So What's The Rave About: PEPPERMINT OIL

Hola Chicas/Chicos..I pray all is well with everyone.

Ok, today we are discussing one of my absolute favorite essential oils..Peppermint Oil. It has so many wonderful benefits and uses, from hair to skin to overall health. And yes, it is the minty goodness that you smell and taste in peppermint candy.

The modern peppermint plant is actually a hybrid of two original wild plants - water mint and spearmint - and has stronger medicinal properties than either of the two originals. It is sometimes revered as the world's oldest medicine because of its use in treatment of illness throughout history.

So now I present the wonderful benefits and uses of Peppermint Oil.

Peppermint Oil..The Internal Edition:

• Digestion: Peppermint oil helps to alleviate gas pain in many users. It also helps to calm nausea and stomach upset.
• Oral Health: Peppermint oil helps to eliminate germs in the mouth and on the teeth. This oil can also help freshen bad breath. All it takes for this is one drop of Peppermint Oil on your tongue and voila!!! Please be advised, the oil is concentrated so it is very strong.
• Respiratory Health: Peppermint oil contains menthol, which helps to loosen phlegm and relieves symptoms of colds, asthma and other respiratory conditions.
• Pain Relief: Peppermint Oil is known to be a wonderful aid in ridding the body of headache and muscle ache. I use it whenever I have a headache. I combine 3-5 drops of Peppermint Oil to a carrier oil (olive oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil) and apply to my wrist and lay back and relax and inhale deeply and relax while my headache eases away. You can also apply a couple of drops to your head to relieve your headache. Adding Peppermint Oil to a homemade massage oil is an excellent way to rid the body of aches and pains, due to its ability to relax and soothe muscles.
• Healthy Immune System: Peppermint oil can make the immune system stronger and healthier which may help prevent disease from occuring.
• Improves Circulation: Peppermint Oil opens the blood vessels as it relaxes the muscle, making it easier for blood to flow more efficiently.
• Urinary Tract Infection: Peppermint oil can be used for treating urinary tract infection (UTI).
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The muscle relaxing property of peppermint oil has been found to ease irritable bowel syndrome.
• Stress: Like most other essential oils, peppermint is able to provide relief from stress, depression and mental exhaustion due to its refreshing nature. It is also effective against anxiety and restlessness.
• Hot Flushes: Breathe in the aroma of peppermint oil for about five minutes. You’ll cool off quickly
• Congestion: Got a stuffy nose from a cold, flu, or allergies? Place a drop of peppermint oil on the tongue and inhale to relieve congestion, or put a few drops in a bowl of warm water with the same number of drops of eucalyptus oil, for a natural decongestant.
• Tired/Sore Feet: Mix a few drops of peppermint oil in a warm foot bath to relieve sore, hot, swollen or over-used feet.

Peppermint Oil..The Skin Edition

• Poison Ivy: For poison ivy or poison oak rash, apply Peppermint Oil to soothe the itching.
• Acne: Adding Peppermint Oil to your facial wash, toner or moisturizer, or just adding a few drops to a carrier oil such as grapeseed or jojoba oil is a great way to rid the skin of acne. Peppermint Oil also improves a dull complexion. Using Peppermint based soaps helps to prevent bacterial and fungal skin infections.
• Athlete's Foot: Peppermint Oil's antibacterial properties helps to relieve athlete's foot when mixed with a base oil or aloe vera.
• Cellulite: You can also reduce cellulite lines by rubbing a mixture of peppermint oil mixed with a base into the effected area.

Peppermint Oil..The Hair Edition

• Oily Scalp: Peppermint oil is actually an astringent which normalizes your scalp's oil production. An oily scalp produces excess oil which is then distributed throughout the hair; that creates greasy, oiled hair. Peppermint oil eliminates this problem and makes the appearance of greasy, flat hair a thing of the past.
• Dry Scalp: Because of its PH balancing qualities, peppermint oil can also be used to treat the opposite problem: dry scalp and dandruff. And since the oil will be neutralizing the dryness on the scalp itself, it will take away any itching sensation associated with this social nightmare.
• Moisturizer: Peppermint oil is frequently used as a moisturizer for the hair shaft. All you have to do is distribute a generous amount evenly throughout your hair. Wrap hair up in a shower cap or thin towel. Place a heated towel on top. Let the heat from the outer towel penetrate through your hair for twenty to thirty minutes. You may then reap the benefits of moisture rich hair. I have added it as one of the many wonderful ingredients in my Natty Butter. I also use it in my moisturizing spritz.
  
• Hair Growth: The tingling sensation mentioned above not only evens the playing field of the PH balance of your scalp, but it also stimulates your hair follicles and promotes hair growth.

Peppermint Oil..Other Uses:

• Paint fume fix: Mix half of a small bottle of peppermint oil into a gallon of paint to dispel the fumes.
• Remove a tick: Apply a drop of peppermint oil to the tick and it will unlatch itself from the host, without leaving its head behind (a risk if you just pull at a tick)

Happy Minty Health!

Always dilute any essential oil with a carrier oil. This information is not to serve as a medical substitute. Always seek professional medical advice before using.

credits: www.hubpages.com