Peppermint Oil
This fact sheet provides basic information about peppermint
oil—common names, what the science says, potential side effects and cautions, and resources for more information.
The herb peppermint, a cross between two types of mint (water mint and spearmint), grows throughout Europe and North America.
Peppermint is often used to flavor foods, and the leaves can be used fresh or dried in teas. Today, peppermint oil is used as a folk or traditional remedy for nausea, indigestion, cold symptoms, headaches, muscle and nerve pain, stomach problems, and bowel conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Essential
oil of peppermint may be found in very small doses in capsule or liquid forms. The essential oil can also be diluted with another oil and applied to the skin.
Results from several studies suggest that peppermint oil may improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
A few studies have found that peppermint oil, in combination with caraway oil, may help relieve indigestion, but this evidence is preliminary.
Although there are some promising results, there is no clear-cut evidence to support the use of peppermint oil for other health conditions.