Essential oils were used for millennia. In the past when people didn't have other methods to treat their health problems, they were using the gifts of nature. One of the strongest and most widely used essential oils is peppermint oil. It smells fresh and strong and can help you reduce health problems naturally.
Aromatherapy is a fascinating way that could work miracles for people's health; if you can't relax, just use lavender oil, if your nose is blocked and have a strong headache, use organic peppermint oil.
However, using essential oils shouldn't be done lightly; you should always carefully follow the instructions and be sure that you don't overuse it.
What’s Peppermint Oil?
When peppermint is extracted into the oil, we get the beneficial peppermint oil that can work miracles for various situations. Some peppermint oils may be quite strong (the strongest are made with modern distillation techniques and you'll find it under the name essential oils).
This type of oil is the most common type you can find in most drug stores and pharmacies. You can use it for health, cleaning and beauty purposes.
Peppermint contains menthol which is responsible for the many benefits of peppermint oils. Menthol provides peppermint with its taste, smell, and cooling sensation.
How and When to Use It
This oil has numerous uses which makes it one of the most popular essential oils. Organic peppermint oil can help you calm down an upset stomach, soothe your headache, bring some fresh scent into your home and so on.
Keep in mind that this is an intense oil compared to other essential oils like lavender for example. TOpical application is mainly safe, but it's important to dilute it in another carrier oil such as jojoba or almond oil. You might feel a burning sensation or even develop a rash (if you have sensitive skin make sure you talk to your doctor before applying this oil on your skin).
Parents should be extra careful with peppermint oil and never use it on young children.
The plant contains a method that has anesthetic properties which give the cooling sensation and alleviates discomfort.
This oil is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antispasmodic and has carminative properties.
Headaches
If you suffer from frequent headaches, it's a smart idea to get yourself a peppermint oil. Use a small amount of the oil diluted with a carrier oil; rub this mix on your temples, forehead and sinuses, but avoid contact with eyes.
You can even rub it on the back of your neck. Topical application will soothe and cool the area and will help your muscles to relax. Also, your airways will unblock, allowing you to breathe in deeply and provide your body with a larger amount of oxygen.
Allergies
As mentioned above, one of the biggest reasons for the blocked nose is seasonal allergies. Having troubles breathing can be a problem (and very annoying). Add several drops of peppermint oil to a diffuser and breathe deeply to relieve allergy symptoms.
Never put the oil directly into your nose.
Nausea
Nausea can occur because of various reasons (operation, driving in a car, pregnancy, and so on).
Add a few drops of peppermint oil in hot water (or tea if it's safe for consuming) and inhale slowly. Some studies show that the scent of the oil had relieving effects in patients after surgical operations.
Tired Feet
Spending most of your day in shoes, walking, standing, running, doing errands can cause you to pain in your feet. Feeling your feet sore, swollen and tired can be a problem, especially the following day. So if you're facing this problem, you can add a few drops of the oil in a foot bath filled with cold water. Soak in your feet and let the cold water and the oil do their magic.
The peppermint oil has cooling effects, so you can feel the relief instantly.
Since this oil has analgesic and anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, you can also use it to relieve pain and inflammation to soothe spasms that cause muscle cramps.
Benefits
The peppermint oils have many benefits and were used for a long time. People use the leaves of the plant to make tea (excellent for nausea, vomiting and stomach issues). But, besides for health problems (as mentioned above) you can easily use this oil to add freshness into your home. Add a few drops in a spray bottle and fill it with water; spray all over your home and you'll have a home that smells fresh and clean. The scent of menthol is known to relieve stress and increase concentration.
Also, you can spray this mix in the trash cans if the smell is too heavy.
For smelly shoes, you can drop a few drops on a small piece of cotton and place it inside your shoes.
However, no matter how beneficial this essential oil is, some people shouldn't take it.
If you're taking certain medications, be sure to talk to your doctor before using peppermint oil for aromatherapy.
Also, children and babies whose skin is gentle and sensitive; avoid using this strong oil on the gentle baby's skin. The peppermint oil can cause side effects in the form of a rash, but also things may get complicated if the child inhales the menthol that peppermint oil contains.
