Digging Deeper: Peppermint Essential Oil

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Who’s ready to dig deeper into Peppermint?

Unless otherwise noted, the information provided comes from the appropriate product pages at Witchy Gypsy Oils. Please visit these pages by clicking on the pictures for more details and ordering information.

I’m about to hit you with a ton of information, but hang in there! At the very end I’ve added recipe and DIY videos.


Peppermint oil
(Mentha piperita)

The majority of Young Living Peppermint essential oil comes from the U.S.

Peppermint is originally from Europe, but 75 percent of the world’s supply is now grown in the United States. To produce one of Young Living’s most popular oils, we look to several farms, including the Young Living Lavender Farm and Distillery in Mona, Utah. One 15 ml bottle of Peppermint essential oil is created by steam distilling 1 pound of the leaves and flowering tops of the peppermint plant.

Peppermint Vitality essential oil has a bright, cool flavor that is instantly recognizable. Beyond being a brisk addition to water during workouts or to herbal tea after a day on the slopes, Peppermint Vitality can also support healthy digestive function and gastrointestinal comfort


History and Folklore

The genus name Mentha comes from Minthe, a nymph in Greek mythology beloved by Hades, who was transformed into the mint plant by his jealous wife Persephone [6]. Pliny describes peppermint as a common head wreath, table decoration, and flavoring agent for wines and sauces at Greek and Roman feasts. There is evidence of peppermint cultivation by the Egyptians, and it is mentioned in 13th-century Icelandic pharmacopeias, although it did not come into general medical use until the 18th-century in England. Mint was a popular medieval flavoring for whiskey in Scotland.

Magical Attributes

Nicholas Culpeper associated all mint plants with the planet Venus. Other sources associate peppermint with the signs Virgo or Aquarius, and the element of air.

Household Use

A jar of mint kept in the house freshens the air and keeps flies and mice away. Traditional folk belief holds that a sprig of mint placed in milk will keep it from souring and that if crushed mint is rubbed on a new beehive it will keep the bees from deserting.

Healing Attributes

Peppermint has a long history as a digestive tonic. It relieves nausea, gas, stomach cramps and spasms, and is a recognized treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Peppermint may be applied directly to bee stings, burns, and even toothaches to relieve pain, and peppermint infusions or compresses relieve headaches.

Sourced from https://witchipedia.com/book-of-shadows/herblore/peppermint/


Our Favorite Family Uses:

  • Applying to pulse points or the back of the neck for a quick cool down on hot days.
  • Adding a few drops to any brownie mix for a fun treat.
  • On the back of the neck to ease tension.
  • Rubbed onto our tummies after a full meal.
  • On the back of the neck to bring back focus when things start spinning out of control.

We never leave home without this oil. It is one of the handful of oils that lives in my purse or my Bee-Prepared bag. A word of caution, if you get this in your eyes…rinse with milk. Also, large amounts of this oil, undiluted on the skin, can be quite uncomfortable. I accidentally had this bottle leak onto my sheets one time without realizing it, and I thought my butt was going to simultaneously burn and freeze off!

It is also one of the oils that has the additional power of kind words associated with it. When I was falling apart, my kids used to drip this and two other oils on my neck, repeating over and over their belief in me, in love, in life, in our family. Now whenever I smell peppermint, all of that trust and love and strength comes back to me. Smell is a powerful thing.


AROMATIC PROFILE
From the bottle: Refreshing, cool, minty, herbal aroma.

FEATURES & BENEFITS

Topical and AromaticDietaryKey Constituents
Cools fatigued muscles after physical activity

Produces a focused environment when diffused

Provides a refreshing experience when mixed with your favorite shampoo or when applied to skin after a warm day in the sun

Creates an invigorating and refreshing experience when inhaled
Supports gastrointestinal system comfort

Enhances healthy gut function

Maintains efficiency of the digestive tract

May support performance during exercise

Reduces feelings of discomfort after large meals

Provides a refreshing, minty flavor to food and beverages
Menthol

Menthone

Menthofuran

1.8-Cineole (Eucalyptol)

Isomenthone

Neomenthol

Menthyl acetate

WHERE TO DIFFUSE

  • Put focus first in study areas with this crisp, cool aroma.
  • Wake up shared family spaces first thing in the morning by infusing them with this icy scent.
  • Refresh your cooldown space after a vigorous workout with its chilling fragrance.

APPLICATIONS for Peppermint

  • Diffuse Peppermint while working or around kids while doing their homework for an environment that is focused and energized.
  • Add Peppermint to hot bathwater and enjoy the revitalizing scent and soothing aromatic steam.
  • Inhale or apply it to your chest before and during a tough workout for a stimulating scent.
  • Apply it topically to fatigued areas following physical activity for a cooling sensation.

APPLICATIONS for Peppermint Vitality

  • Add Peppermint Vitality to your daily dietary supplements for overall support to a healthy digestive system.
  • Include a drop in a glass of cool water for a refreshing start to your morning and to enhance healthy gut function.
  • Blend Peppermint Vitality with your pre-workout drink for an energizing start and to help support performance during exercise; wind down after your workout with a mint-infused chocolate or vanilla protein shake.
  • Use it in baking and other desserts for a refreshing, minty flavor.

CAUTIONS: Keep out of reach of children. For external use only. Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult a health professional prior to use. Not intended for use on infants.

Peppermint is one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion. Jean Valnet, MD, studied peppermint’s effect on th eliver and respiratory systems. Alan Hirsh, MD, studied peppermint’s ability to directly affect the brain’s satiety center (the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus), which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals. A highly regarded digestive stimulant.

Medical Properties: Anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antiparasitic (worms), antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, gallbladder/digestive stimulant, pain relieving, curbs appetite

Uses: Rheumatism/arthritis, respiratory infections (pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc.), obesity, viral infections (herpes simplex, herpes zoster, cold sores, human papilloma virus, etc.), fungal infections/candida, digestive problems, headaches, nausea, skin conditions (itchy skin, varicose veins, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis), scoliosis/lumbago/back problems

Fragrant Influence: Purifying and stimulating to the conscious mind. Research indicates that peppermint aroma, inhaled during mental tasks, may help attention, performance, and focus (Barker, et al., 2003). Peppermint may also be an effective appetite suppressant when inhaled (Hirsch and Gomez, 1995). University of Kiel researchers found that peppermint lessened headache pain in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.

Excerpted from The Essential Oils Desk Reference, 7th Edition, p121-122


You made it! Time for the fun stuff. Videos!

Recipes

DIY


Thank you for digging deeper into Peppermint with me. I am very passionate about herbs, oils, and the education of their uses.

Please remember that essential oils are very concentrated products and should never be ingested unless specifically labeled for such use.

If you are not already a member of Witchy Gypsy Oils, you can find out more information about the benefits and sign up by clicking HERE.

Also, be on the look out for future posts in this Digging Deeper Series. A great way to stay in touch is to hit the Follow button at the bottom of the page.

Finally, the obligatory disclaimer.

I am not a doctor. None of the statements included in this post have been approved by the FDA or any other cool acronym known agency. It is Young Living’s official stance that they and these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any specific disease or illness. Young Living Independent Distributor #14632733

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