Peppermint has been used medicinally for hundreds of years.
The peppermint plant is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint, and its cultivation and medicinal use date back hundreds of years. Peppermint oil, extracted from the stem, leaves and flowers of the plant, has a variety of topical medicinal uses, mostly because of its high menthol content.
Antibacterial/Antifungal
Peppermint oil has been found to possess antibacterial and some antifungal properties. Because essential oils are absorbed easily into the body, peppermint oil can be a quick and effective treatment for topical fungal diseases such as athlete's foot.
Decongestant
Applied to the chest of someone suffering from a cold or flu, peppermint oil acts as a powerful decongestant and thins mucus. Several drops on the chest can soothe even dry coughs.
Anti-Irritant
The soothing and cooling nature of menthol makes peppermint oil a good candidate for controlling pain and itchiness from rashes and other skin conditions. Do not apply peppermint-based products to open sores, however, because the menthol will sting.
Tension Headache
According to Dr. Benjamin Kliger of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, peppermint oil used topically has been found to ease tension headaches.
Anti-Nausea
Applied above the upper lip just below the nose, a few drops of peppermint oil can help reduce nausea. This approach is effective in cases where the patient is so ill she cannot tolerate the usual anti-emetics, such as oral medications or even small bites of saltine crackers.
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