PEPPERMINT OIL DATA SHEET

NOTE Top to Middle

COST £3 to £5 for 10ml

FAMILY NAME LABIATAE LATIN NAME MENTHA PIPERITA LINNAEUS fol.

ACTIONS Analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, calmative, decongestant, digestive, possible emmenagogue, expectorant, hepatic (liver) stimulant, hypertensor, nervine, soothing, vasoconstrictor (Narrows the blood vessels).

INDICATIONS Practitioner experience and historical uses has shown that Peppermint may help with neuralgia (a little), muscular pain, palpitations, bronchitis, halitosis, herpes (difficult but worth a try because the oil may cause more irritation say, to a cold sore on the lips), sinusitis, head colds (when inhaled), abdominal cramp, dyspepsia, indigestiion, nausea, mental fatigue, migraine (worth a try), travel sickness, local skin fungal infections.

SAFETY DATA - CONTRA INDICATIONS

1. Contra indicated for babies and young children - few cases of reflex apnoea reported.

2. Possible sensitisation and skin irritation in high doses. Sleep disturbance has been reported when used in high dosage.

4. Be very careful if using peppermint in dilution for massage. Peppermint will cause painful irritation even in dilution if it gets into eyes and mucus membranes.

4. Reduces colonic motility therefore overuse (including drinking too much peppermint tea) can slow the digestive system down and bring on constipation.

BLENDS WELL WITH Benzoin, Rosemary, Lavender, Marjoram, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Ravensara and other mints. A very effective analgesic when used with Ravansara.

REMARKS

A perennial herb up to one metre high with underground runners by which it is easily propagated. Used as a flavouring agent. There are several different strains or chemotypes of peppermint. In addition there are numerous other species of mint, such as spearmint, apple mint, pennyroyal, water mint and pineapple mint - Some of which are used to produce essential oils.

Historically, Mint extracts have been used for thousands of years for various stomach and gastro-intestinal tract ailments.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Hydrocarbons - Monoterpenes (3-18%) and Sequiterpenes.

Alcohols - Monoterpenols (50%) including menthol at 28-46%. Sesquiterpenols.

Oxides - 1,8-cineole 3 - 7.4%, pulegone<1% plus others.

Ketones - May be up to 40%

Esters

Coumarins

Other - 3-octanol<1%, menthofuran, trans-sabinene hydrate, cis-sabene hydrate trace.