabs and bug bites. Any of these can be remedied through the application of peppermint oil.
In order to apply it to the skin, you also need to dilute the essential oil. To do this you can add two or three drops to ten milliliters of carrier oil, such as coconut oil. The application of the skin after dilution should be in the affected areas. If you do not have time to dilute, though, the Pain ease roll-on is also helpful, since it contains peppermint oil as well.
After diluting the essential oil, you can also add it to your hair and scalp. One of the benefits tested was its ability to aid hair growth. During this study, it showed that it can increase hair growth in terms of both thickness and length. So applying it to the hair can also benefit you and lead to healthier hair follicles and healthier skin. You can mix it into your shampoo, conditioner, or other cosmetics!
5. Antibacterial
Aside from being a great addition to skin and hair care, it can also be effective in removing or fighting bacteria from your body. Peppermint oil is known to have mild antioxidant and microbial properties, so it is not a drastically effective way of ridding bacteria and yeast, but it is rather helpful when it comes to wounds and other bacteria on your body.
In order to put this to use, though, you need to either dilute it for bacteria which is on your skin, such as on a wound. After diluting, you must apply it to the affected areas and then go on with your day. Though, if the bacteria is inhaled, you must diffuse the oil and inhale it as well.
Because it contains antibacterial properties, though, it also helps to prevent acne. Acne is usually caused by unwanted bacteria entering the pores. The peppermint oil, when diluted, can help to clean out the bacteria from the pores as well as keep the oil secretion at bay.
6. Mental Health
The mental health benefits of peppermint oil are probably the most surprising but necessary. Aside from being capable of easing stress, it can also help to improve mental health and function.
Because of the ability to relax muscles, as well as mood, the inhalation of peppermint oil will relax the mind, and allow for greater concentration, greater mood, and better mental capacity due to the decreased stress.
In order to use it for this reason, you must diffuse it. Two different ways can be used: either a diffuser that spreads the diffused oil into the air or a necklace or bracelet with a small diffuser as well.
Wearing the diffusing necklace can be beneficial because, in moments of stress and moodiness, you can simply add a few drops to the necklace. The oil then diffuses and helps your mental state as you do your everyday activities.
Aside from this, you can also use peppermint oil on your pillow or blankets to aid relaxation for sleep. If you have insomnia and cannot sleep, this may be a benefit to you. By allowing your mind to relax, it is easier to fall asleep instead of fixating on different problems or overthinking. Pair it with lavender oil for an even stronger nighttime effect.
When spraying on the pillow you can dilute it slightly so it does not damage your hair or your skin. But make sure the fragrance is prominent. If you would rather not spray it on your pillow, you can always diffuse the oil in a regular diffuser.
Make sure to turn it off before you sleep, instead of keeping it on all night. It can be dangerous to inhale essential oils for a prolonged period of time in an enclosed room, so never let it stay on!
Peppermint Oil and Your Everyday Needs
The peppermint plant is a special herb. One of the main things to take from this is that peppermint oil has a great number of benefits. Combat hair loss, boost energy levels, and even repel mice, ants, and other bugs with these special leaves.
The six benefits above are the most essential and most prominent that can help you in your day-to-day life if used correctly, but there's so much more this ingredient can do. As always, when in doubt do some research on what areas you can apply it to and for what.
Sources:
Benefits of Peppermint Oil: Uses, Side Effects & Research | Healthline