Medically reviewed by Kerry Boyle D. While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or peppermint almond bark of essential oils.

It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils, and be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Peppermint is an aromatic herb in the mint family. It’s a hybrid mint that’s a cross between spearmint and watermint. It can be found naturally in North America and Europe. Peppermint essential oil can be extracted from the leaves of the peppermint plant and is used for a variety of purposes.

It has a sharp odor that’s cool and refreshing, and the taste is similar. You may be familiar with the coolness in your mouth after you consume something with a peppermint flavor. The main chemical components of peppermint oil are menthol and menthone. However, there are many more as well. Read on to discover more about the forms of peppermint oil, its uses, and potential health benefits. Peppermint oil has a wide variety of uses.

It’s important to be careful that you are not ingesting peppermint essential oil. You should always check with a doctor before consuming peppermint oil in any form or applying it topically. Records of the medicinal use of mint plants go all the way back to the times of Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. So, what does modern research say about the benefits of peppermint oil? While some of the potential benefits of peppermint oil are based on personal testimony, research is ongoing into the health benefits.

We’ll explore some of that research below. For IBSSome of the most extensive research into the benefits of peppermint oil has focused on IBS. The specific ways peppermint oil helps ease symptoms of IBS and other GI conditions are largely unknown. This condition is characterized by bloating, indigestion, and pain in the area of the stomach. A 2019 review summarized the results of several studies involving peppermint, menthol, and caraway. Overall, this combination treatment appears promising in relieving symptoms associated with functional dyspepsia.