10 Uses for Peppermint Essential Oil
The following is a guest post from Krissa of More Than Mundane
Peppermint essential oil is one of my go-to oils and a must for every home medicine cabinet. It is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and invigorating. It has been used for centuries to soothe digestive difficulties and headaches. The aroma is stimulating and may help with memory and mental performance. It is a cooling oil and is often used to reduce fevers.
There are countless uses for peppermint, but here are the top 10 ways I use it:
1. For digestive difficulties. Dilute several drops with a carrier oil (such as coconut oil or olive oil) and rub on your stomach to help with gas, tummy aches, indigestion, etc. You can also take peppermint internally if you are using a pure, therapeutic grade essential oil.
2. Headaches. Apply a couple drops to neck, temples, and forehead to relieve headache pain. Dilute with a carrier oil for children and for those with sensitive skin.
3. To reduce fever. Dilute and rub on the bottoms of feet to reduce fever, or put 1-2 drops in a capsule to take internally. (Do not give internally to children under six.)
4. To relieve congestion. Use aromatically in a vaporizer or diffuser, or place a drop on a cotton ball, cup it in your hands and breathe it in. You can also place a drop on the tongue or below the nose to relieve congestion and sinus pressure. Or you can use it to make homemade vapo-rub.
*I have peppermint mixed with fractionated coconut oil in a roller bottle and use it all the time when my kids complain of stomach aches, when I have a headache, or when my kids have fevers.
5. For bad breath. Add a drop on the tongue to reduce bad breath, use it to flavor your homemade toothpaste, or make a quick and easy mouth rinse: add a drop or two of peppermint and lemon essential oil to water, then swish and rinse to freshen up.
6. To improve alertness, concentration, and memory recall. Place a drop under the nose or diffuse in a room to increase alertness and improve memory. Or just open the bottle and inhale. This is useful on a long car trip to help you stay awake, or while studying and test taking to improve recall.
7. To cool down. Add several drops to a small spray bottle with distilled water and use as a spray to cool down on a hot day or after working out.
8. For foot care. Peppermint is cooling, refreshing and invigorating; perfect for hot, weary feet. Use peppermint essential oil in a foot bath to refresh your feet after a long day, or try this Peppermint Foot Scrub.
9. To keep out bugs. The scent of peppermint deters insects and rodents. Add several drops to a cotton ball if you can find a place of entry in your home and stick the cotton ball there. I often do this with ants. You can also make a peppermint spray using water and peppermint essential oil (4-5 drops per 4 oz. water) and spray it outside the home where you find ant trails, etc. This spray can also be used in your garden to deter aphids!
10. To scent homemade beauty products. Peppermint has an uplifting, refreshing scent and is perfect for homemade beauty products like Body Butter, Lip Balm and Sugar Scrub. I like to pair it with rosemary or citrus scents.
Krissa Jeldy is a busy mom of two who, since starting a family, has become passionate about learning all she can about living a simpler, more natural lifestyle. She enjoys discovering new home remedies to try, greener products to make and use, and real food recipes to nourish her family. She juggles her time between her job as an educational specialist, homeschooling her first grader, and chasing after her toddler. In her “free” time she blogs at More Than Mundane.
Did you know the Healthy Living Bundle includes lots of info on essential oils?
It also has an awesome bonus of Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint Essential Oil Set ($25.92) from Plant Therapy!
Essential Oil Resources in the bundle:
- Detox Your Home Handbook($19.00)
- DIY Natural Household Cleaners ($9.99)
- DIY Personal Care Products: 5 Simple Recipes ($0.99)
- Essential Oils for Families from Vintage Remedies ($135.00)
- Gift It From Scratch: Cleaning Products Edition ($4.50)
- How to Protect Your Family from Colds and Flu Using Essential Oils from Andrea at Aromahead Institute ($50.00)
- Printable Essential Oil Reference Guide ($7.00)
- Simple Handcrafted Body Care ($6.00)
- Simple Scrubs to Make and Give ($3.99)
- The Beginner’s Book of Essential Oils ($9.97)
- The Truth About Essential Oil Safety ($9.99)
I put peppermint oil in my Dogs water.
Thank you!
I love the scent and taste of peppermint and have recently been learning all the great ways essential oils can be used around our home. I am so excited to know that one of my favorites does so much! Thanks for the chance to win some!
“Like” on FB. 🙂
I had some peppermint I brought home from my momma s but at the time I had no clue what to do with it and now I can’t find it. Dr oz says its good for tension headaches which I’ve been having a lot.
Thanks for the info! I have been only using it to keep spiders at bay which is why my bottle is near empty lol. but im glad to know its other uses
Just made my first essential oil purchase, and I am really liking all the things these oils can do!
I love peppermint! Peppermint tea is my favorite and I love using peppermint as a body spray, especially in the warmer months. It’s so refreshing!
I’m an totally new to Essential Oils and would like to get into using them. Peppermint appears to be a popular one, I’d love to start with. My first use of it would be for congestion. Also foot care, I always have tired sweaty feet. Interesting to test on headaches, I don’t get them often and try not to take any pills, this would be a nice alternative.
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I love peppermint tea and started a mint patch in my garden this year for mojitos, too 😉 Have also heard that peppermint is great for aches and pains. Was not aware of the bug deterrent capabilities. What a great-smelling alternative to harmful chemicals. Thanks for the info and chance to participate in the drawing!
Thank you for the chance, I love peppermint oil!
I’ve been using peppermint oil for years with family and clients. I am new to doTerra however and looking forward to trying it. Thanks for a great post!
Thank you for all the ideas for using peppermint oil. I am so excited to use essential oils for more and more things!
Great uses for peppermint. I am going to put some in a spray bottle for summer to cool down!
Thanks for the review.
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I love Peppermint!
I like the pest deterrent use, going to try that one.
I like to pair it with eucalyptus oil in my dish soap.
I like your idea of using a roller bottle. I have a peppermint plant so I can smell it when I am in the garden. I love the smell.
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I LOVE THIS ESS OIL!!!
Thanks for this article. I put peppermint oil in my hair products
I use the leaves in my water to get a fresh taste
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Peppermint is one of my favorites! I have M.S and it helps tremendously with tension headaches, tired feet and alertness, I go through alot of it (wish it wasn’t so expensive). I can’t wait to use as a cool down due to my body over heats constantly! Thank you for sharing your tips!
I use it for headache. Wonderful stuff!
I’m looking at getting some peppermint oil and others to send to my sister who is in Guatemala right now. She’s having a huge problem with bugs!! Do you have any other suggestions?
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I use peppermint oil in my toothpaste and mouthwash. It is so refreshing.
I love my peppermint oil! I also use a few drops in vinegar for the rinse cycle when washing clothes.
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Great uses for peppermint oil! Can’t wait to try some of them!
Liked on Facebook
Thank you for your ideas and for the giveaway.
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Love,Love,Love peppermint oil. I spray the oil and water on my garden in the summer, good for soooo many things. Thanks for the tips!
I just started using essential oils in the last 6 months or so and peppermint is next on my list. This would be perfect!
I love peppermint, and can’t wait to utilize some of the tips; thanks for sharing!
I use peppermint for making refreshing body scrubs and lotions! Can’t wait to try some of these tips! I especially like the rollerball idea 🙂
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I would like to try the peppermint oil. I have only dabbled lavender oil on my pillow. I did not know oils could be used with a roll on.
Hi luv your blog very informative and easy to understand. Thank you for your time and effort for all this useful information. Have not tried peppermint oil yet but can’t wait to c it’s results!
I love peppermint oil! Just started making my own toothpaste and use peppermint oil for that minty taste. The cost of peppermint oil is so prohibitive for us tightwads, so I tried peppermint extract. Not the same, but in my budget.
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I didn’t know peppermint oil deters pests too. I’ll need to try that one!
I’m excited to try these new uses for peppermint oil! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
I love peppermint oil and love to learn new ways to use it (as I am just getting into essential oils). Thanks for the list!
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Thanks for the giveaway! I use peppermint oil to help alleviate motion sickness while traveling!
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Mother got me hooked on it. She was passionate about the use of natural products and has always been correct regarding their value. Always had herbs growing outside the back porch. Wish I had paid more attention. But so thankful have found folks like you sharing this great information. Peppermint and lavender are my two favorites. I’d be ever so grateful to try a different product.
Love discovering new ways to use essential oils!
I would use the essential oil to keeps bugs outside.
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I am new to all of this and would love to try Peppermint oil !
Thanks!
I am new to all of this and would love to try Peppermint oil !
Thanks!
I am new to all of this and would love to try Peppermint oil !
Thanks!
I love everything peppermint! I’ve been wanting to try essential oils for adding to my homemade cleaners. I grow a lot of mint varieties in the garden but usually just make it into tea.
My husband and I recently heard about Essential Oils but we haven’t been able to try any yet. So glad you posted on ways to use them!
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I love having Peppermint Oil around, and use it frequently!
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I would like to use the Peppermint Essential Oil in a Salt or Sugar Scrub for my body and feet.
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Taking my peppermint oil with me in my hospital bag for labor and delivery!
Taking my peppermint oil with me in my hospital bag for labor and delivery!
I have never come across this before and love the tips for natural healing. X
So many different ways to use it. Thank you!
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I love essential oil! So many great uses 🙂
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I could really use this for the digestive, decongestant, cooling, and headache relieving properties. Plus, the smell is wonderful! Thanks for the opportunity.
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