Mentha piperita
(Peppermint)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Analgesic, topical
• Antiinflammatory
• Antiulcer properties
• Blocks calcium influx into muscle cells causing inhibition of isolated contractions
• Calms and strengthens nerves
• Calms an upset stomach
• Decreases flaccidity in the GI tract
• Digestive aid
• Dissolves gallstones
• Eliminates heartburn
• Improves solubility of bile
• Increases bile acid and lecithin levels in the gallbladder
• Inhibits and kills micro-organisms:
  
  Candida albicans
  Herpes simplex
  Influenza A viruses
  Mumps virus
  Pseudomonas acruginosa
  Streptococcus pyogenes
  Staphylococcus aureus
  
• Inhibits constipation
• Inhibits diarrhea
• Inhibits hypercontractility of intestinal smooth muscle
• Mild anaesthetic to stomach wall
• Normalizes gastrointestinal activity
• Prevents congestion of blood to the brain
• Reduces bile cholesterol levels
• Stimulates circulation
• Stimulates contractile activity and bile secretion in the gallbladder

Clinical Indications:

• Candidiasis
• Cholecystitis
• Cholelithiasis
• Crohn's disease
• Dysmenorrhea
• Herpes simplex
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Memory loss
• Otitis media
• Peptic ulcer
• Ulcerative colitis
• Anxiety
• Cellulitis
• Colic
• Common cold
• Constipation
• Cramps
• Diarrhea
• Enteritis
• Fatigue
• Flatulent dyspepsia
• Gastritis
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Influenza A virus
• Migraine headache - associalted with digestion
• Mumps
• Senility

Contraindications:

• Acute gallstones due to the choleretic effect
• Early pregnancy
• Hiatal hernia, due to relaxing effect of lower esophageal sphincter
• Small children should not inhale essential oil

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• No interactions have been reported

Chemical Constituents:

• Azulenes
• Bitter principle
• Carotenes
• Choline
• Essential oil containing:
  
  Alpha- and beta-pinene
  Cineole
  Jasmone
  Isomenthol
  Isomenthone
  Ledol
  Limonene
  Menthofuran
  Menthol
  Menthone
  Menthyl acetate
  Neomenthol
  Piperitone
  Pulegone
  Viridiflorol
• Flavonoids:
  
  Menthoside
  Rutin
• Rosmarinic acid
• Tannins

Toxicity:

• Hypersensitivity signs:
  
  Bradycardia
  Heartburn
  Muscle tremor
  Skin rash

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).