[[File:Peppermint.jpg|thumb|Alt=|350px|left|Mentha piperita]]Other Names: Mentha piperita, Mentha balsamea Willd.<br>*Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and [[Spearmint]]. Peppermint is native to Europe and is widely cultivated throughout North America. The leaves are used medicinally. Peppermint can be found in liquid extract, tea, oil, and inhalant forms. Peppermint oil is also available as enteric-coated capsules.<br>
see also :
* [[Mint]]
* [[Menthol]]
* [[Bitters]]
==Special Precautions of Peppermint==
* Pure peppermint oil is toxic at small doses. The pure essential oil should not be taken orally.
* Young Children : Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary essential oils should be avoided in younger children because they contain a chemical constituent called 1,8- cineol and menthol. Peppermint can cause choking in children and infants due to the menthol. in young children. Peppermint is safe to use at 6+ years, but ALL eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils should be avoided until 10+ years of age.
*Peppermint oil can cause heartburn and digestive upset, and should be used with caution by people with heartburn, hiatal hernia, severe liver damage, gallbladder inflammation, or bile duct obstruction.
*Although rare, some people have experienced allergic reaction to topical application of peppermint.
*It is advised to regulate your blood sugar and blood pressure levels when taking Peppermint therapeutically for longer periods because it may lower blood sugar or blood pressure levels. *Peppermint oil shouldn't be applied topically to broken skin. Large amounts shouldn't be applied to skin. To avoid any kind of skin irritation or allergic reaction it is recommended to do a skin test before applying it for therapeutic purposes.
*If any kind of irritation occurs, stop using Peppermint Oil or try diluting it into extra virgin olive oil.
*Peppermint tea can cause choking in children and infants due to the menthol.
*Call your health practitioner if you experience headache, flushing, skin rash, muscle tremors, or other unusual symptoms.
* Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1: Peppermint has been found to have inhibitory activity against acyclovir-resistant Herpes Simplex virus type 1.
* Dental Caries/Bad Breath: Peppermint oil extract has been found to be superior to the mouthwash chemical chlorhexidine inhibiting Streptococus mutans driven biofilm formation associated with dental caries.This may explain why powdered peppermint leaves were used in the Middle Ages to combat halitosis and whiten teeth.
*[[Vasoconstrictor]] : Herbs Causing Constriction Of Capillaries
[[Category:Treatments]]
[[Category:herbal medicine]]
[[Category:Essential oil]]
[[Category:home remediesAromatherapy]][[Category:Cicatrisant]][[Category:Antiemetic]][[category:Antioxidant]][[Category:Antispasmodic]][[Category:Bitter]][[Category:Carminative]][[Category:Expectorant]][[Category:Febrifuge]][[Category:Rubefacient]]