Latin Name: Mentha piperita.

Chemistry: Menthol, Menthone, 1,8 Cineole.

Aroma: Minty, Fresh, Herbaceous.

Good for: Alertness, Nausea, Digestive issues, and Headaches.

Energetics: Uplifting, Clarifying, Energising.

Traditional use: According to writings found in the temple of Edfu, Egypt, peppermint was used as a ritual perfume and was an ingredient of the sacred incense kyphi. It has traditionally been used as a digestive aid, with mint leaves added to hot water or tea as an after-meal drink still drunk in Egypt to this day.

Peppermint is one of the most instantly recognised essential oils. It has a fresh and uplifting aroma and evokes a sense of relief when inhaled.

Traditionally the plant is used as a digestive aid and nausea remedy. Studies have shown that essential oil can be helpful with congestion (1) and headache relief (2). The high level of menthol in its chemistry is an excellent antispasmodic and carminative, which lends itself to its traditional use as a digestive aid. That same chemical constituent makes it inadvisable to use with children under five.

REFERENCE

1- “Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systematic review” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169115001033

2- “Effect of peppermint and eucalyptus oil preparations on neurophysiological and experimental algesimetric headache parameters”https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1468-2982.1994.014003228.x