How to Use Peppermint Oil Topically

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is a flowering member of the mint family. Peppermint oil is actually a combination of several oils extracted from the stem, leaf and flower of the plant. It is often used as a home remedy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headaches and dyspepsia. Applied topically, it eases headaches, rashes, cold symptoms and tense muscles.

Instructions

1. Apply 3 to 4 drops of peppermint oil to a damp cloth and apply to the forehead to treat headaches. The few studies done on this approach have been small, so the amount and timing have not been unambiguously established.

2. Treat skin irritations caused by poison ivy, poison oak and hives with peppermint oil for a cooling and soothing effect. Dilute to 20 percent or less with a carrier oil before applying broadly over the rash.

3. Apply peppermint oil to the chest to treat symptoms of colds and influenza. The menthol in the oil soothes dry coughs and thins mucus to promote breathing. Dilute to 20 percent or less with a carrier oil before application.

4. Massage into muscles after exercise to help them loosen. Dilute to 20 percent or less with a carrier oil before application.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid peppermint oil if you have severe gastroesophageal reflux, a hiatal hernia or a gallbladder disorder. Pregnant and lactating women should consult a doctor before application. To avoid skin irritation, be sure to dilute it before topical application, since it is usually packaged pure.

• Do not take peppermint oil internally. Its effect on muscles is to loosen them. In the upper GI tract, this effect can cause acid reflux.

References

• U. of Maryland Medical: Peppermint
• Peppermint Oil May Relieve Digestive Symptoms, Headaches
• Family Practice Notebook: When to Use and Not to Use

Resources

• Ratings of Evidence of Effectivenessfor Various Pharmacological Applications
• Pure Health MD: Peppermint Oil