Peppermint - Essential Oil

Essential Oil

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) 

Peppermint is today a widely cultivated plant. 

Mitchum peppermint, very popular around the world, has its roots in Saint-Lawrence River Valley, in Québec.

Oil Characteristics : Clear liquid with a very lightly yellow color. Penetrating smell with strongly spicy, minty and camphoric notes.

Properties : 

Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiviral+++, antifungal, anti-parasitic, tonic and stimulant+++ (cardiotonic, hypertensive, uterotonic, enterotonic, digestive stimulant, antiemetic, stomachic, liver tonic, liver cells regenerating, cholagogue, choleretic, pancreatic stimulant, neurotonic and equilibrating), anti-catarrhal, expectorant and mucolytic, analgesic, anesthetic+++, intestinal and urinary anti-inflammatory, prostatic decongestant, hormone-like, emmenagogue (ovary regulation)

Indications : 

Liver-pancreas insufficiency+++, indigestion, dyspepsia, vomiting, motion sickness. Aerophagia, aerocoly, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, biliary colic, inflammatory and spasmodic colitis, ulcer, gastro duodenal atony, gastralgia, enteralgy, yellow fever. Cystitis, prostatitis, renal colic. Neurovegetative dystonia, asthenia, migraine, headache+++. Herpes zoster, viral neuritis (ex., optical nerve), neuralgia, sciatitis++. Pruritus (urticaria, eczema)++. Rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis and laryngitis. Vision disorders (of circulatory origin), erethism (hyper-excitability of an organ), hypotension and lipothymia. Tendinitis, hot flashes related to menopause.

Use : 

• Digestion and liver stimulation: 1 drop of essential oil taken internally in a bit of honey.
• Fresh breath: 1 drop on the tongue or as a gargle.
• Drowsiness: Apply 2 drops on the forehead and on the nape and breathe in its vivifying aroma.
• Knocks and bruises: Apply 3 or 4 drops of pure essential oil on the affected spot.
• Itch: Apply pure essential oil (for ex., on an insect bite) directly or diluted in St-John’s-Wort or sweet almond oil for a larger surface.
• Headache and sinusitis: Apply 2 drops of pure essential oil on the temples, nape and forehead. You can also prepare a massage oil combining peppermint with lavender (3 or 4 drops in a spoonful of St-John’s-Wort or almond oil) for the neck-nape-shoulders-upper back region.
• Mosquitoes and itching: See above.
• Congestion: Pour 2 drops in the palm of your hand (can be combined with lavender), rub hands together and breathe in with each nostril 3 or 4 times.
• Sunburns: Mix 1 drop of peppermint oil and 1 drop of lavender oil in a spoonful of St-John’s-Wort oil and apply gently on the affected area.

Size : Botlle of 15 ml, 50 ml & 250 ml