The Essentials of Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint has earned itself the reputation of being one of the most well-known, popular, and versatile essential oils.
As the most common and highly recognized of all the mint plants and oils, Peppermint is a naturally occurring hybrid between watermint and spearmint.
When you think of mint, you’re probably going to imagine the smell, taste, or cooling sensation of peppermint. The Peppermint plant offers a highly refreshing and cool scent that has earned it a reputation for being one of the most versatile and sought-after essential oils available. So now the question is, how did peppermint go from an everyday plant to a vetted essential oil favorite? Let’s dive into the history of this minty-fresh herb and its transformation into peppermint essential oil to find out.
Starting Off Fresh: A Peppermint History
Records show that people used peppermint as far back as Ancient Egypt, when historians found dried leaves in the Egyptian pyramids dating back to around 1,000 B.C.E. In fact, it’s believed that Egyptians commonly used this plant as a type of currency during this time. As the people credited with the invention of breath mints, this probably comes as no surprise.
The use of peppermint has also been traced back to ancient Chinese and Japanese medicine as a way to help relieve itchiness, soothe rashes, and calm headaches. There are even mentions of peppermint in Greek mythology in the story of the water nymph named Minthe, who was transformed into this sweet-smelling plant after an altercation with the goddess Persephone.
Stimulating the Senses: Peppermint Essential Oil Benefits
As a generally multi-purpose plant, it’s no wonder why peppermint is a commonly featured ingredient in many cosmetic, therapeutic, and cleaning products. This is not merely because of its crisp and clean aroma, but because of its many benefits for both the body and the mind.
One of the main chemical components of peppermint is menthol, which can have some interesting effects on the body. In fact, you’ve probably experienced the intense cooling power of menthol if you’ve ever taken a sip of water after chewing a stick of peppermint gum. The resulting burst of cool sensation is due to a chemical reaction that effectively ‘tricks’ your body’s sensory receptors to experience feelings of cold.
Not only does peppermint offer great physical benefits, but it is also extremely useful for helping to refresh the mind and clear away negative emotions with its intense and invigorating scent. If you’re feeling low on energy and are looking for a quick pick-me-up, inhaling the scent of Peppermint oil is a great way to revive the senses and put a little pep in your step.
Peppermint Essential Oil Uses
With its fresh, bright, and invigorating scent, there are many ways to experience the benefits of Peppermint oil. Check out the following ways you can incorporate this refreshing essential oil in your day-to-day life:
Calm Your Tummy — Inhaling Peppermint oil may help to soothe an upset stomach from nausea or motion sickness. Add Peppermint essential oil to an aromatherapy inhaler for quick, on-the-go relief.
Breathe Easy — Use Peppermint essential oil to help open up the sinuses and support the respiratory system. Add Peppermint to your diffuser throughout the cold months for deeper breathing.
Cooling Rub — Looking for some relief from everyday aches? Combine Peppermint with your favorite carrier oil to provide a cooling and refreshing massage for tired and overworked muscles or joints.
Energy Boost — Midday fatigue is no joke. Wake up the mind and invoke feelings of positivity by diffusing a few drops of Peppermint essential oil at home or in the office for an invigorating and minty-fresh experience.
Goodbye Pests — Combine a few drops of Peppermint oil with distilled water in a spray bottle and spritz around your home to help deter unwanted pests, such as spiders, flies, mosquitoes, and ants.
Fresh and Clean — Peppermint has natural antiseptic properties, making it ideal for cleaning. Combine Peppermint oil with our Tohi Multi-Purpose Cleaning Concentrate for a truly refreshing DIY cleaning solution.
A Minty-Fresh Solution
With its natural antibacterial and antifungal properties, cooling sensations, and intense, clean scent, it’s truly no wonder why Peppermint is an essential oil all-star. Treat your mind and body to a burst of crisp minty freshness by incorporating Peppermint essential oil in your day-to-day life.