Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint Essential Oil is an absolute staple in my household. It takes approximately 1 lb of peppermint plant to make one 15 ml bottle of essential oil, so one single drop can easily be all you need to energize, support normal digestion and gastrointestinal function, as well as sooth sinuses and reduce pain and inflammation. With the help of Peppermint Essential Oil, I have eliminated the need for many other self care products.

The clean and vibrant aroma alone is enough to warrant its placement on my list of 11 Everyday EOs, but peppermint oil is so much more than just a pleasant aroma. This oil is my go-to for headache relief, nausea, indigestion, sinus congestion, dry cough, muscular aches and pains, allergy relief, pre-workout energy boosts, post-workout inflammation, hot flashes, bug repellent, bug bite relief, boo-boo spray, honestly... I even use this oil to bake Peppermint Brownies. I firmly believe that every household in the world would benefit from having a bottle of peppermint essential oil on the shelf.

I'm 35 years old. I have 4 young children, a degenerative disc (L5), crepitant knees, tight and poorly conditioned muscles, limited flexibility, and a plethora of athletic bullies for friends ;) Begrudgingly, I have completed 4 half marathons and several 5Ks, as well as countless 90-Day Boot Camp what-have-yous, and I do it all, with the help of my best buddy, Pep. Pep puts a pep in my step and eases my sore, aching body, post-strenuous activity.
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Cooling Epsom Salt Bath/Soak:
5-7 drops of Peppermint Oil (stirred into epsom salt before pouring into bath water -- very important!)
2 cups Epsom Salt
Soak for 20 minutes
**Optional Add-Ins: PanAway & Copaiba

I live in Austin, TX, however this city might as well rename itself Allergen City, USA. We have a variety of guilty plants and spores to thank for our misery, however in Mother Nature's ironic plot twist, we are able to use plants and herbs to relieve our symptoms as well. Peppermint is a very important ingredient in my two favorite Season of Sneezin' Roll-Ons, 

15ml Soothing Sinus Roll-On:
40 drops each of Lemon, Peppermint, and Lavender Essential Oil
Fill remaining space in bottle with carrier oil (I use Jojoba oil because it is the least comedigenic (pore-clogging) so I can smother my face in this blend without causing a break out)
Attach the Aroma-Glide Roll-On Fitment (screw the cap on to lock it into place)

15ml Breathe Free Roll-On:
​30 drops each of Marjoram, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lemon, and Peppermint Essential Oil
Best applied to the Vita Flex points (bottom of feet at the base of toes for sinuses), chest, and the Paranasal Sinuses (be very careful not to get it into your eyes!!)

Let's talk about digestive issues. Not only do I exclusively use peppermint essential oil as my antacid, but I also use this oil as part of an aggressive strategy when a stomach virus or food poisoning pops up in my house. The aroma has been known to both suppress appetite and ease nausea. When ingested, the cooling sensation will be instant and lasting. As soon as I get that feeling that something isn't quite right, I begin aggressively massaging my vita flex points (the entire bottoms of my feet) with ImmuPower and Thieves (alternating every 4 hours, one and then the other 4 hours later). I also diffuse Thieves for an extra boost.
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Tummy Upset/Heartburn Relief Veggie Capsule or Abdominal Rub:
1 clear, size 00 vegetable capsule
Open the capsule and pour drops of EOs into the large end
4 drops DiGize
2 drops Peppermint
Fill remaining space with a carrier oil (coconut oil, olive oil, vegetable oil) and snap on the little end until it is snug
Swallow with water
**If you cannot keep food down (much less a capsule) then massage the abdominal area around the belly button gently and clockwise with the same mixture! You may repeat this topical application every couple of hours or as often as needed. 

Pain Relief is a serious matter for many people. Since I began using essential oils in my own home, and helping others do the same in theirs, I have had numerous requests for arthritic, headache, and migraine relieving oils and blends. The most common blend I find to be successful includes Young Living's Peppermint, PanAway blend, and Copaiba essential oils. They work in perfect harmony to relieve pain associated with inflammation and have stopped numerous headaches in their tracks instantly, when applied early. 

Common Headache Protocol:
1-2 drops of Peppermint essential oil with 1-2 drops of carrier oil, massaged on to temples, across the forehead, around the base of the skull and onto shoulders, especially when related to tension.

Migraine or Severe Headache Protocol:
6 drops of Young Living's M-Grain Essential Oil Blend (Basil, Peppermint, Lavender, Helichrysum, Roman Chamomile, Marjoram) diffused for 30 minutes.
1-2 drops of Peppermint, Frankincense or M-Grain essential oil blend diluted 1:1 with a carrier oil and massaged onto vita flex points (the big toes) temples, across forehead, around the base of the skull and onto shoulders. 

Pain & Inflammation Roll-On: 15ml (approximately 270 drops)
50 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
50 drops PanAway Essential Oil blend
50 drops Copaiba Essential Oil
Fill remaining space with carrier oil (some options: coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil)
Roll on to the area of concern, as often as needed.

Related Topics:

• 4 Ingredient Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm
• The Runner's Guide
• Order Essential Oils
• Why Young Living Essential Oils?

​As always, be careful to select 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils to be sure you are breathing, lathering, and consuming only the safest and purest of oils. Understanding the different Grades of Oils is paramount when learning to live an essential oil-infused lifestyle.

To read more about the oils we use in my household, read this post about why we chose Young Living Essential Oils.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Young Living products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.