How to use Peppermint Essential Oil
You may have heard from a friend or acquaintance that essential oils have helped them with this or that, but maybe you're not quite sure where to start. Well, I hope to help you along your journey into essential oils by covering some of their uses and cautions.
The essential oil I use most is peppermint. Peppermint - an uplifting fresh scent that can bring you back to life at times. Peppermint oil is analgesic, antiseptic, sedative and cooling. It can be used to treat fevers, colds, flu symptoms, nausea and respiratory disorders.
CAUTIONS - Please use only therapeutic grade essential oils, if you're not sure, please ask. Secondly, peppermint is very potent, use it very sparingly, then add more if you need to. Lastly, always, always wash your hands thoroughly after applying peppermint essential oil. Ask me why I would tell you this!
USES
INDIGESTION - I use peppermint a lot as I tend to have indigestion a lot. Here are a few ways it can be used - mix 2-4 drops with 1 tbsp of olive oil and apply to stomach area. Put 1 drop in a pitcher of water, more is not always better with peppermint oil, even if it seems like 1 drop wouldn't be enough, it is more than enough. You can drink peppermint water throughout the day if you like it is wonderful for internal inflammation and digestion.
HEADACHE - Peppermint works wonderful for headaches, but must be used with caution. Here is how I do it. I put only 1 drop of peppermint on my finger and lay down, then I massage the drop on my forehead and temples. Peppermint has a way of working its way down to your eyes, so be very careful. You can also apply to the back of your neck and behind your ears.
MIDDAY PICK ME UP - Who doesn't need that middle of the day pick me up? Keep a bottle of peppermint handy as it only takes a drop or two on the back of your neck to totally refresh you! Hard to believe, I know, but it really does work.
PAIN RELIEF - Lastly, I use if for those annoying little pains or sometimes big pains. It has a wonderful cooling feeling on the skin and works wonders on those aches and pains. Apply as above for the indigestion, blended with olive oil or whatever oil you have on hand.
How do you use peppermint?
Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac - Natural Remedy
My sweet daughter was exposed to poison oak at the football field, actually behind the field where they were playing last weekend. By the next morning, one side of her face was starting to swell, a few hours later and her eye was swelled shut. We started by taking Benadryl, hoping to avoid the ER. It didn't really seem to be getting worse, but it wasn't getting better either. So, I pulled out the essential oils and found a combination that worked wonders. I mixed 1 drop of my Defender essential oil blend(similar to Thieves oil) with 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil in about a tablespoon of aloe gel. You could very easily use olive oil or coconut oil if you don't have aloe gel, it just happened to be what I thought of first. I gently smoothed this blend onto her cheek and even her eyelid, only because it was so swollen shut that I was pretty sure it wouldn't seep into her eye. Always err on the side of caution when putting essential oils around the eyes as they can make there way into your eyes quite easily, either by seeping down or even by forgetting to wash your hands immediately after applying! Can't tell you how many times I've rubbed my eyes before making it to the sink, must be automatic or something! We also applied a cool wash cloth afterwards to help with the tingling from the oils.
By the next morning the difference was almost astounding, that side of her face was still swollen, but it had gone down considerably. She was even able to open her eye a crack. We kept applying about 3 times per day and by the second day, her skin was really drying up, so we started using my Organic Coconut Cream to add moisture, but continue the healing.
After spending 2-3 days cooped up in her room, she made her way downstairs tonight.
This may not work for younger children as these particular essential oils may be too strong even diluted as I did. My daughter is almost a teen and she did fine, but I would look at other essential oils for anyone younger. Some that may work are lavender or perhaps eucalyptus essential oils.
Let me know what has worked for you!
