
Usage: Peppermint oil is an important raw material for medicine, candy, tobacco, alcohol, beverages and other industries.
Peppermint oil is commonly used as flavoring in foods and beverages and as a fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.
Peppermint oil also is used for a variety of health conditions and can be taken orally in dietary supplements or topically as a skin cream or ointment.
Medicinal Uses of Peppermint Oil
In dietary supplements, peppermint oil has been tried for a variety of digestive problems including:
Irritable bowel syndrome
Indigestion
Heartburn
Dietary supplements containing peppermint oil are also used by some people for the following conditions, although there is no clear evidence that they are helpful:
Nausea
Vomiting
Morning sickness
Cramps of the upper gastrointestinal tract and bile ducts
Diarrhea
Bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine
Gas
Colds
Coughs
Inflammation of the mouth and throat
Sinus and respiratory infections
Menstrual problems
Liver and gallbladder problems
Skin preparations containing peppermint oil are used by some people for the following conditions, although, again, there is no clear evidence that they are helpful:
Headache
Muscle pain
Nerve pain
Toothache
Inflammation of the mouth
Joint conditions
Itchiness
Allergic rash
Bacterial and viral infections
Repelling mosquitoes
In addition, peppermint oil vapor is sometimes inhaled to treatsymptoms of colds and coughs. Also, some doctors add peppermint oil to a barium solution to relax the colon during barium enemas.