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The Health Benefits of Peppermint

peppermint leaves
There are a number of different species of mints to which peppermint is related, and it’s believed that peppermint is a natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint.

Historically, peppermint has been used medicinally as a general digestive aid, and for the symptomatic treatment of upper respiratory infections. The active constituents of peppermint are primarily menthol and menthone.

Peppermint is used today in aromatherapy, as a tea, and also as flavoring and fragrance in a huge variety of products.

Health Benefits of Peppermint

  • Nutrients
    Peppermint is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A. Peppermint is a very good source of magnesium, folate, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamin B2.
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    In a 1-month double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study involving 110 participants with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, there was significant improvement of symptoms after taking a peppermint oil formulation 3 to 4 times daily.
    In another study 57 participants were given peppermint oil capsules twice daily for 4 weeks, and 75% of the participants showed a 50% decrease of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.
  • Indigestion (dyspepsia)
    An herbal preparation consisting of peppermint oil and caraway has been shown to alleviate pain associated with dyspepsia, and a reduction in other gastrointestinal symptoms.
    The peppermint oil and caraway combination appears to be as effective as Cisapride (withdrawn because of harmful side effects) in relieving dyspepsia.
  • Headache
    At the Neurological Clinic at the University of Kiel in Germany, a topical application of peppermint oil and ethanol produced a reduction in sensitivity to headache.
    Another study has shown that a topical application of peppermint oil and ethanol combination rubbed on the forehead and temples to be just as effective in alleviating tension headache as acetaminophen (Tylenol).
  • Shingles
    A 76-year-old woman shingles sufferer experienced almost immediate relief from pain after topical treatment with peppermint oil. Standard therapies had been ineffective in relieving her pain.
  • Anti Cancer
    Perillyl alcohol is a dietary monoterpene (phytochemical or phytonutrient) found in the essential oil of peppermint and other plants. Preliminary studies have shown perillyl alcohol to regress pancreatic, mammary, and liver tumors, and has the ability to kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells. Results of this and other studies suggest that perillyl alcohol may have potential as a non-toxic preventative treatment for various types of human cancers.
    Rosmarinic acid is a phenolic acid found in peppermint and other herbs, which has antioxidant activities stronger than that of vitamin E, helping to reduce cell damage and the risk of cancer.
  • Candidiasis
    Of 35 oil extracts of medicinal plants tested, peppermint was one of the 13 plants that demonstrated anti-Candida activity.
  • Athletes Foot
    A study at the University of Novi Sad in Yugoslavia has shown peppermint oil to have greater fungicidal activity than the commercial fungicide Bifonazole, which is used to treat the fungal skin infection athlete’s foot.
Nutrient Values of Fresh Peppermint per 100g
Calories
70kcal
Energy Value
293kj
Total Fat
0.94g
Carbohydrates
14.89g
Sugars
g
Dietary Fiber
8.0g
Protein
3.75g
Sodium
31mg
Zinc
1.11mg
Potassium
569mg
Iron
5.08mg
Magnesium
80mg
Copper
0.329mg
Calcium
243mg
Vitamin C
31.8mg
Vitamin E
mg
Vit. B3 (Niacin)
1.706mg
Vitamin B6
0.129mg
Vit. B1 (Thiamin)
0.082mg
Vit. B2 (Riboflavin)
0.266mg
References:
1. The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods by Michael Murray, Joseph Pizzorno, and Lara Pizzorno.
2. Benders' Dictionary of Nutrition and Food Technology.
3. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
4. Liu JH, Chen GH, Yeh HZ, Huang CK, Poon SK. Enteric-coated peppermint-oil capsules in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective, randomized trial. J Gastroenterol. 1997 Dec;32(6):765-8. PMID: 9430014.
5. Cappello G, Spezzaferro M, Grossi L, Manzoli L, Marzio L. Peppermint oil (Mintoil) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective double blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Dig Liver Dis. 2007 Jun;39(6):530-6. Epub 2007 Apr 8. PMID: 17420159.
6. Göbel H, Schmidt G, Soyka D. Effect of peppermint and eucalyptus oil preparations on neurophysiological and experimental algesimetric headache parameters. Cephalalgia. 1994 Jun;14(3):228-34; discussion 182. PMID: 7954745.
7. Göbel H, Fresenius J, Heinze A, Dworschak M, Soyka D. [Effectiveness of Oleum menthae piperitae and paracetamol in therapy of headache of the tension type] Nervenarzt. 1996 Aug;67(8):672-81. PMID: 8805113.
8. May B, Kuntz HD, Kieser M, Köhler S. Efficacy of a fixed peppermint oil/caraway oil combination in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Arzneimittelforschung. 1996 Dec;46(12):1149-53. PMID: 9006790.
9. Madisch A, Heydenreich CJ, Wieland V, Hufnagel R, Hotz J. Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a fixed peppermint oil and caraway oil combination preparation as compared to cisapride. A multicenter, reference-controlled double-blind equivalence study. Arzneimittelforschung. 1999 Nov;49(11):925-32. PMID: 10604046.
10. Davies SJ, Harding LM, Baranowski AP. A novel treatment of postherpetic neuralgia using peppermint oil. Clin J Pain. 2002 May-Jun;18(3):200-2. PMID: 12048423.
11. Belanger JT. Perillyl alcohol: applications in oncology. Altern Med Rev. 1998 Dec;3(6):448-57. PMID: 9855569.
12. Wagner JE, Huff JL, Rust WL, Kingsley K, Plopper GE. Perillyl Alcohol Inhibits Breast Cell Migration without Affecting Cell Adhesion. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2002;2(3):136-140. PMID: 12488578.
13. Crowell PL, Siar Ayoubi A, Burke YD. Antitumorigenic effects of limonene and perillyl alcohol against pancreatic and breast cancer. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1996;401:131-6. PMID: 8886131.
14. Mimica-Dukić N, Bozin B, Soković M, Mihajlović B, Matavulj M. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of three Mentha species essential oils. Planta Med. 2003 May;69(5):413-9. PMID: 12802721.
15. Duarte MC, Figueira GM, Sartoratto A, Rehder VL, Delarmelina C. Anti-Candida activity of Brazilian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Feb 28;97(2):305-11. Epub 2005 Jan 5. PMID: 15707770.
 

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