Peppermint is one essential oil you probably don't have at home, but should! As one of the oldest European herbs used for medicinal purposes, peppermint is great to have on hand to remedy a variety of aliments, but that's not all! Peppermint oil has tons of unexpected benefits you'll be glad you know about.
- Clean surfaces: Peppermint oil is full of natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. Just mix some of the oil with water and vinegar [1] to create an all-purpose house cleaner and get scrubbing!
- Fight hunger: Smelling the scent of peppermint will make you feel fuller faster and help curb your appetite!
- Odor control: A few drops of peppermint oil at the bottom of your kitchen or bathroom garbage will mask smelly odors.
- Toothache: Gargling peppermint oil with water will give you toothache relief and a dab of diluted peppermint oil, applied with your finger, is also great for teething babies!
- Stop the itch: Applying a few drops of peppermint oil will stop the itching from bug bites [2], hives, or poison ivy.
- Alertness: A few drops of peppermint oil under your nose will keep you alert throughout the day.
- Beverages: Give your favorite beverage a peppermint twist by adding a few drops of peppermint oil (to taste).
- Ticks: Soaking a cotton ball in peppermint oil will free a tick from its tight latch on your skin.
- Bad breath: A drop of peppermint oil will give you minty-fresh breath, and if you mix a few drops with water, you can make peppermint mouthwash.
- Indigestion/Constipation: Massaging the oil into your lower abdomen will relieve indigestion pain and get things moving again.
- Chest cold: Rubbing a few drops of peppermint oil on your chest will help break up mucus and open up your airways.
- Hiccups: Applying peppermint oil to both sides of the vertebrae on your neck will help you get rid of the hiccups.
- Motion sickness/Nausea: Massaging a few drops of peppermint oil into your wrists and abdomen will help combat your nausea. Making a cup of peppermint tea will also soothe your sick feeling.
- Sore feet: A peppermint oil footbath will give your aching feet some much-needed relief.
- Headache: Rubbing a few drops of peppermint oil into your temples and the back of your neck will help subdue your headache pressure.
- Allergies: Mixing peppermint oil with lemon will open the airways that are under attack.
- Stomach pain/Menstrual cramps: Peppermint oil has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic qualities. Massaging a few drops into your sore muscles will help relieve pain, reduce boating, and combat spasms that cause cramps.
- Plant maintenance: Spray peppermint oil mixed with water to kill the aphids on your plants.
- Keep bugs and rodents away: Mixing 10 to 15 drops of peppermint oil with water creates a homemade bug repellent. Spray any cracks where bugs can get into your home, and it will keep them out. Placing soaked cotton balls also works great to keep pesky mice and raccoons out of your home.
- Shampoo: Adding peppermint oil to your shampoo [3] will help stimulate your scalp and help get rid of dandruff