January 12, 2012
The peppermint plant, traditionally indigenous to the European regions, is now relatively widely cultivated all around the world. It is a cross between watermint and spearmint. Peppermint contains the substance menthol, which adds another depth of flavor and sensation to the products where its essential oil is used.
It is also commonly used in toothpaste, shampoos, and soaps, and is hugely popular because of the minty scent and cooling sensation it leaves on the part of the body where it is applied onto. The oil derived from the said plant can be sold in aqueous or capsule preparations. It can also be diluted and applied to the skin.
Peppermint has been used for medicinal purposes since the 1st century. Peppermint oil has been used for a variety of health conditions, including nausea, indigestion, and cold symptoms. In 2007, Italian researchers reported that 75% of their subjects who took peppermint oil capsules over the course of 4 weeks had a major reduction in irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Peppermint oil is also widely used as a pain reliever, treating muscle aches and reducing severity of migraine and tension headaches as well.
Another purported benefit of the said aromatic herb is that it is a memory enhancer, making it hugely sought-after among test takers. This belief is not without merit because a research included in the International Journal of Neuroscience four years ago mirrored the same modulatory effect of peppermint aroma to cognitive performance and mental alertness. A laboratory study mentioned in Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics a year ago showed that peppermint exerted a cytoprotective effect on radiosensitive cells in mice, and opined that the same benefit can be enjoyed by humans who receive radiation therapy for certain malignancies.
You can buy peppermint oil capsules from online and offline health shops. They are distributed as health supplements, not OTC drugs, and are thus do not need a go-ahead from the Food and Drug Administration prior to selling. Make sure to get enteric-coated ones because they reduce the heartburn associated with the intake of the essential oil of peppermint. Aqueous essential oil of peppermint which you can mix with food and other solutions can also be purchased in malls and local retailers, as well as niche-vendors on the Web. When shopping for peppermint oil products, determine if the ones you intend to get are made according to ISO and GMP quality standards.
Remember to tell your healthcare providers about your complementary and alternative practices to ensure coordinated and safe care.
Hash: Carrick Ranffervis-KJHDS*I@OHASD(SA
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