Peppermint Oil to Ease Stomach Distress

Sunday, January 1st 2006

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Peppermint is a relative of numerous wild mint plants, deliberately bred in the late 1600s in England to become the delightful tasting plant so well known today.

What is Peppermint Used for Today?

Germany's Commission E authorizes the use of oral peppermint oil for treating colicky pain in the digestive tract. The active ingredient of peppermint oil for this purpose is thought to be menthol. This substance relaxes the muscles of the small intestine in dilutions as low as 1:20,000, and has been found to counter the effect of drugs that cause intestinal spasm. (1,2,3) Peppermint oil may also be helpful for dyspepsia (minor indigestion).

What is the Scientific Evidence for Peppermint?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Four preliminary, double-blind studies, involving a total of about 240 individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, found that peppermint can provide significant relief from crampy abdominal pain. (4-8) In the largest of these, 110 individuals with irritable bowel syndrome were given either enteric-coated peppermint oil (187mg) or placebo 3 to 4 times daily, 15 to 30 minutes before meals, for 4 weeks. (6) The results in the 101 individuals who completed the trial showed significant improvements in abdominal pain and bloating, stool frequency, and flatulence.

The proper dosage of peppermint oil when treating irritable bowel syndrome is 0.2 to .04 ml 3 times a day of an enteric-coated capsule. The capsule has to be enteric-coated to prevent stomach distress.

Dyspepsia (Minor Indigestion)

Peppermint oil if often used in combination with other essential oils to treat minor indigestion.

A double-blind placebo-controlled study including 39 individuals found that an enteric-coated peppermint-caraway oil combination taken 3 times daily for 4 weeks significantly reduced dyspepsia pain as compared to placebo. (9) Of the treatment group, 63.2% was pain free after 4 weeks, compared to 25% of the placebo group.

Enteric Coated Peppermint Oil is available as Radiance DigestEze.

Reproduced unabridged from the January - March 2006 issue of Health and Herbal News, with the kind permission of Health and Herbs International Ltd.

The following products are all useful for Indigestion:

Activated Charcoal
Bowel Clear
Colostrum Capsules
Formula 825 Verm-Eze
GastroCalm
Digestaid
Natural Digestion
ManukaGard Nutralize - Maple
Primadophilus
Self Test Allergy Food Test Kit

Related health information can be found here:

Acid and alkaline forming foods
Allergies
Bowel Cleanse
Colic
Diarrhoea
Digestion
Flatulence
FOS to assist with candida, diarrhoea, constipation or other bowel problems
Indigestion
The good health diet

Related articles can be found here:

Activated Charcoal - the Forgotten Antidote

Chlorophyll- Nature's Green Wonder Food

Do You React to Milk & Diary Products?

Enzymes: The weakest Link in Your Digestive System

Importance of Effective Cleansing

Improved Colostrum Provides Extra Health Benefits

Why Take Primadophilus?

If you need help or advice, you are welcome to email our naturopathic team with your health question.

Disclaimer: The health information presented here has been written for the New Zealand health consumer. It is of a general nature and is only intended to provide a summary of the subjects covered. The information is not intended to be comprehensive or to provide medical advice to you. While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, no responsibility or liability is accepted, and no person should act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided. All health ailments should be treated by a qualified health professional.

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