Botanical Index No. 786

Peppermint

mentha x piperita

Medicinal Actions

Allergenic, Analgesic, Anesthetic, Antibacterial, Antiemetic, Antiherpetic, Antiinflammatory, Antilactagogue, Antiitch, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitussive, Antiulcer, Antiviral, Apoptotic, Astringent, Cardiotonic, Carminative, Cholagogue, Choleretic, CNS-Sedative, Counterirritant, Decongestant, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Insecticide, Myorelaxant, Orexigenic, Secretolytic, Sedative, Stimulant, Stomachic, Tonic, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Anaphrodisiac Aphrodisiac Bronchodilator Calcium-Blocker Tranquilizer Vasodilator Vermifuge Vulnerary Anorexia Arthrosis Asthma Bacteria Biliary Dysfunction Bite Bronchosis Bug Bite Burn Cancer breast pancreas stomach Catarrh Cholecystosis Cholera Cold Cold Sore Colitis Congestion Coryza Cough Cramp Croup Dermatosis Diarrhea Diphtheria Diverticulosis Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dysuria Earache Enterosis Epilepsy Epistaxis Fever Flu Freckle Gallstone Gas Gastrosis Gingivosis Gout Gravel Headache Heartburn Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Herpes Hiccup Hypochondria Hysteria IBS Impotence Infection Inflammation Insomnia Itch Jaundice Languor Mastosis Measles Menstrual Cramp Migraine Morning Sickness Motion Sickness Mucososis Myalgia Nausea Nephrosis Nervousness Neuralgia Neurosis Pain Pharyngosis Phthisis Pneumonia Respirosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Ringworm Satyrism Sciatica Sinusosis Sore Throat Spermatorrhea Splenosis Stomachache Stomatosis Stone Stress Syncope Tendinitis Tonsilosis Toothache Typhoid Ulcer Urticaria Uterosis Vertigo Virus Vomiting Water Retention Worm

General Dosage

Estimated LD for menthol in humans may be as low as 2 g. Survival after doses of 8 to 9 g have been reported. I fear APA erred in saying that it took 1 g/kg body weight menthol to be lethal in humans. Estimated LD50 for peppermint oil in humans = 2000–9000 mg. 1 tbsp leaf/cup water 3–4 ×/day; 1–2 g leaf/cup 3 ×/day; 0.25–0.5 cup fresh leaf; 6–12 g dry leaf; 6–9 g dry leaf/day; 1–2 tsp dry leaf/cup water up to 3 ×/day; 9 g dry leaf/45 ml alcohol/45 ml water; 2 tsp herb in hot tea; 2–4 g powdered herb; 1.5–4 ml fluid herb extract/day; 1 dropper concentrated herb extract or tincture; 1 wineglass gin/herb tincture 3–4 ×/day as diuretic; 5–15 g herb tincture/day; 3.5–11 ml herb tincture/day; 0.05–0.15 g herb oil; 0.15–0.6 ml herb EO; 0.05–0.2 ml EO; 1–2 enteric -coated peppermint oil pills 3 ×/day; 6–12 drops peppermint oil; 10% peppermint oil in ethanol; 0.3–2 ml peppermint spirit; 0.25–1 ml concentrated peppermint water; 0.2 ml 3 ×/day for irritable colon; 1–2 capsules for IBS StX 2–3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects — Class 1.“Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. Not to be used in patients with achlorhydria, biliary or gallbladder obstruction, or gallstones. Concentrated oil may induce dermatosis, flushing and headache, if rubbed on profusely or inhaled. Leaf contains much astringent tannin that can damage the liver and intestine with prolonged use. Commission E reports contraindications for EO: biliary obstruction or inflammation, and severe liver damage. Since the more widely used tea often contains twice as much tannin as peppermint, this recommendation should be doubly pertinent under tea, or maybe we should name these tannins the more glamorous “OPCs, polyphenols, and pycnogenols” and declare them antioxidant good guys instead of hepatotoxic bad guys. Rats receiving 100 mg/day peppermint oil develop dose-related brain lesions. Because of its ability to relax GI smooth muscles, peppermint oil may sometimes worsen symptoms of hiatal hernia. Coated pills opening too soon may cause gastralgia and heartburn. Excessive ingestion of the oil is associated with acute renal failure and interstitial nephrosis. Menthol reactions include reported cases of urticaria, allergic cheilitis, stomatosis, and rarely, shaking chills from use of topical menthol products. GI complaints due to use of peppermint preparations include stomatosis, severe esophagitis, gastrosis, unexplained diarrhea, and pancreatitis. Menthol in nasal preparations may cause spasm of the glottis in young children. Should not be inhaled by small children. Menthol-containing ointments applied to an infant’s nostrils have produced immediate collapse. “Peppermint tea should not be given to infants or very young children because the pungent fragrance can cause gagging”. Class 1.“Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. Not to be used in patients with achlorhydria, biliary or gallbladder obstruction, or gallstones. Concentrated oil may induce dermatosis, flushing and headache, if rubbed on profusely or inhaled. Leaf contains much astringent tannin that can damage the liver and intestine with prolonged use. Commission E reports contraindications for EO: biliary obstruction or inflammation, and severe liver damage. Since the more widely used tea often contains twice as much tannin as peppermint, this recommendation should be doubly pertinent under tea, or maybe we should name these tannins the more glamorous “OPCs, polyphenols, and pycnogenols” and declare them antioxidant good guys instead of hepatotoxic bad guys. Rats receiving 100 mg/day peppermint oil develop dose-related brain lesions. Because of its ability

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