Essential Oil of the Week: Peppermint Essential Oil
- PAmela Sloop
- Aug 6
- 4 min read
If there is an essential oil that could be considered a powerhouse, I think it would be peppermint oil. Peppermint is very widely known and used all around the world. It is one of the oldest herbs used for medicinal purposes, even being mentioned in Greek mythology. Peppermint oil is made from a hybrid species of spearmint and water mint, gathered by CO2 or cold expression from the fresh aerial part of the plants.
Versatile peppermint oil can be used aromatically, topically or internally (should not be used internally without consulting your own healthcare provider) for numerous health issues. It has very strong anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. It has powerful antioxidant properties, anti-allergenic properties, pain killing effects, and can help relax the gastro-intestinal tract. Some lab studies are even indicating that peppermint may have promise as an anticancer agent (“Top 15 peppermint Oil Uses and Benefits for Gut Health, Headaches and More.” Axe, J, online, 2024).
One of the goals that I had in mind when I started this blog was to try to find things that were beneficial to menopausal women and women as they age. Look over this list of common uses for peppermint and you will see why it can be very helpful to everyone, but women in this age group in particular:
Peppermint essential oil is good for pain. It can help relieve joint pain and relax muscles, making it good for muscle tension headaches. Mix the oil with a carrier such as coconut or jojoba oil and massage it onto your temples. You could also drop 5 drops into an Epsom salt warm bath to ease joint pain. Peppermint and lavender oil in the diffuser can help muscles relax as well!
Peppermint essential oil is good for allergy relief and sinus congestion. Put it in the diffuser to open stuffy airways and nasal passages. Mixed with coconut oil and eucalyptus, it makes a homemade vapor rub that you can apply to your temples, neck and chest.
Peppermint oil can help your mood. If you are feeling anxious, stressed or down, peppermint essential oil’s uplifting aroma can make you feel better. It has been shown to reduce anxiety levels, and this is something that often plagues women as they go through menopause. Diffuse it, put a few drops in a warm bath or apply diluted peppermint to your pulse points.
Peppermint oil can increase energy and enhance exercise performance. It may also improve focus, alertness and memory. It has an invigorating scent that stimulates your mind and enhances your alertness. Use a diffuser or put the diluted oil on pulse points.
Helps with hair growth, reducing dandruff and reducing itchy scalp. Peppermint is found in a lot of shampoos and hair products because it can naturally thicken hair, stimulate your scalp and repair damaged strands. It has menthol as a component which is an antiseptic, helping to remove any build-up of germs. You can buy peppermint in hair products or just add a few drops to the shampoo and conditioner that you have.
Peppermint essential oil can help you lose weight (weight gain is another plague of aging and menopause)! Inhaling the scent of peppermint essential oil can help curb cravings, decrease appetite and promote a feeling of fullness. It can stimulate certain receptors in your brain that are associated with appetite regulation. Try diffusing in your kitchen when you are fixing meals. Some people add a drop to water or tea as well, but you should NEVER ingest peppermint or any other essential oils without the express permission of your healthcare provider.
Peppermint is good for dry itchy skin. Research has shown that the menthol in peppermint essential oil inhibits itching. Five drops in your warm bath, mixed in with your lotion or mixed with a carrier oil such as sesame oil can quiet down the itch from dry skin.
Peppermint repels bugs and critters naturally. Most little critters like ants, spiders, cockroaches and mosquitoes hate the smell of peppermint. It may even be effective for mice and ticks as well. I found out from personal experience it works perfectly to get rid of gnats. Sometimes in the spring we have gnats in the house. Nothing, and I mean nothing, that I bought worked to get rid of them, but peppermint in the diffuser works like a charm and it smells good too.
Peppermint helps with hot flashes. Peppermint essential oil can be a must have in your repertoire if you feel like a furnace because of hot flashes and night sweats. It has serious cooling properties and can be diluted with water and used as a spritzer or put in a portable inhaler. It is also be mixed with a carrier oil and applied to the abdomen for relieving pain from menstrual cramps.
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most versatile and useful essential oils around and can be very helpful in many of the conditions that plague menopausal and senior women. There are many, many more conditions that it is used to treat, too many to even list here. Peppermint essential oil is generally considered very safe, but as with any essential oils there are some precautions. Peppermint essential oil is very strong so care should be taken not to apply directly to the skin without dilution. It should never be taken internally without first consulting your own healthcare provider; it can interact with certain medications.
If you are interested in trying peppermint essential oil, my own favorite source is Aromatics International. I know that the quality is good, they use environmentally sustainable practices, and they have excellent customer service AND they are female founded. Here is the link to check out:
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