The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Bad Breath
Posted by Mayo (St. Paul, Mn) on 02/06/2010
★★★★★
My daughter started taking peppermint oil capsules to aid digestion and noticed the bad taste in her mouth disappeared and tonsil stones stopped forming. When the capsules ran out the stones came back. Restarting the capsules resolved the problem again!!!
Headache
Posted by Kim (Greensboro, Nc) on 01/03/2010
★★★★★
I was just recently introduced to peppermint oil. I had a really bad headache and a friend of mine said here rub this on it. I rubbed it on the spot and my headache went away immediately. Just be warned that it can irritate your eyes so do not put to much. Just smear some on your finger and rub it in.
Hirsutism
Posted by Kay (In The Valley, Ca) on 12/12/2009
Do you take fresh spearmint and make a tea or just buy the spearmint tea in a box at the store? When you say 1 to 2 quarts a day, how many tea bags or spearmint leaves would that be? Thanks
Blood Sugar
Posted by Ratgirldjh (Austin, Texas, USA) on 10/09/2009
★★★★★
i am a diabetic on insulin and i recently discovered that peppermint oil lowers blood sugar - a LOT.
how i found this out is i took a bath with 5 drops of peppermint oil and i also have a tooth powder that i mixed up with several drops of peppermint oil and powdered sea salt.
after soaking in the bath - which felt wonderful - i brushed my teeth with the tooth powder and also rinsed my mouth out with a little in water.
after this i started feeling weird. i had eaten whole grain pasta and veggies for dinner and couldn't believe my blood sugar was low. but it was 81 - and it continued going lower even after i ate 1 1/2 kashi cereal bars - 1 teaspoons of karo syrup - and 1 whole wheat gingerbread cookie. i ended up eating another cereal bar and finally got it up to 120.
this morning it was still lower than usual after all those mid night carbs - it was 177.
usually the morning after something like this happens it will be in the 200's - since it finally all catches up again.
so be careful with peppermint oil if you are a diabetic on insulin.
i plan to still use my tooth powder - but i have lowered my insulin doses!!!
i am also taking ACV and water a very small amount 2 x a day.
Side Effects
Posted by Faith (Pj, Selangor Malaysia) on 05/08/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I had a horrible reaction to taking a reputable brand of organic peppermint oil (one drop) in a quarter cup of water to stop a cough. Immediately upon drinking I began to feel dizzy and almost passed out. The dizziness and weakness lasted approximately two weeks and about four days respectively. It didn't help my cough either.
Acid Reflux
Posted by Gregory (Royal Oak, MI) on 11/30/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Peppermint! I have had Acid Reflux now for 6 years and tried medicine, which doesnt work, apple cider vinegar, which made me vomit, and all sorts of remedies. I tried a lifesaver peppermint and it temporarilly helps me stomach settle! Not a cure, and not sure if it will help you, but why not give it a try?
Directions: Simply eat one or two peppermints
Peppermint cured my burning throat pain for the night, however it doesn't end acid reflux either. I carry a bag of peppermints in my room when I get attacks.
Weight Loss
Posted by Jose (South Boston, MA) on 07/28/2008
★★★★★
Mint and green tea: one cup at night and in the morning after breakfast, complete balance for healthy overall feeling, i try and it help me to be able to loose any weight i want. You need to be relax to be able to commit yourself to any endeavor. Add to it yoga or extreching and if you are happy you will do it again and againg. the most important part is to have fun doing it. Since you want to be healthy and because you love yourself. In general once you balance your hormones then you can feel good to do anything and that is what mint tea and green tea do.
Scabies
Posted by Lisa (Brooklyn, NY) on 07/17/2008
★★★★★
Peppermint soap (Dr. Bronner's) works great to get rid of scabies. I tried Tea Tree oil among other things and nothing else worked, except hand sanitizer gel. But at the first sign of itchiness, I get out the peppermint soap.
Sore Throat
Posted by Janine (Pittsburgh, USA) on 05/10/2008
★★★★★
When you want some caffeine and a way to relieve your sore throat at the same time, try 4 bags of peppermint tea with 4 bags of green tea steeped in 12 cups of hot water. It's very good and it relieves the throat instantly.
Lemon ginger water also works better than plain water to relieve a sore throat (the juice of a lemon and 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger root (squeezed through a garlic press a few times) in a 2 quart pitcher of water. More palatable than some of the other remedies I've seen here. Plus, it works!!
Migraines
Posted by Randahl (San Jose, California) on 04/10/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
For those looking to use Oil of Oregano for it's antimicrobial properties, I would like to specify that Oil of Oregano is NOT Oregano Essential oil, which would have to be diluted. If you're looking to buy this remedy, make sure that the ingredients list states that there is a carrier oil (like olive oil). Otherwise, be prepared to dilute it yourself, or there could be serious negative effects.
I have seen some people writing in remedies that include putting undiluted essential oils on their skin. I think I saw a remedy for headaches or migraines that recommended putting peppermint essential oil on the temples. I have been studying aromatherapy for 5 years, and one of the most basic lessons is that you almost NEVER use essential oils undiluted. Peppermint essential oil in particular is considered to be a skin irritant to all skin types when used undiluted. If put on the temples, the strength of the fumes could seriously irritate the eyes and the delicate area around the eye. If you are going to try any remedy including essential oils, DILUTE FIRST! Even if the remedy doesn't specify it, you'll be saving yourself from possible complications.
Migraines
Posted by Claudette (Houston, Tx) on 03/06/2008
★★★★★
For the lady who thinks she will quit having migraines when she gets 50. You can quit dreaming. I am 64 and have had migraines for years. I take Imitrex and sometimes when it is not available and I get one, I pinch my hand between the thumb and index finger. And garlic does help, I also drink peppermint tea with honey. Dairy products cause me to have migraines because of the thick mucus it causes at night.
Migraines
Posted by Trish (Vancouver, Wa, Usa) on 04/02/2011
kind of a negative comment. just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for someone else.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Posted by Teresa (Ipswich, Ma) on 02/23/2010
★★★★★
You know I've actually noticed this but I assumed it was because of the jaw movements rather than the pepperment. I originally chewed the gum for fresh breath. I was also spoken to for chewing gum at school.
Morgellons
Posted by Sue (Vermillion, Ohio) on 03/14/2011
★★★★★
I have the morgellons on my eyelids and have found chapstick a relief, for some reason it is so thick they can't move too much, and the tried the peppermint burt bees chapstick and it stings for 1 minute then gave me good relief. It works for a time but if I stop using it they come back.
Hirsutism
Posted by Tessa (Auckland, Nz) on 09/22/2010
★☆☆☆☆
Hi - I have been drinking approx 2 cups of organic spearment tea for about six months now - I have not noticed any difference yet. I would also like to add that my facial hair also got A LOT worse after getting laser treatment. I am now going to try the Alum or go back to electrolysis.
Hirsutism
Posted by Nim (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 05/17/2011
Beth from Dublin -
blackstrap molassses is trecale in UK
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Posted by Dee (Durham, Nc) on 02/21/2011
I don't understand why the mouthwash sometimes works, but I can concur with the effects of peppermint mouthwash. At one point, this became a very simple remedy for me, but over the years seems to have become less and less effective. I was diagnosed with TN in my mid-twenties and have been under a doctor's care on and off for more than twenty years.
IBS
Posted by Natasha (Winnipeg, Manitoba) on 02/12/2010
★☆☆☆☆
I tried peppermint oil capsules for my severe IBS C and they gave me a severe attack. They are way to strong for my sensitive stomache sadly.
Hirsutism
Posted by Becky (Atlanta, Ga) on 08/10/2009
★★★★★
Mint tea for Hirsutism : This is not something I have direct experience with, but I have heard of a remedy for women with extra hair growth that is not listed here. It is spearmint tea! Yummy, right? You can probably find more info by googling it but I heard an herbalist talking about how mint tea will lower testosterone in women. Apparently it can start working within a week, drink two cups of mint tea a day. If anyone tries it please share your experience. Sounds like a really easy remedy to try. :-)
Gallbladder
Posted by Rossana (Toronto, Ontario, Cnada) on 07/01/2009
★★★★★
For gallbladder attacks, or when you feel it coming, boil water and in a 250ml cup add fresh celery leaves, mint leaves and 1/2 lemon juice and drink it gradually. This may cut down the pain from regularly 3 hours to 1 hour. I have been scheduled for surgery in August and had been using this as backup.
IBS
Posted by Rich (Boca Raton, Fl) on 03/31/2009
★★★★★
Peppermint Oil can cure IBS in many people. It also kills candida.
http://www.webmd.com/ibs/news/20081113/peppermint-oil-fiber-can-treat-ibs
"Based on the combined data, the researchers estimated that one in 2.5 patients would get significant relief of symptoms if treated with peppermint oil, compared to one in five patients taking antispasmodics and one in 11 patients taking fiber. Peppermint oil is sold in capsules, and the study participants took about 200 milligrams two or three times a day.
