May 13, 2022

Peppermint or Wondermint? The Many Benefits of Peppermint Oil

If you think of peppermint as a breath freshener or delicious flavor for holiday candy, you’ve barely touched the surface of the many uses and benefits of this fragrant oil.

Yes, peppermint is a sweet holiday treat and favorite flavoring in cookies, candy, even hot cocoa and holiday lattes. But as an essential oil, peppermint is a workhorse with benefits that encompass health, beauty and even household uses. 

Peppermint Overview 

Peppermint is an aromatic herb, a naturally occurring hybrid of spearmint and watermint. Originally indigenous to Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean, it’s now widely available across the world, including North America. Its use dates back to at least 1500 BC, when it was cultivated for cooking as well as an herbal remedy. It was even found in Egyptian pyramids, where prominent Egyptians who considered peppermint to be very valuable, wanted to bring it to the afterlife as a symbol of their wealth. 

One of the reasons for its wide appeal is the sensory properties of menthol, a chemical compound in peppermint. When consumed, menthol stimulates the ‘cool receptors’ in the nose and mouth, which creates a sense of refreshment, even a positive mood change. 

But that’s just the beginning. 

Skincare and Beauty Benefits of Peppermint Oil

With antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, peppermint oil offers a variety of natural skincare and clean beauty benefits. 

  • Natural skin cleanser
  • Helps treat and prevent acne by reducing acne causing bacteria
  • Treat dry or itching scalp, even dandruff
  • Strengthen hair roots
  • Stimulates hair follicles
  • Increases blood circulation in the skin and scalp

Used on its own as a clean beauty product, peppermint oil can be irritating so start slowly or look for products where it’s an active ingredient in combination with others.

Health Uses and Benefits of Peppermint Oil

Menthol can provide pain relief through central and peripheral nervous system effects. It desensitizes pain fibers and the cooling effects also provide pain relief. For digestive and gastrointestinal issues, peppermint oil has been shown to produce antispasmodic effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are beneficial as well. Peppermint oil can be ingested (such as tea) or used topically, depending on what you’re trying to treat.

  • Reduce headache pain
  • Soothe muscle soreness and stiffness
  • Relieve aches and pains
  • Soothe PMS symptoms
  • Treat gastrointestinal issues, including indigestion and acid reflux, even IBS
  • Alleviate motion sickness and nausea
  • Relieve nasal congestion
  • Treat insect bites
  • Stop itching
  • Aromatherapy for stress relief or to stimulate alertness

Here’s two ways to add peppermint oil to your natural skincare and health routine:

For soothing aches and pains, or for relaxing self care, Hälsa Botanicals Relax Golden Turmeric Bath Salts offers a luxurious soak. With arctic sea salts and golden turmeric, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, frankincense and hemp CBD, it’s a fragrant and invigorating blend with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits. 

Hälsa Botanicals Ease Soothing Roller This pocket sized roller is packed with 1000 mg of full spectrum hemp CBD, arnica, cooling menthol gel plus peppermint and eucalyptus oils.  It’s a powerful formula to soothe tension headaches, tight neck muscles or any other areas of pain, or to gain clarity for the mind, calm nerves, and ease discomfort associated with everyday stresses

Or enjoy the crisp and refreshing taste of peppermint in Sublingual CBD Drops, with Hälsa Botanicals Peppermint CBD Drops. We combine full spectrum hemp CBD distillate in a base of organic coconut oil. 

Household Uses and Benefits of Peppermint Oil

With antibacterial properties, peppermint oil can kill common household bacteria. It's a natural repellent to insects and other unwanted critters.

  • DIY household cleaner (peppermint oil mixed with water, vinegar and a drop of dish soap)
  • Deter ants, spiders, even mice (place on cotton balls and leave in doors, windows or other openings)
  • Organic garden spray to kill aphids 
  • Deodorize trash cans

Doesn’t all of this make peppermint even more sweet?