*This post contains affiliate links. If you click on these links, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. Full disclosure here.

Peppermint has been known to do incredible things for your energy, pain, your stomach and so much more! In fact, if you look around, you’re bound to start seeing it everywhere.

You can find a very inexpensive and yet high-quality pure peppermint essential oil here.

So let’s dig into the proven benefits of peppermint essential oil.

1. Boost Focus & Energy

The first thing I did after getting my essential oil starter kit was diffuse peppermint when I was trying to focus on my work. And hours later, I’d look up and realize just how much I’d gotten done. I’m not one to believe in mere coincidences, but day after day as I diffused peppermint essential oil, I was more productive than ever.

It helped me not only to focus longer but to actually get more done. I felt more energized and alert. And no wonder, because this is a proven benefit of peppermint essential oil.

Peppermint essential oil has been proven to enhance memory and boost alertness. It helps with focus and can increase your energy levels. (1)

This oil is great for topical application or diffusing when you are trying to focus and get work done. It’s also great to give you an energy boost first thing in the morning. Get this oil out to help you wake up, increase your alertness and boost your energy and focus!

2. Decrease Inflammation & Relief Pain

Peppermint essential oil has several anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-spasmodic properties (2). It can be applied topically to relieve pain while creating that “icy-hot” cooling sensation we are so familiar with (3).

But in using peppermint oil to relieve pain, you are keeping the harmful chemicals away from your body which is one of the main reasons I love this oil! It helps me to avoid not only products such as Biofreeze but helps me to relieve pain, therefore, taking less Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen.

3. Relieves Tension Headaches

Along the same lines as the benefit of relieving pain, peppermint oil has been found to relieve tension headaches (4). There is a lot of research showing that this oil can help to relieve those pesky headaches resulting from tight muscles and stress.

4. Promotes Hair Growth

Peppermint oil can even help promote hair growth! (7) If you find yourself (or your husband) with unwanted thinning hair, you can try rubbing peppermint essential oil on the skin to safely promote hair growth.

5. Helps Treat IBS

One of the biggest and most beneficial uses of peppermint oil is to help treat IBS symptoms. (6) (7) This has been found to be most effective when using coated pill capsules so that the peppermint oil can make its way to the intestinal tract before being absorbed (8).

IBS is extremely common in today’s world and it is typically treated with medication. I love being able to find natural remedies for these symptoms.

6. Can Help Soothe GI Distress (Nausea, etc)

Peppermint has long been known to help soothe GI distress and peppermint essential oil is no exception. Simply diffusing this oil can help to ease nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, gas and morning sickness (9).

You can also rub this on your stomach or on other parts of your body or add it to water or a veggie capsule to allow it to help ease GI distress. (see note at bottom for ingesting peppermint oil).

7. Soothe Itchy Skin (Pruritus)

Peppermint essential oil can help soothe itchy skin resulting from a variety of causes such as hives and bug bites (10). This oil has cooling properties and soothing properties that can help relieve that incessant itchiness!

It is a safe and natural way to treat pruritus or itchy skin (11).

8. Helps with Respiratory Problems

Peppermint oil has some powerful expectorant and decongestant properties to help with your breathing! (12). You can use this when you’re feeling sick, use it in a vapor rub or just use it to help breathe more clearly.  

I love using this oil or using it in a mix of oils like Raven to help me clear my sinuses and breathe easy when I’m feeling congested.

**Note for internal use of peppermint essential oil: Be sure to research and understand how to safely ingest this oil. Excess ingestion can lead to heartburn (exactly the opposite of what you’re trying to relieve! There is a safe way to do this, so just make sure you learn more!

5 Ways to Use Peppermint Essential Oil:

1. Diffuse peppermint while working - to increase focus and alertness
2. Dip q-tips in the oil and stick in your car vent on the way to work for a boost of energy
3. Apply to skin (with carrier oil) for pain relief, itchy skin relief and other skin benefits
4. Take internally (with caution) or rub oil on stomach to help ease nausea and GI distress
5. Rub on temples and/or back of neck to help relieve headaches, neck pain and allergies

Get one of my favorite pure peppermint essential oils here!