Peppermint oil has medicinal uses and practiced by different cultures all over the world. The essential oils are accumulated by steam distillation of the elevated fresh part of the plant. Modern science recognizes the quality of it due to the high concentration of menthol found in the essential oil. peppermint is an old European herb. The health remedies of peppermint oil has been documented back in 1000 B.C and it is found in many Egyptian pyramids. Peppermint offers many benefits including asthma, cough and cold, allergies etc.
Here Are 7 Benefits Of Peppermint Oil.
1. Reduces Headache:
If you feel that migraine is coming on and you want to try a natural way to get relief then you might choose peppermint which has the proven ability to relax tense muscle by improve circulation. The oil is a great source to reduce the migraine pain. A researcher’s study at the Neurological clinic of Kiel found that a combination of oils along with peppermint oil had noticeable analgesic effect that reduces the sensitivity to headaches.
2. Relieves IBS Symptoms:
Peppermint capsules are the drug of choice in IBS(Irritable Bowel Syndrom) patients. It has proven to be effective in symptoms of IBS. Study found that peppermint is effective in case of patients with small intestinal bacteria growth, celiac disease or lactose intolerance that might have symptoms similar to IBS. Peppermint oil was found to be superior in improving abdominal pain.
3. Relieves Muscle Pain:
Peppermint is a very effective natural muscle relaxant and painkiller. It helps in soothing sore muscles. Peppermint oil provides pain relief benefits associated with Fibromyalgia. Study found that peppermint oil along with menthol, eucalyptus and capsaicin are helpful in reducing pain.
4. Inhibits Cancer Growth:
There exist enough research studies on peppermint. It provides anti cancer benefits due to its phytochemical content. Peppermint had cytotoxic effects against cancer cells. Clinical study shows that peppermint includes menthol which inhibits the growth of prostate cancer. It protects against radiation induced DNA cell damage.
5. Repel Bugs:
Essential oils act as bug repellent. A study in Israel compared 7 commercial bug repellents. It showed that the efficacy of peppermint oil decreases after 150 minutes and thus needed to apply again. Peppermint is an effective and economical insect repellent. It is particularly useful for mosquitoes, flies and ants. Peppermint oil can be a good option if you want to avoid chemicals as bug repellent.
6. Freshens Breath:
Those who have problem of bad breath can undoubtedly go for peppermint. Peppermint has been used to naturally freshen breath for over 1000 years. Bad breath can be a mood killer and annoying. According to studies peppermint oil performed better than chemical chlorhexidine at reducing cavity. One can make homemade mouth wash by adding few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water. This freshens the breath. Peppermint mouth wash can reduce halitosis which is a common problem among general population.
7. Helps Grow Hair:
Hair loss is a problem of many people for both male and females. Hair is a part of our identity. A natural and herbal way to encourage hair growth is all that people look for. Peppermint oil has been used in many hair care products. Peppermint oil can nourish damaged hair naturally. One can use it simply by adding peppermint oil to the regular shampoo. Homemade mint shampoo can be used to help stop hair thinning and other hair problems.
