Peppermint

Peppermint is a plant in the mint family. The leaf and oil are used as medicine.

Peppermint oil is used for a long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS). It is also used for indigestion (dyspepsia), spasms in the bowel, cracked nipples, bed sores (pressure ulcers), and tension headache. It is also used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.

In foods and beverages, peppermint is a common flavoring agent.

In manufacturing, peppermint oil is used as a fragrance in soaps and cosmetics, and as a flavoring agent in pharmaceuticals.

Peppermint oil seems to reduce spasms in the digestive tract. When applied to the skin, it can cause surface warmth, which relieves pain beneath the skin. It may also help to "cool" the skin and relieve itching.

When taken by mouth: Peppermint and peppermint oil are LIKELY SAFE. Peppermint leaf is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken for up to 8 weeks. The safety of using peppermint leaf for longer than 8 weeks is unknown. Peppermint can cause some side effects including heartburn, dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting.

When applied to the skin: Peppermint and peppermint oil are LIKELY SAFE when applied to the skin.

When given as an enema (rectally): Peppermint and peppermint oil are LIKELY SAFE when used rectally.

When inhaled: Peppermint oil is POSSIBLY SAFE when inhaled as part of aromatherapy.

When applied into the nose: There isn't enough reliable information to know if peppermint is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

• For a long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS): One to two enteric-coated capsules each providing 0.2 mL or 180-225 mg of peppermint oil three times daily has been used. Most trials have used specific peppermint oil products (Colpermin by Tillotts Pharma; Mintoil by Cadigroup; IBgard by IM HealthScience).
• For indigestion (dyspepsia): A specific product containing 90 mg of peppermint oil and 50 mg of caraway oil (Enteroplant or Menthacarin by Dr Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals), taken two or three times daily for up to 4 weeks has been used. A specific combination product containing peppermint leaf and several other herbs (Iberogast by Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH) has been used in a dose of 1 mL three times daily. A similar herbal preparation containing extracts from clown's mustard, German chamomile flower, peppermint leaves, caraway, licorice root, and lemon balm (STW 5-II by Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH), 1 mL taken three times daily for up to 8 weeks, has been used.
• For side effects caused by a certain procedure (endoscopy) used to view the inside of the body: Enteric-coated capsules containing 187 mg of 0.2 mL of peppermint oil have been taken 4 hours before a colonoscopy.

• For cracked nipples: Peppermint oil cream or gel 0.2% has been applied 1-3 times every day for 2 weeks. Also, a solution containing peppermint oil has been applied after every breastfeeding for 2 weeks.
• For side effects caused by a certain procedure (endoscopy) used to view the inside of the body: 20 mL of spray containing 0.4-1.6% peppermint oil applied to the antrum during endoscopy has been used. Also 16-40 mL of solution containing peppermint oil has been applied into the lumen during endoscopy.
• For bed sores (pressure ulcers): A gel containing peppermint oil 0.2% applied three times daily for up to 14 days has been used.
• For tension headaches: 10% peppermint oil in ethanol solution applied across the forehead and temples, repeated after 15 and 30 minutes, has been used.

• For relaxing the colon during a barium enema examination: 8 mL of peppermint oil was added to 100 mL water along with a surface active agent, Tween 80. The insoluble fraction was removed, then 30 mL of the remaining peppermint solution was added to 300 mL of the barium solution. Also, 16 mL of peppermint oil and 0.4 mL of polysorbate was diluted in 2 liters of purified water, then 30 mL of the peppermint solution was added to barium paste suspended in 370 mL of water in an enema bag, and 10 mL of the peppermint solution was added to the enema tubing.

• For a long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS): One or two enteric-coated capsules containing 0.2 mL of peppermint oil per capsule (Colpermin by Tillotts Pharma) has been taken three times daily for 2 weeks by children aged 8 years and older.

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