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[P195]Peppermint Pure Essential Oil

by Marilyn Reid1, Mar

Mentha piperita being its Latin name, peppermint oil is used in aromatherapy for a broad spectrum of physical ailments and conditions. This pure essence of the plant has a refreshing, mint-like fragrance. Apart from its refreshing qualities, peppermint essential oil also has anti-viral, antiseptic and astringent properties. Being a natural aid in decreasing pulmonary congestion, this oil when inhaled is a wonderful remedy for alleviating the symptoms of colds and coughs. Chest infections can also be eased if it is diluted with a base-oil and massaged on the chest.

Peppermint essential oil has been in use since ancient times. Its presence has been detected in Egyptian tombs dating as far back as 1000 BC. The Romans too are reputed to have used it as a digestive aid. Peppermint leaves would have been traditionally eaten or brewed as a tea in order to treat various nerve and gastric problems.

According to ancient lore, the Egyptians dedicated this fragrant mint to Horus, one of their gods. The Romans, on the other hand, personified it as Mentha or Minthe, the lovely water nymph whom Pluto loved. It is said that when Prosperine, Pluto's queen, discovered this, out of jealousy she trampled Mentha into the ground, turning her into the humble mint plant. However, Pluto issued a decree that the more the mint was trampled upon, the sweeter would be the aroma that would emanate from it.

By the 17th century the peppermint plant hybridized naturally into about 20 varieties of perennials that are found today, which have the ability of spreading easily by their root systems. Now, it grows in the wild all over North America, Europe and Australia. It is also amongst the few essential oil plants that are cultivated in the US, where the conditions of the soil, the temperature and the rainfall in central Oregon and Michigan are perfect for producing high quantities of the oil.

One of the most extensively used aromatic oils today, peppermint is found in all sorts of products, both inedible and edible, such as medicines, liqueurs, gums, candies, desserts, ice cream, beverages, jellies and sauces, dental and aromatherapy preparations, tobacco, cosmetics and cleaners.

Peppermint Essential Oil's Uses:

Because of its antispasmodic properties, which alleviate the spasms of the smooth muscles in the stomach and the intestines, it is especially good for ailments like colic, stomach ache, vomiting, indigestion and diarrhea. It also has a palliative effect on the liver. Peppermint is also highly effective in treating flu and cold, and helps to clear congested sinuses and other nasal orifices. Peppermint is an excellent remedy for headaches, especially when combined with lavender. The reason for this being that while peppermint is a stimulant, lavender has sedative properties. This blending of stimulant and sedative properties is used in many analgesics like aspirin, Anacin, etc.

Unlike other painkillers, peppermint does not merely suppress pain, but also acts on the ailment causing it. Another specialty of peppermint is its property of inducing cooling as well as sweating effects, which is used to treat both flu and colds. The essential oil of peppermint is also said to be a very good brain stimulant. It can induce a feeling of mental freshness, which results in positive effects like the ability to face any challenge. It is also used for treating the effects of shock.

Although this sounds quite expensive, one must realize that three tons of plant material are required to produce that single pound of oil. Because the vast majority of all the oils produced in the world today are used by the perfume industry, the oils are being purchased for their aromatic qualities only.

High pressure, high temperatures, rapid processing and the use of chemical solvents are often employed during the distillation process so that a greater quantity of oil can be produced at a faster rate.

These oils may smell just as good and cost much less, but will lack most, if not all, of the chemical constituents necessary to produce the expected therapeutic results.

AFNOR (French Association of Normalization) standards for therapeutic grade essential oils state the percentages of certain chemical constituents that must be present for an essential oil to qualify as true therapeutic grade.

As a general rule, if two or more marker compounds in an essential oil fall outside their proper percentages, the oil may not meet AFNOR standards.

How to Be Sure Your Essential Oils are Therapeutic Grade

Are the fragrances subtle, rich, organic, and delicate? Do they "feel" natural?

Do the fragrances of your oils vary from batch to batch as an indication that they are pure and painstakingly distilled in small batches rather than industrially processed on a large scale?

Does your supplier send each batch of essential oils it receives through up to five different analyses before it is released?

Are these tests performed by independent labs?

Does your supplier grow and distill its own organically grown herbs? Are the distillation facilities part of the farm where the herbs are grown so they are freshly distilled, maintaining their potency?

Does your supplier use low pressure and low temperature to distill essential oils and preserve all of their fragile chemical constituents?

Are the distillation cookers fabricated from costly stainless steel alloys to reduce the likelihood of the oils chemically reacting with metal?

Does your supplier have representatives traveling worldwide to personally inspect the fields and distilleries where the herbs are grown and distilled?

Do they scrutinize the facilities to check that no synthetic chemicals are being used in any of these processes?

If your answer to all of these questions is yes, you can feel confident that your oils are therapeutic grade, the purest available.

In beginning your journey into the realm of aromatherapy and essential oils it is very important to use only the purest oils available. Anything less than pure, may not produce the desired results and can, in some cases, be extremely toxic.

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article is based solely on the use of 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils due to their high quality and tested purity.

The use of a brand of uncertain quality and/or purity will provide you with potentially dangerous, if not lethal, results.

The statements about these oils have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Article Source : Pure Essential Oil

About Author

Both Marilyn Reid1 & Rebecca Noel are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Marilyn Reid1 has sinced written about articles on various topics from Essential Oils. . Marilyn Reid1's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.

Rebecca Noel has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodeling Ideas and Essential Oils. Rebecca Noel is the author of The Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Info Blog where you can find out everything you want to know about essential oils and their uses with topics ranging from treating insect bites to making an awesome pesto to which oils to u. Rebecca Noel's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.