What is peppermint oil and how can it help treat stomach cramps and bloating? Discover the key facts, who can and cannot take peppermint oil, how and when to take it, and the potential side effects.

Peppermint Oil: A Versatile Remedy for Digestive Woes

Peppermint oil is a type of antispasmodic medication that can help relieve stomach cramps, bloating, and excessive flatulence, particularly in cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This natural remedy works by relaxing the muscle of the bowel wall, providing relief from digestive discomfort.

Key Facts About Peppermint Oil

The typical dosage of peppermint oil is 1 or 2 capsules, taken 3 times a day, with the best timing being around 1 hour before meals. It usually takes a few hours to start working, but it may take 1-2 weeks to experience the full effects. It’s important to wait at least 2 hours between taking peppermint oil and an indigestion medication to allow the capsules to work properly.

Who Can and Cannot Take Peppermint Oil

Most adults and children aged 12 and over can take peppermint oil capsules for IBS, but some brands may only be suitable for those 15 years and above. It’s essential to inform your pharmacist or doctor if you have any allergies, liver disease, gallstones, or are underweight, as peppermint oil may not be appropriate for you.

How to Take Peppermint Oil Properly

Always follow the instructions on the packaging or as advised by your doctor. Swallow the capsules whole with water, and do not break or chew them. The usual dose is 1 capsule, 3 times a day, which can be increased to 2 capsules, 3 times a day if needed. Do not take it for longer than 2 weeks unless prescribed by a doctor.

Potential Side Effects of Peppermint Oil

Most people experience no side effects or only minor ones, such as heartburn or indigestion. However, in rare cases, more serious side effects can occur, including an allergic reaction, slow heartbeat, or muscle tremors. If you experience any concerning symptoms, stop taking the medication and consult your healthcare provider.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you experience an itchy and widespread skin rash, a slow heartbeat, muscle shakes, or dizziness, especially if combined with alcohol consumption, stop taking peppermint oil and seek immediate medical attention. In rare cases, a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) may occur, which requires emergency medical care.

Can peppermint oil help relieve IBS symptoms?

Yes, peppermint oil can be an effective treatment for relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), such as stomach cramps, bloating, and excessive flatulence. Its antispasmodic properties help to relax the muscles of the bowel wall, providing relief from these digestive discomforts.

Is peppermint oil safe for everyone to take?

No, peppermint oil is not suitable for everyone. It’s important to inform your pharmacist or doctor if you have any allergies, liver disease, gallstones, or are underweight, as peppermint oil may not be appropriate for you. Some brands may also not be suitable for children under 15 years old.

How long does it take for peppermint oil to start working?

Peppermint oil typically starts working within a few hours, but it may take 1-2 weeks to experience the full effects. It’s important to continue taking the recommended dosage until your symptoms improve, as directed by your healthcare provider.

Can taking peppermint oil cause any side effects?

Yes, peppermint oil can cause some side effects, such as heartburn, indigestion, and irritation around the anus. In rare cases, more serious side effects, like an allergic reaction or slow heartbeat, may occur. If you experience any concerning symptoms, stop taking the medication and seek medical attention.

When should I seek emergency medical care for peppermint oil use?

Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience a severe allergic reaction, such as a widespread skin rash, difficulty breathing, or tightness in the chest or throat. These symptoms may indicate a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction, which requires prompt treatment.

How long should I take peppermint oil for best results?

The recommended duration for taking peppermint oil is typically no longer than 2 weeks, unless otherwise prescribed by your doctor. Longer-term use should be monitored by a healthcare professional to ensure the continued safety and effectiveness of the treatment.

Peppermint oil: a medicine to treat to treat stomach cramps and bloating

1. About peppermint oil

Peppermint oil is a type of medicine called an antispasmodic. It helps relieve stomach cramps, bloating and farting (flatulence), particularly if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It works by helping the muscle of the bowel wall to relax.

Peppermint oil comes as capsules. It’s available on prescription or to buy from a pharmacy or a shop.

2. Key facts

• The usual dose of peppermint oil is 1 or 2 capsules, taken 3 times a day. It’s best to take it around 1 hour before meals.
• Wait at least 2 hours between taking a dose of peppermint oil and taking an indigestion medicine. This allows the peppermint oil capsules to work properly.
• It will start to work within a few hours but it could take up to 1 to 2 weeks to take full effect. Keep taking peppermint oil until your symptoms improve.
• Common side effects include heartburn and indigestion.
• If you’ve bought peppermint oil from a pharmacy or shop, do not take it for longer than 2 weeks without checking with a doctor.

3. Who can and cannot take peppermint oil

Most adults and children aged 12 and over can take peppermint oil capsules for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some brands, however, are only suitable for those aged 15 years and above. Check the leaflet that comes with your medicine.

Peppermint oil is not suitable for some people. To make sure peppermint oil is safe for you, tell your pharmacist or doctor before starting it if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to peppermint oil or any other medicine
• have liver disease or gall stones
• weigh less than 40kg (around 6st 5lbs) or are losing weight
• are allergic to peanuts (some brands contain arachis oil, so it would be best to avoid those brands)
• are 40 or over and have IBS, but have not had an attack for a while
• have noticed that the symptoms you were taking peppermint oil for have changed
• have noticed blood when you poo
• have suffered abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge
• difficulty or pain when peeing
• feel sick (nausea) or are being sick (vomiting)
• look paler than your usual skin tone, and feel tired
• recently had a high temperature
• are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant
• have digestive problems such as reflux disease, severe constipation or ulcerative colitis

4.

How and when to take peppermint oil

Always follow the instructions that come with the capsules, or as advised by your doctor.

Swallow the capsules whole, with water. Do not break or chew them.

Dosage

The usual dose of peppermint oil for adults and children aged 12 and over is 1 capsule, taken 3 times a day until your symptoms get better. You can increase this to 2 capsules, taken 3 times a day, if 1 capsule has not helped your symptoms.

Do not take it for longer than 2 weeks unless prescribed by a doctor. Follow the doctor’s instructions.

When to take peppermint oil

Take peppermint oil capsules as and when you have symptoms.

It’s best to take peppermint oil around 1 hour before meals.

What if I forget to take it?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s nearly time for the next dose. If that happens, just skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

What if I take too much?

If you take 1 extra dose of peppermint oil, it’s unlikely to harm you.

Speak to your pharmacist, doctor or call 111 if you’re worried, or have taken 2 extra doses or more.

5. Side effects

Like all medicines, peppermint oil can cause side effects in some people, but most people have no side effects or only minor ones.

Drinking alcohol while taking peppermint oil capsules can increase the chance of side effects. If this happens, it’s best not to drink alcohol.

Common side effects

These side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:

• heartburn or indigestion
• itching or irritation around your anus (bottom)

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people may have a serious side effect when taking peppermint oil.

Stop taking peppermint oil and speak to your doctor or call 111 if you:

• have an itchy and widespread skin rash
• have a slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
• have muscle shakes
• feel dizzy, which may also happen if you’ve had alcohol

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it’s possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to peppermint oil.

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

• you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
• you’re wheezing
• you get tightness in the chest or throat
• you have trouble breathing or talking
• your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of peppermint oil. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Information:

You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.

Visit Yellow Card for further information.

6. How to cope with side effects of peppermint oil

What to do about:

• heartburn or indigestion – eat smaller, more frequent meals. Prop your head and shoulders up in bed, so stomach acid does not travel up towards your throat. If this lasts for more than a few days, speak to your doctor or a pharmacist and tell them that you are taking peppermint oil.
• itching or irritation around your anus – this is usually mild and only lasts a few days. Ask a pharmacist to recommend a cream if it bothers you. Tell your doctor if this does not go away after 1 week.

7. Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Peppermint oil and pregnancy

Peppermint oil is not usually recommended in pregnancy. This is because there is not enough information to say whether it’s safe or not. Your doctor will only recommend peppermint oil during pregnancy if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Peppermint oil and breastfeeding

Peppermint oil is OK to use in breastfeeding. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your midwife, health visitor or doctor as soon as possible.

Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you’re:

• trying to get pregnant
• pregnant
• breastfeeding

Find out more about a how peppermint oil can affect you and your baby during pregnancy on , the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.

8. Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines may affect how peppermint oil works.

Do not take indigestion medicines up to 2 hours before or after you take peppermint oil capsules. These include:

• antacids
• omeprazole
• lansoprazole
• nizatidine
• famotidine

These can stop the peppermint oil working as it should.

Mixing peppermint oil with herbal remedies and supplements

Herbal medicines and supplements are not tested in the same way as other medicines. It’s not clear if it’s safe to take them with peppermint oil.

Important:
Medicine safety

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

9. Common questions about peppermint oil

How does peppermint oil work?

Peppermint oil helps the muscle in your bowel, relax. This helps to relieve the pain of stomach cramps and eases bloating and farting.

The capsules have a coating that stops them dissolving when they pass through your stomach. Once the capsule reaches your bowel, it gradually releases the medicine.

How long does it take to work?

Peppermint oil capsules will start to work within a few hours but it could take up to 1 to 2 weeks to take full effect. If your symptoms do not improve, or get worse at any time, speak to your doctor.

How long can I take it for?

If you buy peppermint oil from a pharmacy or shop, do not take it for longer than 2 weeks. Speak to your doctor if you still have symptoms.

If your doctor has prescribed peppermint oil, they may recommend that you take it for longer than 2 weeks. Follow the instructions from your doctor.

Can I take peppermint oil together with other medicines for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Peppermint oil is not known to affect other medicines. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you are thinking of using more than 1 medicine for your symptoms.

Can it make my IBS symptoms worse?

Some side effects of peppermint oil, such as heartburn may have a mild affect on your IBS, but only for a few days. Speak to your doctor if you’re concerned.

Will it affect my contraception?

Peppermint oil is not thought to affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.

Can I drink alcohol?

Alcohol may make some side effects worse, such as dizziness. It’s best to drink less alcohol while taking peppermint oil if it makes you feel dizzy, sleepy or confused.

Is there any food or drink I need to avoid?

Apart from alcohol, there’s no food or drink that will affect peppermint oil.

It’s best to take it around 1 hour before meals.

Some foods can cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, such as stomach cramping and bloating. These foods vary from person to person.

Can I drive or ride a bike?

Peppermint oil is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or ride a bike.

However, on rare occasions taking peppermint oil can cause dizziness for some people. If you feel dizzy, wait for it to wear off before you drive a car, ride a bike or use tools or machinery.

Can lifestyle changes help with IBS?

There are several things you can do to help ease painful stomach cramps and IBS, such as:

• identify foods that make your cramps worse
• avoid leaving long gaps between meals
• eat regularly without skipping meals

Visit diet, lifestyle and medicines information for IBS.

Peppermint and IBS Pain Relief

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Peppermint and IBS Pain ReliefGIS2021-07-06T15:53:29-07:00

Famous botanist, Carolus Linnaeus, was the first to describe peppermint, a sterile hybrid of spearmint and watermint, when he collected it in England in 1753, but people used peppermint as a medicine for centuries before this. Alternative medicine practitioners have implemented peppermint with a number of beneficial results, including as a digestive aid, and it is only relatively recently that researchers have begun to study its potential for use in mainstream medicine.

The effectiveness of peppermint in relieving various symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been well-documented and covered in previous issues of The Inside Tract®.^1,2 Researchers have attributed peppermint’s relief of IBS symptoms, such as constipation and bloating, mainly to its antispasmodic properties. The menthol contained in peppermint has a relaxing effect on the intestinal smooth muscle. Similarly, in a recent study on peppermint in the form of an enteric-coated supplement for the treatment of IBS-associated pain, researchers found that peppermint had a pain-relieving effect for most IBS participants in the study, again attributed to its antispasmodic effect.

Researchers in Australia recently made a breakthrough in understanding exactly how peppermint works in the gut to reduce IBS pain. ³ When people with IBS are experiencing symptoms, the nerve fibres in their colons are hypersensitive, manifesting as abdominal pain. Researchers found that the high concentrations of the cooling menthol in peppermint has an antispasmodic effect and it excites the anti-pain channel called TRPM8, which temporarily causes pain-sensing fibres in the gut to become less sensitive. The study authors believe this new insight could lead to the development of peppermint oil as a mainstream treatment for IBS and other GI conditions involving abdominal pain originating in the colon.

Though considered safe for normal usage, large doses of peppermint can have negative effects and sometimes interfere with the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and medications. As with any treatment, it is important to talk with your doctor about what is best for you.

Want to learn more about natural remedies for GI illnesses?

We have several related articles that may be helpful:

• Baking Soda for Heartburn
• Carbonated Water May Help Dyspepsia & Constipation
• Cinnamon: The Good, the Bad, and the Tasty
• Contaminated Natural Health Products
• Guidelines for Choosing Herbal Products
• Iberogast®
• MS+™
• Natural and Over-the-Counter Heartburn Treatments
• Peppermint and IBS Pain Relief
• Prunes vs. Psyllium for Reducing Constipation
• Time-Tested Natural Remedies for Digestive Disorders

First published in the

Inside Tract® newsletter issue 181 – 2012

Image: Anja Heidsiek from Pixabay.com

1. Cappello G

et al. Peppermint oil (Mintoil) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective double blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Dig Liver Dis. 2007;39(6):530-6.
2. Merat S et al. The effect of enteric-coated, delayed-release peppermint oil on irritable bowel syndrome. Dig Dis Sci. 2010;55(5):1385-90.
3. Harrington AM et al. A novel role for TRPM8 in visceral afferent function. Pain. 2011;152:1459-68.

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Rospotrebnadzor named ten useful properties of mint tea

0001

Peppermint tea has not only pleasant taste, but also useful properties. About how this fragrant drink can help health, they told in the Main Directorate of Rospotrebnadzor in St. Petersburg.

Aids in digestion

A cup of mint tea can improve heartburn and indigestion, as well as reduce bloating, abdominal pain and flatulence. In addition, this drink relieves spasms of the intestines, gallbladder and bile ducts. It relaxes the digestive system and helps maintain healthy bowel movements, thus preventing the occurrence of hemorrhoids. Peppermint tea can also relieve some of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Improves sleep and relieves stress

Peppermint leaves contain menthol, which is a muscle relaxant and sedative. That is why peppermint oil is popular in aromatherapy.

Relieves headaches

Peppermint promotes relaxation and therefore can help relieve headaches associated with stress, tense neck and back muscles. For greater effectiveness, experts recommend drinking tea while lying in a warm bath.

Supports the gallbladder and liver

Peppermint stimulates the flow of bile from the gallbladder to the liver, reducing problems and attacks. Peppermint tea can also help relieve the pain and discomfort of colic and gallbladder spasms.

Eliminates bad breath

Mint is good at masking bad odors, which is why it’s so common in toothpaste, mouthwash and chewing gum. Also, peppermint leaves have antibacterial properties, which also provides fresh breath.

Reduces menstrual pain

Peppermint and chamomile tea relaxes the abdominal muscles and reduces the intensity of menstrual pain.

Helps with coughs

Added to hot water, menthol acts on the mucus that forms in the lungs during colds and facilitates its removal. It can also help with sore throat and dry cough.

Promotes weight loss

The strong aroma of mint tea reduces appetite, and just one cup of the drink can suppress food cravings and make you feel fuller for a longer time.