Peppermint

A small, very sturdy herbaceous plant with a square stem, green, slightly purple leaves and pinkish flowers in the form of short, thick spikes. The essential oil extracted from its aerial parts is vigorous, but not without a certain finesse.

Aromatherapy

Internal use:

• Oral use +++

External use:

• Respiratory: ++
  Soft scenting ++
  Inhalation +
  Diffusion +
• Skin: ++

Cosmetic

External use +

• Face +
• Body +
• Hair +

Kitchen

Internal use ++

Its biochemical composition is based on two ingredients: menthol, a monoterpenol with a well-known "cold effect", and menthone, a ketone. More marginally, there are other components in variable quantities, which define the aromatic specificity of each batch (limonene, menthyl acetate, 1.8 cineole, etc.).

Aromatherapy

Internal use

• Calms digestive discomfort after meals.
• Promotes good digestion.
• Helps to support the body's defences.

External use

• Helps to keep a clear head and promotes concentration. Useful during exams.
• Relieves motion sickness.
• Invigorating, stimulates in case of temporary fatigue.
• Helps to clear the breath and refresh the throat.
• Calming, helps to relieve discomfort in case of itching.

Cosmetic

External use

• Adds a touch of freshness to cosmetic treatments.
• Invigorating and refreshing.

Kitchen

Internal use

• Goes well with desserts, adds a fresh, minty note.

Peppermint essential oil has a lively, penetrating and heady aroma. This is a clear confirmation of its basic temperament: this essential oil is cephalic, stimulating the mind, making ideas clear and facilitating concentration. A real ally in times of stress, fatigue or exams.

The information provided in this Guide to Essential Oils is for information purposes only: it is a synthesis of the properties described in recognised aromatherapy books and/or in accordance with ancestral and popular traditions. The properties presented are extracted from the works cited in the bibliography below. This is in no way a medical information or a list of indications.

• Food supplement. Not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the recommended dose (1 drop twice a day, maximum 80mg).
• Not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under 12 years of age, people with epilepsy or a history of convulsions, asthmatics or the elderly.
• Strictly contraindicated in children under 30 months of age, by simple contact or inhalation (risk of laryngeal spasms which may lead to respiratory arrest).
• Not recommended for hypertensive subjects, not recommended in case of hormone-dependent disorders.
• Oral: caution in cases of inflammation or obstruction of the bile ducts, in cases of hepatic insufficiency, in cases of gastric disorders of the ulcer type. Possible drug interactions, do not use without the advice of a health professional.
• By skin: powerful cooling effect, always use diluted on the skin, on very limited surfaces. Never use in a bath. Do not apply to irritated or damaged skin.
• Avoid air diffusion, otherwise dilute to a maximum of 10% in a mixture with other milder essential oils.
• Do not use for long periods without the advice of a specialist.
• Risk of allergy (limonene): take care not to overdose in mixtures. An elbow test is recommended prior to any skin application (min 48 hours before use).
• Avoid all contact with the eyes.
• Keep out of reach of young children.
• Keep away from sources of heat and light.