Peppermint Oil

Peppermint Oil

What is it?

• Peppermint is a member of the mint family. It is a cross between watermint and spearmint.

How does it work in the body?

• Peppermint allows for the muscles in the stomach to relax which can then better the passage of bile, and thereby increase the flow of food through the stomach. This process aids in reducing indigestion, flatulence, and bloating.

• A key active component of peppermint, menthol, can break up mucus and help with congestion.

What is it used for?

• Enteric-coated peppermint capsules can be beneficial to lessen side effects for patients suffering from IBS. In other words, supplementation can be beneficial for those experiencing stomach pain, flatus, bloating, or irregular bowel movements. Peppermint oil relieves these symptoms as it can "reduce stimulated motor activity".

• Peppermint oil can be used to relieve the itching or burning on the skin from hives and/or poison ivy. Peppermint oil can be used as a decongestant and expectorant with ointment or rubs.

• Peppermint oil can also be used as a treatment for nausea.

Dosage:

• There is no clear dosage for peppermint oil; however, multiple studies have shown improvement in IBS symptoms with the following dosages:

• 200 mg 3x daily for 1 month. 187 mg 3-4 times daily for 1 month.

• 225 mg 2x daily for 1 month.

Evidence for or against its different uses:

• IBS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in 2018 that looked at the use of peppermint oil with the treatment of irritable bowel syn-drome. Four trials compared the use of peppermint oil with a placebo for the treatment of symptoms associated with IBS. It was concluded that peppermint oil was more effective than the placebo in relieving IBS symptoms.

• Nausea: A pretest and post-test research study by Lane et al. studied the effect of peppermint spirits/aromatherapy (combination of peppermint and aromatic ethyl alcohol base) on nausea.

• Participants rated their levels of nausea and it was found that peppermint aromatherapy can be an effective addition to the treatment of nausea.

Safety concerns/side effects/precautions:

• Peppermint oil should be avoided in those with GERD as it can relax the lower esophageal sphincter and allow for acid to flow back into the stomach which can worsen GERD symptoms. If the non-enteric-coated capsules are ingested, this may lead to heartburn.

• Pure menthol is poisonous and large doses of peppermint oil can be dangerous.

Interactions with medication

• Peppermint oil should be avoided when taking cyclosporine, as it can slow the breakdown in the body.

• Antacids should be taken separately (-2 h). With less stomach acid, the peppermint capsules could dissolve in the stomach instead of the intestines. As a result, the peppermint would have a lessened effect.

• Other interactions with peppermint and medications have only been proven in test tube or animal studies. Further research before providing actual claims is needed.