Lavender, lemon, and peppermint essential oils are some of my favorite oils, but peppermint oil seems to be the one I always resort to for almost everything. That’s why I decided to share with you a list of 20 common peppermint oil uses and their benefits.
Peppermint oil is one of the most versatile essential oils out there. It can be used aromatically, topically, and internally to address many health concerns, to low energy and digestive complaints.
In the past few years, I have been using essential oils in different ways. I use them as ingredients for homemade cleaners, diffuse them for aromatherapy, and apply them topically (or even ingest them) to treat common ailments.
Peppermint Oil Properties, Uses, and Benefits
Because of its many properties, peppermint oil is one of the most versatile essential oils out there. It can be used around the house to clean, deodorize, and even repel critters.
Its health benefits are many, from relieving sore muscles to treating seasonal allergy symptoms and digestive ailments. Peppermint oil can improve hair and skin health, and it’s also used as a mood and energy booster.
These are some of the properties of peppermint oil:
- Decongestant
- Expectorant
- Analgesic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antispasmodic
- Stimulant
- Deodorizer
- Refreshing
Below are 20 ways you can use peppermint oil and benefit from it.
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. For more information, please read my Affiliates Disclosure.
1. Repel Bugs and Deter Critters
Lucky for us, bugs hate the smell of peppermint oil. Spray peppermint oil around your home to repel ants, spiders, mosquitoes, roaches, ticks, and even mice.
You can also apply peppermint oil directly on the skin as a natural bug repeller. If you have sensitive skin, you can use a carrier oil.
2. Control Odors
For odor control at home, soak a cotton ball with peppermint oil and drop it at the bottom of your garbage pail.
One of the many uses of peppermint oil is making your own air freshener. Just mix it with distilled water, pour in a spray bottle, and spray liberally in the air.
3. Clean Countertops
Peppermint oil is a natural antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiviral. Spray it over countertops, especially in bathrooms, and kitchens.
Make your own homemade countertop cleaner with essential oils, water, alcohol, and vinegar. This cleaner is also great for a streak-free shine on mirrors and windows.
4. Relax Your Muscles
Peppermint oil is a natural painkiller and muscle relaxant. Massage sore muscles after a long day or after a workout. Add some drops of peppermint oil to a small tub with hot water, and relieve painful and tired feet after a long day walking or standing.
Peppermint and lavender oils combined can help your body relax. You can either diffuse them for aromatherapy or add a few drops to a bubble bath.
5. Treat Digestive Ailments
Another great benefit of peppermint oil is its antispasmodic properties. It promotes healthy intestinal functions as it supports normal digestion when ingested.
Treat constipation by massaging peppermint essential oil around the belly button.
6. Alleviate Headaches
Probably one of the ways I use peppermint oil the most is to treat headaches. Apply 2-3 drops of peppermint oil in your temples and back of the neck to relieve tension headaches.
7. Treat Your Skin
Peppermint oil is known for reducing fat production, making it a good fit to treat skin ailments such as acne and cellulite. Add some drops of peppermint oil to your shower, scrub, and massage over areas affected with cellulite.
To reduce the pressure of a ‘pounding headache,’ mix 3 drops of peppermint oil with a carrier oil, massage the scalp and cover your head with a wet towel for 5 minutes.
Another great benefit of peppermint oil is that it can also relieve itchiness. Just add a few drops on the area of concern 2-3 times daily. If you have sensitive skin, mix in a 1:1 ratio with a carrier oil.
8. Improve Hair Health
Peppermint oil has great benefits on hair and skin. Some studies have proven that it can prevent and reduce hair loss.
Adding peppermint oil to your shampoo and conditioner helps stimulate the scalp to promote hair growth. As a bonus, it can also reduce dandruff and kill lice!
9. Cool a Fever
Rubbing the bottom of the feet and the back of the neck with a couple of drops of peppermint oil can cool down a fever.
Add 3 drops of peppermint essential oil to a cold damp washcloth. Fold, and place over the forehead to cool down a fever.
10. Treat Seasonal Allergies
A great benefit of inhaling peppermint oil is that it can clear out pollen from the respiratory tract. Treat seasonal allergies by diffusing and inhaling a mixture of peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemon essential oils.
You can also add a few drops of these oils in a small tub with steaming hot water and inhale the vapors. This will help unclog your sinuses and can also relieve an itchy throat.
11. Boost Your Energy
Inhaling peppermint oil is a natural way to boost your energy levels. For a quick ‘pick-me-up,’ inhale 1-2 times directly from the bottle.
Peppermint oil can be used to enhance physical performance. Inhale or diffuse during or after a workout so you can reduce fatigue and improve blood circulation.
12. Stay Focused and Alert
The cooling and invigorating aroma of peppermint oil can help you stay focused and alert when you need it the most. Inhale or diffuse a few drops in your home office when you are reading, writing, or even filing paperwork.
Diffusing peppermint oil inside your car can keep you alert when driving, especially at the end of the day, when you’re tired and groggy.
13. Reduce Nausea
A few drops of peppermint essential oil applied behind the ears will reduce nausea. This trick is particularly useful when traveling by boat or after rollercoaster rides at theme parks!
14. Prevent and Alleviate Sunburn
This health benefit of peppermint oil might surprise you, but studies show that peppermint oil has a high SPF.
It can also relieve pain caused by sunburn while promoting skin renewal because it hydrates the skin. Mix 2-3 drops of peppermint oil with a carrier oil or aloe vera gel to make your own homemade sunburn relief gel.
15. Fight Hunger
The rich aroma of peppermint oil makes you feel full. If you are hungry, but it is not the time for a meal just yet, inhale some peppermint oil, or even chew peppermint-flavored gum!
16. Use as an Expectorant
One of the great health benefits of peppermint oil is that it acts as an expectorant. Peppermint oil helps clear mucus and reduce congestion. It’s great for colds, sinusitis, the flu, cough, and other respiratory conditions.
17. Relieve Menstrual Cramps.
Menstrual cramps are spams caused by the uterus -which is a muscle- contracting and expanding. The analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties of peppermint oil can relieve inflammation and pain.
Mix a few drops of lavender and peppermint oils with a carrier oil, rub over the abdomen, and place a warm towel over it. Cramps will be gone!
18. Freshen Your Breath
Peppermint oil has been used to freshen breath for thousands of years. Add a drop of food-grade peppermint oil under your tongue and drink a glass of water for a quick breath refresh.
Another way to use peppermint oil for your health’s benefit is to add a drop on the toothbrush before adding regular store-bought toothpaste to boost the anti-cavity properties.
19. Relieve a Toothache
Because peppermint oil is a natural muscle relaxant and has many analgesic properties, it’s particularly good to relieve pain in your sore mouth. Rub some food-grade peppermint oil in your gums to relieve pain associated with dental work.
20. Relieve Joint Pain
The natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of peppermint oil can help alleviate joint pain, numbness,and stiffness.
You can apply 2–3 drops directly on the painful joint three times daily. A warm bath with Epsom salt and peppermint oil can also help reduce joint and muscle pain.
Essential Oils Warnings
Whenever using peppermint essential oil or any other essential oils for that matter, please always follow label instructions and indications.
Here are some warnings:
- Use essential oils and all products made with them, only for their intended purpose.
- Do not ingest essential oils unless the label says it’s ok to do so.
- If you make household products, be sure that they are used and stored out of reach from children and pets.
For more info on regarding essential oils and its warning, click here.
Do you use essential oils? Which one is your favorite and why?
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