10 Science-Backed Benefits of Peppermint Tea and Extracts

10 Science-Backed Benefits of Peppermint Tea and Extracts

Peppermint is an aromatic plant, created from the blending of watermint and spearmint. It is used to add flavor or fragrance to foods, cosmetics, soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other products, and it may have some medicinal uses. Peppermint can consist of fresh or dry leaves for use in food or as a tea. Peppermint essential oil is used in tinctures, chest rubs, and creams. It can also be taken in enteric-coated capsules for swallowing. This allows the peppermint to pass into the intestine. Peppermint essential oil is a concentrated oil that is extracted from the peppermint plant by steam distillation. The whole fresh or partly dried plant is used before it starts to flower.

The chemical components of peppermint oil are:

• menthol (40.7 percent)
• menthone (23.4 percent)
• menthyl acetate
• 1.8-cineole
•  limonene
• beta-pinene
• beta-caryophyllene

Fast facts about peppermint

•  Peppermint is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint.
• It is available in the forms of leaves, capsules, and oils.
•  Peppermint has shown health benefits for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, skin conditions, headaches, cold, and flu.
•  It can interact with medicines and is not advised for people with gastrointestinal problems.

The benefits of peppermint has been discussed as below: 

May Ease Digestive Upsets: Peppermint may relieve digestive symptoms, such as gas, bloating and indigestion.

Animal studies indicate that peppermint relaxes your digestive system and may ease pain. It also prevents smooth muscles from contracting, which could relieve spasms in your gut. 

Peppermint oil has been shown to relax muscles in your digestive system and improve various digestive symptoms. Therefore, peppermint tea may provide similar benefits.

May Help Relieve Tension Headaches and Migraines: As peppermint acts as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever, it may diminish certain types of headaches. The menthol in peppermint oil increases blood flow and provides a cooling sensation, possibly easing pain. The peppermint tea improves headache symptoms, research suggests that peppermint oil reduces tension headaches and migraines.

May Freshen Your Breath: There’s a reason why peppermint is a common flavoring for toothpastes, mouthwashes and chewing gums. In addition to its pleasant smell, peppermint has antibacterial properties that help kill germs that cause dental plaque — which may improve your breath

Peppermint oil has been shown to kill germs that lead to bad breath. Peppermint tea, which contains peppermint oil, may help improve breath as well.

May Relieve Clogged Sinuses: Peppermint has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Because of this, peppermint tea may fight clogged sinuses due to infections, the common cold and allergies. Drinking peppermint tea may help unclog your sinuses, a warm beverage containing menthol — such as peppermint tea — may help you breathe a little easier.

May Improve Energy: Peppermint tea may improve energy levels and reduce daytime fatigue. Peppermint oil has been shown to relieve fatigue and daytime sleepiness in some studies, but research specifically on peppermint tea is lacking.

May Fight Bacterial Infections: While there are no studies on the antibacterial effects of peppermint tea, peppermint oil has been shown to effectively kill bacteria. So Studies confirm that peppermint effectively fights several types of bacteria, including those that cause food-borne illnesses and contagious illnesses.

May Improve Your Sleep: Peppermint tea is an ideal choice before bed, as it’s naturally caffeine-free. What’s more, peppermint’s capacity as a muscle relaxant may help you relax before bedtime. Little scientific evidence suggests that peppermint tea is beneficial for sleep. However, it’s a caffeine-free beverage that may help you relax before bedtime.

May Aid Weight Loss: Peppermint tea is naturally calorie-free and has a pleasantly sweet flavor, which makes it a smart choice when you’re trying to lose weight. Peppermint tea is a calorie-free beverage that may help satisfy your sweet tooth and reduce your appetite. However, more studies on peppermint and weight loss are needed.

May Improve Seasonal Allergies: Peppermint contains rosmarinic acid, a plant compound found in rosemary and plants in the mint family. Rosmarinic acid is linked to reduced symptoms of allergic reactions, such as runny nose, itchy eyes and asthma. Peppermint contains rosmarinic acid, which has been shown to reduce allergy symptoms, such as sneezing and runny nose. However, evidence on the efficacy of peppermint tea against allergy symptoms is limited.

May Improve Concentration: Drinking peppermint tea may help improve your ability to concentrate and focus. Peppermint oil, found in peppermint tea, may help increase alertness and memory, which may improve concentration.