The Medicinal Properties of Peppermint Oil Used Topically

The peppermint plant is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint, and its cultivation and medicinal use date back hundreds of years. Peppermint oil, extracted from the stem, leaves and flowers of the plant, has a variety of topical medicinal uses, mostly because of its high menthol content.

Antibacterial/Antifungal

• Peppermint oil has been found to possess antibacterial and some antifungal properties. Because essential oils are absorbed easily into the body, peppermint oil can be a quick and effective treatment for topical fungal diseases such as athlete's foot.

Decongestant

• Applied to the chest of someone suffering from a cold or flu, peppermint oil acts as a powerful decongestant and thins mucus. Several drops on the chest can soothe even dry coughs.

Anti-Irritant

• The soothing and cooling nature of menthol makes peppermint oil a good candidate for controlling pain and itchiness from rashes and other skin conditions. Do not apply peppermint-based products to open sores, however, because the menthol will sting.

Tension Headache

• According to Dr. Benjamin Kliger of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, peppermint oil used topically has been found to ease tension headaches.

Anti-Nausea

• Applied above the upper lip just below the nose, a few drops of peppermint oil can help reduce nausea. This approach is effective in cases where the patient is so ill she cannot tolerate the usual anti-emetics, such as oral medications or even small bites of saltine crackers.