Top 11 Ways to Use Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint essential oil has so many uses- from relieving nausea to soothing your sunburns! Peppermint (in plant form), or mentha piperita, is believed to have been grown and used for herbal remedies as early as 1500 BC in the Mediterranean area and Northern Africa- even though the name itself is Greek. Peppermint was officially cultivated for medical use in the 1700s in England. Peppermint oil is taken from the leaves and flowering part of the plant. 

In this blog post, we’ll look at all the top benefits and uses of peppermint essential oil!

Reduces headaches

Peppermint essential oil is one of the most effective oils at managing pain because of its cooling, invigorating, and antispasmodic properties. One clinical trial from the late nineties showed that it performed just as well as 1000 mg of acetaminophen for tension headaches when applied to the temples of your head. 

To use for headaches, dilute with your favorite carrier oil and massage into your temples. To keep on hand, combine 15 drops of peppermint oil into a 10 ml bottle and top with fractionated coconut oil. 

Reduces gas + bloating 

One of the oldest remedies for promoting healthy digestion and treating unwanted issues like gas and bloating is using peppermint oil topically on your abdomen. Its antispasmodic properties help it calm the bowel wall muscles to stop them contracting, which is particularly helpful if you suffer from IBS. 

The menthol in the peppermint also helps overall stomach function by decompressing and calming stomach muscles- which helps your intestines release any trapped gas. 

To use peppermint for gas and bloating, simply dilute several drops into your fave carrier oil and massage slowly over your abdomen, paying extra attention to areas of discomfort. 

Reduces pain from period cramps

Studies have shown that peppermint essential oil can both help the severity of cramps AND lower the duration of them because of the menthol in the oil. The cooling effect of menthol works with our cold receptors to help sense the pain and neutralize it. 

Use the peppermint oil the same way as you would for gas and bloating, except focus more on the lower abdomen where your uterus is. 

Natural Energy Boost

Peppermint Oil can help boost alertness and energy by increasing circulation and oxygen levels in your blood and body. Because peppermint oil is stimulating, it boosts your central nervous system functions, which will help beat that fatigue or afternoon slump. 

The easiest way to use it is by inhaling it through a personal inhaler, from the bottle itself, or through a diffuser in the mornings. Simply put a few drops of peppermint essential oil into your diffuser and top with water. 

Cooling Muscle Rub

Because of peppermint’s stimulating and antispasmodic effects, it naturally works to cool down your muscles to give you a refreshing feel after a long day at work or a workout. Peppermint oil works well for muscles because it targets them directly and will help promote healing from the natural tearing that happens when you work your muscles and your body rejuvenates them. 

To use, mix a couple drops with your favorite carrier oil and massage onto sore muscles for a refreshing and cooling effect. You can also add a few drops to some unscented lotion and keep around for when you know it’s about to be a long week!

Concentration and Focus

As if peppermint weren’t already good enough for what we’ve covered so far, it’s also got another amazing benefit for your brain. Peppermint stimulates your hippocampus, which is a major part of your limbic system. The hippocampus is in charge of forming new memories, connections, learning, and regulating emotions. In turn, this also helps you focus and retain new information.

Quite a few people and studies have even shown that chewing peppermint gum or diffusing peppermint oil while studying can help you remember the material when taking tests!

To use, diffuse a few drops of peppermint essential oil in your workspace or study area to boost mental clarity, focus, and concentration. 

Natural Bug Repellent

There are three major components that make up peppermint that help keep insects away by acting as a natural fumigant. These components are terpene, alcohol, and of course, menthol. Insects and rodents have smell receptors that are naturally repellent to these chemicals, and they want to stay away from them. 

For around the home when I want to keep them out of the house, I will add 3-5 drops of peppermint essential oil to a cotton ball and place on windowsills, usually around areas where insects are more drawn to, like your kitchen. If you do this, make sure that these cotton balls are out of reach of both children and pets. 

The other effective way to keep ticks and bugs away from you when you’re outside, make a DIY bug spray by combining peppermint essential oil with witch hazel and a carrier oil to keep them at bay. 

Sinus Congestion Relief

Because of the menthol that peppermint naturally contains, it helps fight unwanted bacteria in the nose and airways, which helps open them and clear mucus. Since it fights bacteria, it will fight the triggers of sinus congestion, which will prevent it from continuing. As a bonus, other studies have shown it may also possibly help reduce inflammation. 

To use for sinus congestion relief, make a DIY sauna by taking a slow cooker, or a simmering pot on the stove and adding a few drops of peppermint oil to the hot water, cover your head with a towel, and breathe deeply. 

You can also make a DIY vapor rub by combining peppermint essential oil with some unscented lotion, carrier oil, or shea butter and rubbing on your chest at night to get some relief at nighttime. 

May prevent overheating / reduce symptoms of heat flashes

Since peppermint oil soothes nerves and helps circulation in the body, it is a useful tool for reducing overheating and symptoms of heat flashes. The menthol “tricks” the brain’s receptors into thinking the body is cooler than it is because of the menthol content, which will help your body to calm down instead of working harder to cool you down.

To get the most out of this benefit, simply dilute a few drops with coconut oil and apply to your underarms and the back of your neck. 

Soothes sunburn

Aloe + the menthol in peppermint oil = the perfect sunburn remedy. The aloe is soothing, while the peppermint is cooling and can even be slightly numbing to the affected area. Peppermint is anti-inflammatory and hydrating, making it the perfect oil to add to aloe gel. Applying topically can even help fight those sunstroke headaches also. 

To use, dilute several drops of peppermint essential oil into some pure aloe vera gel and rub over sunburned areas for a cooling effect. 

Hair growth

Since peppermint oil produces a cooling and tingling effect on the skin, applying it to the scalp will help increase circulation to the area. This helps promote hair growth by increasing the quality and amount of hair follicles being produced and continuing to grow. By increasing the circulation, it’s increasing the blood flow, stimulating the follicles. 

It’s so easy to use to grow hair, just add a drop of peppermint oil to your shampoo with every wash day! 

While peppermint essential oil is one of the most versatile oils, it’s also one of the ones you need to remember the safety for. Here are the main safety guidelines to ensure best results!

Peppermint oil safety: 

Do not use with children under ten or while nursing.

We recommend a maximum dilution of 5% for topical applications.

Do not use with cats.

Not intended for internal use.

Grab your pure peppermint essential oil here!

And, here’s a dilution guide for you to know exactly how much peppermint to put in all these DIYs!

XO,

Liv