Peppermint Perks

When we think of peppermint, most Americans think of candy canes or after dinner breath fresheners… but did you know that following a meal with peppermint has been a regular practice since Ancient Egypt? In fact, peppermint leaves have been found in Egyptian ruins dating back to 1000 B.C.

The ancient Greeks and Romans valued it as a stomach soother, and to this day, Herbalists, and Gastroenterologists use Peppermint to target gas, bloating & indigestion.

Studies demonstrate peppermint’s ability to relax the tone of the digestive system, reduce smooth muscle (digestive muscle) contractions and spasms, and ease pain - both topically as well as in the GI tract, particularly in the colon. Peppermint oil also reduces transit time (how quickly food moves through your body) which is linked to reduced digestive symptoms.

Bioactive Compounds

Mentha piperita leaves contain phenols such as:

rosmarinic acid 

(a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with cardiovascular and cellular protective benefits)

and other flavonoids including

eriocitrin 

(metabolically beneficial for sugar metabolism and diabetes prevention as well as antioxidant, anti tumor, and antiviral support)

luteolin 

(helpful with brain fog, neuro protection and memory increase)

and 

hesperidin (supports healthy blood vessels and decreases inflammation)

The essential oil also contains the volatile components Menthol and menthone.

In addition to antioxidant and anti inflammatory activities, Peppermint possesses antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial properties with both oral and topical preparations.

The Skin-ny

Having worked in Dermatology for over 11 years, I’ve successfully used menthol preparations for:

• Itch: Easily found in your drugstore or supermarket pharmacy aisle, products such as Sarna contain menthol for anti-itch analgesia. When I first started out in the field, my supervising physician would tell patients that the tingling effect of the menthol “confused” the itch and pain receptors… and while it might not provide the exact scientific explanation, I continued to use it in clinic because it really made it relatable and understandable. Bottom line… it works! Just make sure you don’t use it for itch associated with eczema as peppermint can also act as a skin sensitizer in conditions where the skin barrier is depleted.

• Viral Skin Conditions: In my experience, topical application with menthol containing compounds ameliorate viral infections such as recurrent herpes outbreaks or Pityriasis Rosea. I believe this is in part to the antiviral as well as analgesic properties found in Peppermint constituents.

• Post Viral Skin Conditions: Such as post-herpetic neuralgia due to it’s recognized analgesic properties.

• Fungal Diaper rashes: Diaper rashes can be caused by a series of instigators. One aggravating cause is the damp, enclosed environment we create when trying to seal in those bodily excretions. In doing so, we can also often create irritation from friction, and abrasion, in an already sensitive environment of barrier breakdown. When diaper dermatitis is of a candidal nature, the antifungal and antimicrobial properties of peppermint compounds can be helpful when combined with a barrier cream like Aquaphor; however, if the skin barrier is broken down and inconsistent, peppermint can actually act as a skin sensitizer and prove quite uncomfortable for the individual.

• Hair Loss: Peppermint oil has been shown to be as effective as minoxidil in animal models. Studies demonstrated an increase in dermal thickness, follicle number , follicle depth, and growth as well as thickness / density of hair over the course of 4 weeks of topical application when compared to 3 other randomized experimental groups (1, being a control). It’s important to remember that minoxidil does not work for everyone, as the cause and type of hair loss needs to be taken into account. Nonetheless, topical application restricted to the scalp is a safe and potentially effective natural use.

  Belly Balancing
  

  
  Several clinical trials examining the effects of peppermint oil on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms have been conducted demonstrating antispasmodic actions as well as analgesic actions - acting on specific pain receptors identified in the colon.

  I use this regularly with my Nutritional therapy clients who suffer from bloat, indigestion, nausea, or stomach pains while we are working to balance their intestinal flora and get their gut working more efficiently. My clients notice immediate relief with the concentrated pill form or easily accessible after meal teas. Some enjoy it so much, they grow their own (it’s an easy window sill plant if you don’t have room for a garden!)
  

  Caution Advised

  
  What happens when plant medicine works too well?

  As with any bioactive compounds, peppermint does not come without side effects. It’s ability to relax smooth muscle reduces sphincter pressure and can aggravate reflux in individuals with GERD or hiatal hernia.
  Caution should also be exercised in individuals with a history of kidney stones.

If you’re interested in putting peppermint to the test, the easiest way to start is to let a cup of peppermint tea (easily found at the supermarket - my favorite brands for quality and effectiveness are “Yogi Tea” or “Traditional Medicinals”) steep when you sit down to eat a meal. By the time you’re finished, the compounds should be well integrated with the water and your tea should be cooled off enough to drink… and ENJOY!