Gaye Levy
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Peppermint essential oil is so useful that is it comes as no surprise that even folks that are not well versed in the use of essential oils will have a bottle in their first aid kit. In my own case, peppermint oil was added to my collection in the 80s when I started suffering debilitating migraine headaches. Thankfully, the headaches are gone but peppermint essential oil remains a core component in my medicine cabinet.
There are many ways to use peppermint essential oil: topically either neat or mixed with a carrier oil, internally as a tea or as an addition to water, or aromatically in a diffuser or in a steaming bowl of water. Peppermint oil may also be ingested provided it is what is called “therapeutic grade”. You will know this by the supplement information on the label.
WHAT IS PEPPERMINT?
First and foremost, peppermint is a prolific garden plant that is so profuse that in my area. it must be confined to pots or planters lest it take over the entire garden. Trust me on this; left unchecked it is like a weed.
There is archaeological evidence that peppermint was used by the ancients for medicinal use. Most likely, the plant leaves were ingested in food as well as in teas, much as they are used today. Whether the ancients had their own version of the Mojito is up for grabs but chances are they did!
Peppermint and peppermint essential oil have many health-promoting properties. Peppermint is a great digestive, helps the respiratory system, promotes good circulation, and is an excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. It also smells good and makes a superb air and breath freshener.
According to the National Institutes of Health, peppermint oil reduces spasms in the digestive tract. When applied to the skin, it creates surface warmth, which in turn relieves pain beneath the skin.
20 PRACTICAL USES OF PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL
Of the hundreds of potential uses for peppermint oil, I present 20 that are the most practical and most useful in a survival situation.
1. Zap Headaches: A few drops of peppermint oil massaged around the temples, the base of the skull and along the hairline will help chase away a headache. You may also dilute the oil in a carrier oil first. If you are prone to frequent headaches, add both peppermint and lavender essential oils to a roller bottle along with some fractionated coconut oil. Keep the bottle handy to apply whenever you feel a headache coming on.
2. Eliminate Bad Breath/Halitosis: Bad breath is typically a symptom of some underlying factor. If the issue is digestive, 4 drops of peppermint oil diluted with water and swished in the mouth like mouthwash will bring relief. Better yet, add a few drops to some brandy and swish.
3. Relieve Heartburn: Add a drop or peppermint oil to your tea along with a teaspoon of honey. Or, try a drop of two of peppermint oil in a glass of milk. You can also mix 5 drops with a teaspoon of carrier oil (coconut oil, olive oil, etc.) and massage onto your upper abdomen.
4. Cool a Fever: A few drops of peppermint mixed with a carrier oil and applied to the torso can reduce body temperature by 3 degrees in minutes. You can also place a few drops of oil on a wet washcloth and apply head to toe to comfort and cool a fevered body.
5. Prevent Drowsiness: Combine peppermint with a citrus oil such as lemon or orange and apply to the back of the neck. Inhale the oil that is left on your hands. I love this; it really does work.
6. Soothe a Stomach Ache: Put one drop in a large glass water and drink up.
7. Reduce Bloating: Rub on the stomach to help with bloating caused by gas and indigestion.
8. Combat Nausea: Rub a drop of peppermint oil on the abdomen or place a drop in a cup of hot water and sip it.
9. Stop Itching: Apply peppermint oil to stop itching caused by bug bites, hives, poison ivy or poison oak.
10. Relieve constipation: Combined with a carrier oil and massaged over the lower abdomen, peppermint will relieve the constipation and get things moving again.
11. Deter Mice: Place cotton balls with peppermint in areas around your home where mice like to congregate. Mice do not like peppermint (and by the way, neither do raccoons).
12. Repel spiders and ants: Place peppermint oil on a cotton ball or cotton pad and place in areas where you find spiders and ants. Better yet, make a peppermint bug spray. Add 4-5 drops of peppermint essential oil to water in a spray bottle. This also works to get rid of aphids in the garden.
13. Tick removal: Soak some peppermint oil on a q-tip then dab on the tick. Look for the tick to withdraw its head and then remove it.
14. Tendonitis and joint pain: I have shared this one with you before. Mix 10 drops each of peppermint, lavender and rosemary oil with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Massage away your aches and pains. This is also the basis for Miracle Healing Salve. It simply works!
15. Relieve seasonal allergies: Combine lavender, peppermint and lemon essential oils together with some carrier oil and rub on the bottoms of the feet, the back of the neck and across the forehead. Then take your hands, cup them over your nose and inhale with deep cleansing breaths. This will bring instant relief.
16. Relaxing foot soak: Add peppermint oil to a pan or bowl or warm water for a relaxing foot soak Follow up with some DIY Peppermint Scrub. The same applies to tired aching feet. Add a few drops to a foot bath to relieve sore, swollen and overworked feet.
17. Stress relief: Add to a diffuser to provide relief from stress, depression and mental exhaustion. There is something uplifting about peppermint and will leave you refreshed. This is also effective when your are feeling anxious and restless.
18. Freshen air: Ditto. Add to a diffuser to freshen the air.
19. Household cleaning: Mix with vinegar and water to make an effective, all purpose household cleaner that I call “Peppermint Juice”. Here is the recipe from Prepper Checklist: DIY Cleaning Supplies:
1/2 cup white vinegar
32 oz. (1 quart) cups water
1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. peppermint essential oil
20. Control odor: A few drops in the bottom of your kitchen or bathroom garbage can will leave a nice, fresh, minty smell and will also deter those ants, spiders and mice.
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THE FINAL WORD
I have been slowly introducing you to my favorite essential oils, namely those that belong in every preppers survival kit. So far we have tea tree (melaleuca), lavender, clove, rosemary and peppermint. There is one more to go in the essential kit, namely lemon.
The good news is that all of these oils are inexpensive and highly affordable.
Of course there are other E.O.s and especially some dynamite blends that do everything from provide relief from aches and pains to to help with getting a good nights sleep. But for now, let’s stick with basics. Learn to use them alone and in combination to help solve those everyday annoyances that prevent us from being our best.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
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Spotlight: After a ton of research, I now use essential oils from Spark Naturals. There are a lot reasons one of which is there commitment to both quality and value. Their raw materials are tested and authenticated to be of pharmaceutical grade purity.
If you are interested in Peppermint Essential Oil, you can get it here. Or, you can do what I did and purchase the Health and Wellness Kit which includes all of my favorites. As always, enjoy a 10% off all Spark Naturals orders with this coupon code: BACKDOORSURVIVAL.
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Bargain Bin: Here are some things to get you started with Peppermint essential oil plus the items you need to make your own scrubs, salves, lotions and potions including Miracle Healing Salve.
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: I first became interested in aromatherapy and essential oils in the early 90s which was before they really became mainstream. I read every book I could get my hands on and dabbled at creating synergy’s (a combination of two or more oils that create a chemical compound that is greater than the some of its individual components). My bible then, and even now, is this book.
NOW Foods Essential Oils : I use essential oils from Spark Naturals. For healing purposes, I feel they are superior. On the other hand, NOW Foods has decent essential oils at a budget price from Amazon: NOW Foods Rosemary Oil, NOW Foods Peppermint Oil and Now Foods Lavender Oil.
Spark Naturals Essential Oils: These are what you need for the Miracle Salve: Lavender essential oil, Rosemary essential oil, and Peppermint essential oil. For the DIY scrub, you can use just the Peppermint or any combination of E.O.s that are pleasing to you.
Coconut (Fractionated) Carrier Oil: Once you start using coconut oil, you will be hooked. This is the fractionated coconut oil I used in my scrub (mixed with a bit of olive oil).
White Plastic Jar with Dome Lid 2 Oz (12 Per Bag): I chose to use these small ointment jars rather than Mason jars for my salve. I also have similar jars in the 1 ounce size.
Beeswax Organic Pastilles, Yellow, 100% Pure 16 Oz: I ordered the white pastilles but have since learned that the natural yellow pastilles are better. That said, the difference may not be discernable – just be sure that what you purchase is cosmetic grade.
Glass Droppers, Pack of 6: I bought a package of these and loved them. When I went to re-order, I accidentally ordered plastic instead glass droppers. Learn from my mistake. The price is the same so get the glass ones.
Nutiva Certified Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil: So far I am pleased with the Nutiva Coconut Oil. It is pure-white, USDA-certified-organic, extra-virgin coconut oil that is cold-pressed from fresh coconuts within two hours of chopping. No refrigeration is required and although it solid at room temperature, it melts at 76 degrees. I was able to easily liquefy a small amount and put it in a 4 ounce squeeze bottle where I re-liquefy by putting this smaller bottle in a glass of hot tap water.
ZAQ Dew Aromatherapy Diffuser: This essential oil diffuser uses water and essential oils to make make a mist of micro-particles and disperse them into the air. No heating or burning means the properties of the oil are not broken down. Low energy use. The really cool thing is that the light (which can be turned off) changes colors all by its own self. Very soothing and I love it!
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22 Responses to “The Miracle of Peppermint Oil: 20 Practical Uses for Survival”
I know this thread is a few years old , but I had to chime in years ago I had problems with “squash” bugs in the garden so I was at wits end with them could not figure out how to combat them so I was going to give up on gardening as it was very disappointing to start getting a crop started to lose it in a day later , so i tried the peppermint solution a few drops in a spray mister with water , spray on the plants when young and it will repel the the devious bugs since I used this remedy my squash plants flourish with crop every year since then trick is to spray top of leaves and the under side of leaves where the eggs are laid , I had even tried all types of commercial repellent to no avail , will never use anything other then peppermint oil , just male sure during growing season to stock up quickly as this stuff Flys off the shelves , I’ve even resorted to buying the soft capsules and just poke them with a needle to release the peppermint oil , oh and one other thing your crops will not taste like peppermint … and your garden will smelly pretty :).
Someone gave me a recipe to spray on self to keep flies at bay.
(She said it work)
Water,vinegar,andpeppermint.
She sprays her hair etc. Also around her doors. Keeps out flies and mosquitos and off the body.
What do you think?
We place peppermint oil on our dogs when we leave them outside to repel the flies. We also noticed that it helps with fleas and ticks as well. I’ve tried using it for mosquitos myself, but I don’t know if it actually worked. I didn’t get bit that day, but the weather could have been thanked for that.
Peppermint oil with a carrier oil amazing how quick Poison Ivy, bug bites heal and stop itching. Will never buy expensive creams again.
On the spiders and mice… I have a lot of spiders in my garage. How much water do I add the 4-5 drops too?
Very interesting and informative. Thank you for researching the essential oils, etc. I’m going to mix up a batch of simple salve and mix up your recipe to reduce blood pressure.
As long as your food items are in sealed packages they should be fine. I always replace the original package with tupperware/plastic containers, mason jars or Food Saver bags. I do that mostly because of the mice but also because the food stays fresher. I am lavish with the peppermint oil under the sink area which is where the mice tend to enter.
Will using peppermint oil to rid my cabinet of mice make food items such as rice and crackers taste like peppermint? I am planning to use it on cottonballs inside of homemade ‘bowls’ made of foil.