The Wonderful Uses Of Peppermint...!

If you don't mind, I want to shift gears a little here and start a discussion on the uses of aromatic oils to improve your life a bit.

Peppermint is plant that has been widely used for thousands of years. The Romans used it for digestive problems and it is, in fact, best known as a remedy for digestive upsets and has a beneficial action on the stomach, liver and intestines. It's benefits are well documented the world over. Even the Hermit knows about it and has used it from time to time.

Digestive Problems...

It is excellent for colic, diarrhoea, indigestion, sickness and stomach pains due to its anti spasmodic action which helps to relieve the smooth muscles of the stomach and the gut. You can use it, well diluted, to massage the stomach and abdomen in a clockwise direction. Drinking peppermint tea will also help, and can often be found with the other teas in nearly any grocery store. Just be sure that it is genuine peppermint tea and not just made with a flavoring of some kind.

Colds and flu ...

Peppermint helps to fight colds and flu especially when used in conjunction with Lavender or Marjoram. Its warming and stimulating properties will help to combat the chilly and depressed feeling that often precede the runny nose, sneezing and high fever. It also induces sweating which helps to reduce fever in a natural way. You can use it in steam inhalations or just inhale it from a tissue to clear the sinuses and nasal passages. This last method makes it very easy to carry with you as a treatment if you are away from home. The pleasant aroma assures that you don't smell like medicine in public or in a confined space, like an office.

Headaches...

Peppermint and Lavender blended together is wonderful for headaches! Both these oils are effective painkillers but where Peppermint is a stimulant, Lavender is a sedative. It is this combination of stimulant and sedative that is so effective. Many commercial pain killers such as aspirin contain this same combination, but the difference is the essential oils work on the causes that produce headaches such as mental fatigue, blocked sinuses, and congested liver rather than just reduce the pain!

Mice, Rats, Ants, Cockroaches…

Peppermint is a very good deterrent for vermin. Sprinkle on the runs of mice, cockroaches, rats and the like and they will usually go away. You could always use it alongside another strong smelling oil such as Eucalyptus. When I worked in the produce department of a large food market chain, we used oil of Peppermint mixed with water to help reduce the problem of fruit flies. It is safe to use as a mist around fruit or other foods and is very effective.

I've been told that putting Peppermint by the door or at a location where your cat keeps leaving a “present” and after the second time there should be no more “presents”!!

AROMATIP

Don’t use Peppermint in the evening as it can cause wakefulness. Also, with regard to homoeopathic remedies, Holistic Therapies Spain recommends you store your Peppermint far away from them and don’t use it if you are taking these remedies as it can antidote them!

Now let's go get some fresh coffee...