Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
Overview
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is a fast-growing, square-stemmed herb (commonly about 32 in / 80 cm tall), with lanceolate, serrated leaves and purplish flowers. A natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint, peppermint is renowned for its cooling, aromatic flavor and its therapeutic benefits in alleviating digestive and respiratory complaints.
Traditional uses & properties
Antispasmodic & Carminative: Relieves gas, bloating, cramps, indigestion, and irritable bowel symptoms. Cooling & Diaphoretic: Lowers fever and eases headaches, especially those linked to digestive issues. Analgesic & Antimicrobial: Topical application eases pain and fights some bacteria. Respiratory Aid: Diluted essential oil for inhalation helps congested chests and mild infections.
Preparations & dosage
Make an infusion with 1 level tsp per 3/4 (150 ml) cup of water. Drink up to 3 cups (600 - 750 ml) a day.
Capsules can offer relief for irritable bowel syndrome.
Safety & precautions
Children under 5: Avoid giving peppermint tea in strong doses; can irritate sensitive mucous membranes. GERD & Heartburn: May aggravate reflux by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter. Essential Oil Internally: Use only under professional supervision; not suitable for children under 12.
Drug & food interactions
Food and antacids may compromise the enteric coating of some commercially available peppermint oil capsules. Peppermint oil appears to increase ciclosporin and felodipine levels and topically, in high doses, it may also enhance the skin penetration of some topical medicines. Peppermint tea contains digoxin-like constituents, but the clinical relevance of this is unclear. It may also impair iron absorption, and is unlikely to have a significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of caffeine.
No interactions found.
Peppermint oil does not appear to affect the metabolism of caffeine but might slightly delay its absorption. In a crossover study in 11 healthy women, a single 100-mg capsule of menthol (a major constituent of peppermint oil) taken with decaffeinated coffee, to which 200 mg of caffeine had been added, had no effect on caffeine pharmacokinetics except for an increase in time to maximum caffeine concentration of about 30 minutes. The maximum decrease in heart rate seen with caffeine was less in the presence of menthol (about 4 bpm difference), but menthol had no effect on the small changes in blood pressure seen with caffeine.
Antacids may compromise the enteric coating of some commercially available peppermint oil capsules. H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors may interact similarly
Peppermint tea appears to reduce iron absorption similarly to conventional tea. In a study in 9 healthy subjects a 275-mL serving of peppermint tea reduced the absorption of iron from a 50-g bread roll by about 85%. The tea was prepared by adding 300mL of boiling water to 3 g of the herb tea, then infusing for 10 minutes before straining and serving. In this study, the inhibitory effect of peppermint tea on iron absorption was equivalent to that of black tea (Assam tea, Camellia sinensis L.), which is known to inhibit iron absorption, see Tea + Iron compounds, page 386.
Peppermint oil capsules appear to increase the bioavailability of felodipine, and therefore may increase the incidence of adverse effects such as headache, light-headedness and flushing. In vitro experiments suggest that peppermint oil is a moderate inhibitor of nifedipine metabolism. In a randomised, single-dose study in 12 healthy subjects1 peppermint oil capsules 600 mg increased the AUC and maximum serum levels of extended-release felodipine 10 mg by about 55% and 40%, respectively, without affecting the half-life. The AUC and maximum serum levels of dehydrofelodipine, the metabolite of felodipine, were increased by 37% and 25%, respectively
Food may compromise the enteric coating of some commercially available peppermint oil capsules.
Many herbal medicines contain cardiac glycosides, which could in theory have additive effects with digoxin or digitoxin, or interfere with their assays. However, there appear to be few such interactions reported.
The interaction between peppermint oil and ciclosporin is based on experimental evidence only. No interactions found.
Habitat
Grown widely in Europe, Asia, and North America as a culinary and medicinal plant, peppermint is propagated from seed or runners in spring, and harvested just before flowering in summer. The aerial parts are used for infusions and distilled to yield essential oil.
Traditionally used for
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