Put Some Pep in your Step with Peppermint Essential Oil

“Essential oils are not just wonderful because they smell good,” says Dr. Paul Aaron, chiropractic physician and certified in acupuncture.

“We actually take in healthful tiny, tiny micro-droplets of the beneficial oil chosen for, or by us. Each particular micro-droplet is designed to bring about a healthful response from a particular source that benefits us in a special way. These are sometimes single molecules of the substance used to heal.”

Use peppermint oil to help with digestive issues, mental focus, and more.

A great time to start using essential oils is during the holiday season. Candy canes are a common Christmas staple; it is almost impossible to go through the Christmas season without indulging in a candy cane or two. Don’t be so fast to pass on the peppermint ones though, especially if they have real peppermint oil in them. Peppermint oil actually has many beneficial uses.

According to WebMD, Peppermint oil is derived from a plant that is a cross between the water mint and spearmint plants, known creatively as the peppermint plant.

Peppermint’s well known uses include food and drink flavoring and fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.

Peppermint oil also has many health benefits. It can be used to help with digestive issues and help restore digestive efficiency. Peppermint oil can affect the brain’s hunger satisfaction center, signaling to the brain that your stomach is full after meals (which is why some restaurants offer peppermints after the meal). One way to use peppermint oil for your digestion is have it in a tea or add a few drops to water.

Peppermint oil is good for your mental health. Chewing peppermint gum is often advised for kids before taking big exams because peppermint improves memory and concentration. It is also good for calming nerves and relieving exhaustion and depression. Dropping a little bit of the oil on a tissue and inhaling it can clear the mind and get you in the mental zone.

The oil can also help with:

–          Motion sickness

–          Raising low blood pressure

–          Reducing fever and hot flashes

–          Relieving headaches

–          Calming inflammation caused by infection or allergy

Spraying peppermint oil on door jambs can even repel bugs and pests!

Peppermint has some beauty uses as well. Combining a couple drops of the oil into your daily beauty regimen can brighten dull-looking skin. It can help with acne by controlling the excess oil and preventing clogged pores. Try this recipe for at-home exfoliation:

Add 3 spoons of table salt to 2 spoons of olive oil, and then add 4 drops of your peppermint essential oil. Rub the mixture on your face with gentle motions.

Peppermint oil can relieve both dry and oily scalps. For oily scalps, peppermint oil’s ability to normalize the sebum secretion and cool the scalp will work wonders, and for dry scalps, has moisturizing powers, heals the scalp, and prevents itching.

Those are just some of peppermint oil’s many benefits and uses. There is a plethora of information you can find on Google and instructional videos on YouTube. Check out this video on its health benefits, this one on using peppermint oil as a natural lip plumper and this one about making a hair mask using peppermint oil.

Peppermint oil may not work in the same way for everyone. Since the oil is strong, only a little bit is necessary – always dilute it when putting it on your skin or in a drink. You might want to stay away from peppermint if you have sensitive skin or are pregnant. It is also not good to use with small children or infants. Try not to use it every day because its effects build up over time, so its energizing properties may interfere with your sleep. You can buy peppermint oils from a variety of grocery stores or online.

“As with food, cleansers or anything we put in or on, the company you choose must use quality ingredients,” said Dr. Aaron.

Try out peppermint oil for yourself, and let us know how it works for you in the comments below!