Essential Oil of Peppermint

Figure 10: Peppermint Mentha ×piperita taken in Korea. Image by Dorene Petersen. © 2014

Latin Name

Mentha ×piperita (L.)

Family

Lamiaceae

Pronunciation

ˈpepə(r)ˌmɪnt 59

Common Names

Balm mint or brandy mint

59 Peppermint - pronunciation of peppermint by Macmillan Dictionary. Macmillandictionary.com. (2020). Retrieved 9 July 2020, from https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/pronunciation/british/peppermint.

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Sources

Peppermint M. ×piperita is cultivated in the United States, which is the largest producer. But Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, Italy, and Morocco also produce large enough quantities to report significant exports of peppermint oil.

History

The name comes from the Greek myth of the nymph Minthe. Discovered by Persephone in the arms of her husband Pluto, Minthe metamorphosed into a “sweet smelling herb to be trampled underfoot.” Other writers connect mentha with the Latin word mente, meaning “thought.” Records of the uses and preparation of mint are found in the Ebers papyrus, the oldest surviving medical text. An ingredient in the sacred incense kyphi, it was used in ancient Egypt as a ritual perfume and was cultivated by the Egyptians. The hieroglyphics found in the temple of Edfu refer to this. The Greeks and Romans crowned themselves with peppermint at their feasts and it was used to flavor both sauces and wine. Its use was mentioned in the Icelandic Pharmacopoeias of the 13th century. However, it did not come into use in Western European Pharmacopoeias until about the middle of the 18th century. It was added to the London Pharmacopoeia in 1721.

Parts Used

The oil is distilled from the leaves, flowers, and stems.

Cultivation

Figure 11 Figure 64: Peppermint Mentha ×piperita distillery, USA. Image by Dorene Petersen. © 1998

Peppermint M. ×piperita is a perennial that can be propagated by seed, cuttings, or rooted runners. Peppermint requires a rich, moist soil with good drainage. The soil pH should be neutral to slightly alkaline. It prefers full sun. Liberal use of compost is recommended and the quantity and nature of the fertilizer has a great effect on the characteristics of the oil.

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Harvesting & Production

Moderate climatic stress increases the yield of the oil while reducing the amount of the herb. Environmental stress increases the sesquiterpene levels in the oil.

The leaves and flowers are harvested just before maturity, when the essential oil content is greatest. In large commercial fields in the United States the plant is harvested directly into the retort, which is a large metal box on wheels. Steam is injected directly into this vessel once it is wheeled back into the distillery.

Characteristics

Open your sample of peppermint M. ×piperita var. Black Mitcham. (This variety is grown in Washington State, USA). See if you can identify the following. Note your own experience of the aroma, color, and feel in your notebook.

Aroma

•Fresh, strong, somewhat grassy, mint-like, reminiscent of candy canes

Color

•Clear to pale-yellow or pale-olive color

Feel

•It feels thin, but dry when rubbed between the fingers.

Perfume blotter test

•It does not leave a stain on the perfume blotter.

Active Constituents

Peppermint M. ×piperita essential oil includes approximately:

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Up to 42.8% of the alcohol l-menthol (the main constituent of peppermint M. ×piperita oil produced in the United States). Menthol produces the characteristic cooling taste and is used extensively in commercial products, such as cough drops. Up to 19.4% menthone, a ketone, with anticatarrhal, cell proliferant, expectorant, and vulnerary actions The ester, menthyl acetate, is what gives peppermint the fragrant, minty aroma. Esters are non-toxic and as we learned earlier in the chapter, they are effective for fungal and yeast imbalances. A range of constituents in smaller quantities

Storage

As with all essential oils, it should be stored at cool temperatures and in well-filled containers protected from light.

Therapeutic Uses

As you review this section, you may ask: “How can peppermint M. ×piperita oil both constrict and dilate blood vessels? How can it do two opposing things?”

Peppermint M. ×piperita oil is known as an adaptogenic oil. This means it can sedate or stimulate depending on what is needed.

Peppermint M. ×piperita essential oil is used for: Bruises, cramp, dysmenorrhea, gastritis, headache, heartburn, indigestion, insect bites, irritable bowel syndrome, itching, nausea, neuralgia, rheumatism, sciatica, shingles, seizures, spastic colon, tennis elbow, and vomiting.

Peppermint M. ×piperita is an excellent analgesic. 60 You may also see it referred to as an anodyne, local, or topical anesthetic. It is also an effective antispasmodic, relieving nervous irritability and reducing or preventing excessive involuntary muscular contractions and spasms. For cramp, headaches, neuralgia, sciatica, and shingles use one to two drops of peppermint M. ×piperita essential oil mixed with a safe diluent in a full bath. For stings, bites, and itching apply full strength directly to the location.

60 Relieving pain when applied topically

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Peppermint M. ×piperita is a powerful essential oil for the gastrointestinal system. It can neutralize acid in the stomach and intestinal tract, and is an antispasmodic 61 62 , carminative 63 , and stomachic. 64 In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, the anti-emetic 65 action of peppermint M. ×piperita essential oil was shown to help relieve the nausea and vomiting of chemotherapy patients in the first two hours following their treatments. 66

The antibiotic action of peppermint M. ×piperita has also been shown to play a role in relieving irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal dysbiosis. 67 Peppermint is also proving effective against multidrug-resistant bacteria. 68 For irritable bowel syndrome 69 , spastic colon, gastritis, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting use one drop of peppermint M. ×piperita essential oil in one-half glass of warm water, stir thoroughly, and sip slowly. You can also place one drop in honey or milk on a lactose tablet. Diffusing it will also provide benefits.

A study conducted in 2012 showed peppermint M. ×piperita essential oil also has strong antifungal activity against several fungal strains, including Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis, a closely related yeast that is found in immune-compromised individuals. 70 This antifungal

61 Shavakhi, A., Ardestani, S.K., Taki, M., Goli, M., & Keshteli, A.H. (2012). Premedication with peppermint oil capsules in colonoscopy: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial study. Acta. Gastroenterol. Belg., 75(3):349-53. 62 de Sousaa, A., Soaresa, P., de Almeidaa, A., Maiaa, A., de Souzac, E., & Assreuya, A. (2010). Antispasmodic effect of Mentha piperita essential oil on tracheal smooth muscle of rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology.,130(2):433-436. 63 Stimulating intestinal peristalsis, relieving and promoting the expulsion of gas from the gastrointestinal tract 64 Stimulating and toning the stomach 65 Prevent or stop nausea and vomiting 66 Tayarani-Najaran, Z., Talasaz-Firoozi, E., Nasiri, R., Jalali, N., & Hassanzadeh, M. (2013). Antiemetic activity of volatile oil from Mentha spicata and Mentha ×piperita in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Ecancermedicalscience., 7(290). 67 Thompson, A., Meah, D., Ahmed, N., Conniff-Jenkins, R., Chileshe, E., Phillips, C.O., et al. (2013). Comparison of the antibacterial activity of essential oils and extracts of medicinal and culinary herbs to investigate potential new treatments for irritable bowel syndrome. B.M.C. Complement. Altern. Med., 13(338). 68 Yap, P.S., Lim, S.H., Hu, C.P., & Yiap, B.C. (2013). Combination of essential oils and antibiotics reduce antibiotic resistance in plasmid-conferred multidrug resistant bacteria. Phytomedicine., 20(8-9):710-3. 69 Alam, M.S., Roy, P.K., Miah, A.R., Mollick, S.H., Khan, M.R., Mahmud, M.C., et al. (2013). Efficacy of Peppermint oil in diarrhea predominant IBS—a double blind randomized placebo—controlled study. Mymensingh. Med. J., 22(1):27-30. 70 Saharkhiz, M.J., Motamedi, M., Zomorodian, K., Pakshir, K., Miri, R., & Hemyari, K. (2013). Chemical Composition, Antifungal and Antibiofilm Activities of the Essential Oil of Mentha piperita L. I.S.R.N. Pharm., 2012(718645).

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action would also be beneficial for intestinal imbalances, such as irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal dysbiosis.

Peppermint M. ×piperita is rubefacient, stimulating capillary dilation causing skin redness when applied locally. It draws blood from deeper tissues and organs, and relieves congestion and inflammation. It is also a vasoconstrictor, causing constriction of blood vessels and a vasodilator, causing dilation of blood vessels. For bruises, rheumatism, and tennis elbow, apply as a compress.

Peppermint M. ×piperita is an antispasmodic, relieving nervous irritability and reducing or preventing excessive involuntary muscular contractions and spasms. For dysmenorrhea 71 , alternate hot and cold compresses.

The antispasmodic actions of peppermint M. ×piperita essential oil led researchers to study it for potential anti-seizure actions. An animal study found peppermint essential oil completely prevented induced seizures in mice. More research will have to be done to understand how this mechanism can be used safely for human applications. 72

Household Uses

Peppermint M. ×piperita is a well-known flavor. If you brush your teeth, chew gum, use mouthwash, or gargle you will know the cool flavor of peppermint. Peppermint flavoring is used extensively in many preparations. It is also a useful mosquito repellent and larvicidal 73 , and it is said that mice and rats dislike peppermint. An old method used to clear a building of rats was to block up their holes with rags soaked in peppermint M. ×piperita oil.

Perfumery

Figure 12: Peppermint Mentha ×piperita. Image reproduced under license.

71 Painful menstrual cycles 72 Koutroumanidou, E., Kimbaris, A., Kortsaris, A., Bezirtzoglou, E., Polissiou, M., Charalabopoulos, K., et al. (2013). Increased seizure latency and decreased severity of pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in mice after essential oil administration. Epilepsy. Res. Treat., 2013(532657). 73 Kumar, S., Wahab, N., & Warikoo, R. (2011). Bioefficacy of Mentha piperita essential oil against dengue fever mosquito Aedes aegypti L. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 1(2):85-88.

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Peppermint M. ×piperita is not commonly used in perfumes, but it does give a fresh lift to colognes as a top note. The cooling effect is used in lipsticks, shaving cream, bath and shower gels, and body lotions.

Oils that blend with peppermint include:

Peppermint M. ×piperita blends well with benzoin S. tonkinensis, eucalyptus E. globulus, lavender L. angustifolia, lemon C. limonum, marjoram O. majorana, rosemary R. officinalis, and sweet orange C. sinensis.

Recommended Daily Use

Topical application:

Adults: Dilute 3 drops in 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of carrier oil or another safe diluent. Use this diluted preparation over a 24-hour period in 3 to 4 topical applications, or use the complete amount for one full bath.

Dilution ratio 1%.

Note: These dilution ratios are based on the conversion of 30 drops of essential oil = 1ml.

Inhalation:

Adults: Inhaled via a diffuser. Note: When diffusing, don't exceed 30-minute intervals and diffuse in well-ventilated areas.

If any adverse reactions occur, discontinue use and consult with a physician.

Cautions & Contrai ndications

Peppermint essential oil is on the FDA substances that are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list and Substances Added to Food list. 74

Peppermint essential oil may cause contact dermatitis so a skin patch test is recommended. Do not use it directly on damaged or sensitive skin without a skin patch test. Do not use peppermint with children younger than two years as it can cause a frightening cold then hot sensation if the dilution is not low enough. In amounts higher

74 Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS). Accessdata.fda.gov. Retrieved 14 July 2020, from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fdcc/?set=FoodSubstances&sort=Sortterm&order=ASC&startrow=1&t ype=basic&search=Melissa%20officinalis%20.

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than the recommended daily use, peppermint M. ×piperita oil has been known to cause allergic reactions in the mouth, neck, and throat.

Anyone with a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency should avoid peppermint oil via any administrative route as it may impact red blood cell activity. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a condition in which red blood cells break down when the body is exposed to certain drugs or the stress of infection. It is hereditary, so is passed down in families. 75 76

Anyone with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should avoid peppermint essential oil orally (and potentially topically), as it may aggravate the condition. 77

Topically for adults, use peppermint for a limited time only (i.e., no more than three consecutive weeks) and keep at a 1% dilution. Do not get it in your eyes. If you wipe your eye by mistake after handling peppermint M. ×piperita, flush copiously with cold water or milk. It will not cause permanent damage.

ACHS Toxic Rating

The American College of Healthcare Sciences toxic rating is II.

Formula

Migraine Rub

Chamomile Roman Chamaemelum nobile oil: 10 drops Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus oil: 10 drops Lemon Citrus limonum oil: 10 drops Peppermint Mentha ×piperita oil: 10 drops Sweet almond oil: 2 tablespoons

(2% dilution ratio)

Blend the essential oils with the sweet almond oil in a small glass bowl and apply one teaspoon to shoulders, neck, and temples. Not to be used on children younger than ten.

75 Olowe SA, Ransome-Kuti O. The risk of jaundice in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient babies exposed to menthol. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1980;69(3):341 –345. doi:10.1111/j.1651 -2227.1980.tb07090.x 76 Deficiency, G. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 14 July 2020, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000528.htm. 77 Jarosz, M., & Taraszewska, A. (2014). Risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease: the role of diet. Przeglad gastroenterologiczny, 9(5), 297–301. doi:10.5114/pg.2014.46166

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