According to mythology, when Pluto professed his love for Mentha, Pluto’s jealous wife crushed Mentha into the ground. Unable to restore her, Pluto transformed her into a peppermint plant that would give beautiful fragrance whenever stepped upon again.
For centuries, therapeutic-grade peppermint has been used to soothe digestive difficulties, freshen breath, and to help with headaches. Recent research has also indicated that peppermint oil may be useful in combating the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)[1], and may help protect the body from oxidative damage caused by exposure to radiation[2].
Peppermint’s minty fragrance is said to be purifying and stimulating to the mind.
And… it can be used to repel squirrels and rodents, read an interesting story here.
Young Living Peppermint
Medicinal Properties of Therapeutic Peppermint
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiparasitic
• Antibacterial
• Antifungal
• Pain-reliever
• Digestive aid
Fragrant Influence
Purifying and stimulating to the conscious mind. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati found that inhaling peppermint oil increased mental accuracy by 28%.
Testimonial
“I like to use my Young Living peppermint when I’m taking long intensive classes or for long drives to stay alert. I put 1 drop in an 8oz. glass of water and sip – very refreshing and perks me right up instantly!” ~ Evelyn Vincent
Alan Hirsch, MD researched peppermint’s stimulation of the brain’s satiety center (ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus) to curb appetite.
When peppermint is inhaled it has been shown to restore and improve sense of taste by stimulating the trigeminal nerve.
University of Kiel researchers found that peppermint blocked headache pain in a double-blind placebo controlled cross-over study.
Testimonial
“I have been using therapeutic-grade peppermint for over 20 years to reduce and eliminate discomfort from headache pain. I put ONLY one drop on my index finger, rub my two index fingers together and then carefully rub my index fingers on my temples and the base of my skull and neck. During which time my eyes are closed and I breathe deeply and relax. Within a couple of minutes my headache is gone. Since I get such fantastic results using peppermint I’ve replaced all other headache tablets with a single bottle of peppermint in my medicine cabinet and First Aid kit. I’ve found the results of peppermint to be much more dramatic, pleasant and faster. ~ Evelyn Vincent
Tip: keep peppermint away from eyes and do not rub your eyes with peppermint fingers.
Buy Young Living Peppermint at TheVeryEssence.com
Using Peppermint Essential Oil Safely
• Essential oils rich in menthol (such as peppermint) should not be used on the throat or neck area of children under 18 months of age.
• Peppermint should not be used on open wounds.
Layering
This technique consists of applying multiple oils one at a time (a couple of drops of each). For example, place marjoram over a sore muscle, massage gently until the area is dry, and then apply a second oil, such as peppermint, until the oil is absorbed and the skin is dry. Then layer on the third oil, such as basil, and continue massaging.
Cooking with food grade / therapeutic-grade Peppermint
Many food grade essential oils make excellent food flavorings. But keep in mind that they are so concentrated that only 1 – 2 drops of an essential oil is equivalent to a full bottle (1 – 2 oz. size) of dried herbs.
As a general rule, spice oils impart a far stronger flavor than citrus oils do. For strong spice oils (such as oregano, nutmeg, cinnamon, marjoram, tarragon, wintergreen, thyme, or basil), you can dip a toothpick into the bottle of essential oil and stir into the food (after cooking) with the toothpick.
The ‘toothpick’ method controls the amount of essential oil that is put into the food or beverage.
Some food grade essential oils that can be used as spices are: basil, cinnamon, clove, fennel, ginger, lemon, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, rosemary CT cineol, sage, spearmint, tarragon, coriander, grapefruit, mandarin, orange, wintergreen, black pepper, and thyme.
For recipes that serve 6 – 10 people, add 1 – 2 drops of an oil and stir in after cooking and just before serving, so the oil does not evaporate. Read More Tips for Cooking with Essential Oils.
General Food Grade Essential Oil Cooking Tips
• Ginger, cinnamon, clove or nutmeg can be added to spice up gingersnap cookies. Be sure to use the toothpick method described above!
• Lemon, orange or tangerine can be added to a plain sponge or bundt cake recipe. Be sure to use the toothpick method described above!
• Peppermint or spearmint can be added to chocolate cake, brownies, or frostings. Be sure to use the toothpick method described above!
• Nutmeg, cinnamon, clove or ginger can be used in pumpkin pie or spice cake recipes. Be sure to use the toothpick method described above!
• Oregano, marjoram, thyme or basil can be used in tomato sauces for spaghetti, pizza, and lasagna recipes. Be sure to use the toothpick method described above!
• Lemon, clove, orange, tangerine or peppermint can be added to enhance the flavor of puddings and fruit pies, Add 1-2 drops for 4-8 servings.
• Lavender can be added to a sugar cookie recipe or softened vanilla ice cream. Be sure to use the toothpick method described above!
• Lemon, orange, tangerine or peppermint can be added to water for a cool refreshing drink. Mix 7-10 drops of essential oil (4-8 drops if using peppermint) to 1 teaspoon of Blue Agave Nectar and add to a pitcher of col water, stir.
• Lavender, roman chamomile, orange, tangerine, lemon, peppermint or melissa can be used to make herbal teas. Mix 1 drop essential oil with 1 teaspoon of Blue Agave nectar or Honey, and stir into a cup of cooling hot water.
Remember: Young Living’s pure and natural therapeutic-grade / food grade essential oils are extremely potent – a tiny amount goes a very long way!
Young Living Peppermint Air Fresher
The benefits of using peppermint are incredible. It freshens the air and does not mask odors. Get scent without any harmful chemicals.
In a 14oz. spray bottle add water to 7/8 full
Add 12 drops of Young Living peppermint essential oil
Shake and spray to freshen kitchen, living room, bathroom, the office (terrific for the workplace or the study area!)
Tips: use a smaller bottle and fewer drops of peppermint to keep in the bathroom for quick freshening, and make a small bottle to keep in the car or at the office. A smaller bottle is also very handy for those smelly hotel rooms when traveling!
Resources
1. Rees WD, Evans BK, Rhodes J, 1979 Oct 6. “Treating irritable bowel syndrome with peppermint oil”, Br Med J., 2(6194):835-6.
2. Samarth RM, Panwar M, Kumar M, Kumar A, 2006 May. “Radioprotective influence of Mentha piperita (Linn) against gamma irradiation in mice: Antioxidant and radical scavenging activity”, Int J Radiat Biol., 82(5):331-7.
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