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Peppermint; Mentha piperita

Proposed Uses
  • ORAL:  Dyspepsia; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Other Forms of Spasms in the Digestive Tract
• INHALED (AROMATHERAPY):  Respiratory Congestion; Nausea
  • TOPICAL:  Tension Headaches
  • ORAL:  Gallstones

Peppermint tea has a long history of medicinal use, primarily as a digestive aid and for the symptomatic treatment of cough, colds, and fever. Peppermint oil is used for chest congestion (Vicks VapoRub), as a local anesthetic (Solarcaine, Ben-Gay), and most recently in the treatment of irritable bowel disease.

Germany's Commission E authorizes the use of oral peppermint oil for treating colicky pain in the digestive tract. Some preliminary evidence suggests that peppermint oil may indeed be effective for this purpose.

The active ingredient of peppermint oil for this purpose is thought to be menthol. This substance relaxes the muscles of the small intestine in dilutions as low as 1:20,000, and has been found to counter the effect of drugs that cause intestinal spasm. Peppermint oil may also be helpful for dyspepsia (minor indigestion), as well as pain caused by medical examinations of the colon and stomach.

One study found that peppermint oil reduced pain after surgery (C-section), in part by reducing pain related to intestinal gas.

Oral peppermint oil has also shown some promise for helping to dissolve gallstones, but it is far from a proven treatment for this condition.

Peppermint oil is also used in another way: as aromatherapy. This means that it is inhaled, often by adding it to a humidifier. The Commission E has authorized inhaled peppermint oil for relief of mucus congestion of the lungs and sinuses; however, there is only weak supporting evidence for this use. Even weaker evidence hints that inhaled peppermint oil might relieve postsurgical nausea.

Dosage
The proper dosage of peppermint oil when treating irritable bowel syndrome is 0.2 to 0.4 ml three times a day of an enteric-coated capsule. The capsule has to be enteric-coated to prevent stomach distress.

Safety Issues
At the normal dosage, enteric-coated peppermint oil is believed to be reasonably safe in healthy adults. However, case reports and one study in rats hint that peppermint might reduce male fertility. The species Mentha spicata may be more problematic in this regard than the more common Mentha piperita.

Excessive doses peppermint oil can be toxic, causing kidney failure and even death. Very high intake of peppermint oil can also cause nausea, loss of appetite, heart problems, loss of balance, and other nervous system problems.

Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established. In particular, peppermint can cause jaundice in newborn babies, so don't try to use it for colic.

Use of peppermint oil may increase levels of the drug cyclosporine in the body. If you are taking cyclosporine, and wish to take peppermint oil, notify your physician in advance, so that your blood levels of cyclosporine can be monitored and your dose adjusted if necessary. Conversely, if you are already taking both peppermint oil and cyclosporine, do not stop taking the peppermint without informing your physician. When you stop peppermint, you cyclosporine levels may fall.

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