Many of us have had to face the harsh truth that there is no such thing as a magic, “cure-all” pill, but I think I discovered a solution that is pretty close: peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is one of the more versatile home remedies I have used, and it is usually one of the first I will recommend when an urgent remedy is needed. From headaches to bloated stomachs and even infections, peppermint oil is there for your aid.

Peppermint leaf contains menthol, an organic compound with strong anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. When found in the concentrated form of essential oil, peppermint can serve all these purposes and more!

Below I have listed the properties of peppermint oil that I have tested over my experiences, but I can guarantee there are many more:

Bloating: Bloating has many causes, i.e. indigestion, food sensitivity, over or undereating, thus making it difficult to immediately identify your bloating’s source and get rid of it. Luckily, peppermint oil helps to alleviate most digestive discomfort and pain by relaxing gut muscles. Although the oil is available in capsule form, I use the essential oil.

Recommendation: Add 1 to 2 drops food grade essential oil to one cup of water. Be prepared for its prominent, eye-watering scent; peppermint is very strong.

Acne: Acne is the result of inflammation, whether from stress, food, or other causes. You can check out this blog post to read about how I take care of my skin naturally, but in cases of the occasional pimple or acne, regular use of peppermint oil can expedite both the acne-clearing and skin-healing processes.

Recommendation: Dilute 1-2 drops peppermint with around 1 tsp carrier oil (i.e. coconut, almond, jojoba), adjusting the dilution based on how strong you would like the oil. Apply it to the area morning and night until the acne begins to clear.

Pain: Similar to bloating, bodily pain can be caused by a wide variety of factors including stress, poor diet, muscle strain, etc. However, the shared effect of these triggers is inflammation which results in pain. Application of peppermint oil invokes a cooling sensation that reduces inflammation and relaxes the muscles in the affected area. This is very effective for headaches as well!

Recommendation: Dilute 1-2 drops peppermint with around 1 tsp carrier oil (i.e. coconut, almond, jojoba), adjusting the dilution based on how strong you would like the oil. Apply to the affected area.

Infection: Due to the antibacterial and antiviral properties of peppermint oil, it is very useful in fighting both external and internal infections.

Recommendations: For internal infections, i.e. stomach infection, ingest diluted peppermint oil every 3 hours daily until the infection clears. For external, apply diluted peppermint oil to the affected area every 3 hours daily until the infection clears.

Sickness: Sickness, in the form of fever, coughs, colds, and congestion, again, has various causes that result from inflammation. Tackling the inflammation can help to alleviate sickness. Peppermint oil is especially effective in clearing congestion due to its cooling sensation.

Recommendations: For sickness, ingest diluted peppermint oil every 3 hours daily. For congestion and coughs, apply diluted peppermint around nasal passages and on the chest. You can also add peppermint oil to the heated water during steam inhalation or to an essential oil diffuser.

Stress: In today’s world, stress seems to be inescapable. Even if the cause of the stress cannot be solved, yet, the scent of peppermint oil interacts with your nervous system to calm your senses and improve your mood.  

Recommendation: You can utilize the aromatic properties of peppermint oil in many ways: essential oil diffuser, adding a few drops to a cloth and allowing the scent to diffuse, applying it on your body, or simply adding a few drops to a cup of hot water and leaving it in your room.

Due to the almost endless cures of peppermint oil, I always carry a dropper bottle of it wherever I go, making it a “purse staple”. The medicinal benefits of essential oils are not limited to peppermint but extend over hundreds of different formulas of essential oils. For those interested in the medicinal benefits of essential oils, stay tuned for my next blog post to learn about and maybe even choose which essential oil can become your staple medicinal oil.