If you have been raving about the amazing benefits of spearmint tea, wait till you hear about Spearmint Essential Oil!
Spearmint is not common, but this herb from the mint family is rich in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds, making it incredibly helpful for many health ailments. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits and uses of spearmint essential oil.
Spearmint Essential Oil Benefits
1. Helps With Digestive Upsets
Spearmint essential oil is one of the best natural cures for nausea, vomiting, indigestion, gas, and bloating. It contains the compound carvone, which naturally reduces the irregular muscle contractions in your digestive tract that cause vomiting and nausea.
2. May Help Lower Blood Pressure
The oil can also help control your blood pressure as the same compound, carvone, can function like calcium channel blockers, which are active ingredients in blood pressure medications.
3. Can Help With Stress
Most essential oils are great at helping reduce stress and anxiety levels thanks to their sweet, calming fragrance. The same applies to spearmint essential oil.
As it contains menthol, it produces a relaxing, soothing effect on the body when inhaled through the nose. Menthol also interacts with GABA receptors in your brain, which are neurotransmitters that reduce nerve activity, thus inducing sleep.
4. Can Help With Bacterial Infections
Why do you think spearmint is popular when making gums, toothpaste, and breath mints? Because of its antibacterial properties! Bad breath is often a result of bacteria calling our mouths their haven.
Spearmint can kill odor-causing bacteria, stimulate saliva production, and help create a healthy oral environment. It is also effective against several types of bacteria, including E. coli and Listeria.
5. Rich in Antioxidants
Harmful free radicals in the body can often lead to oxidative stress, which has been linked to chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
Being rich in compounds such as rosmarinic acid, flavones, and flavanones like menthol and limonene, spearmint essential oil acts as a potent antioxidant, similar to vitamin C.
How To Use Spearmint Essential Oil
Spearmint leaves are The go-to method, but oil is much better since it’s concentrated and stronger. Just add a couple of drops of the essential oil to a cup of boiling water to make spearmint tea and consume it 1-2 times daily.
Though it is generally safe for the short term, you must consult your doctor before consuming it in case of underlying medical conditions, pregnancy, or while nursing.
Another way to use it is to dilute it with a carrier oil and rub it on your chest or temples. Massaging it on achy muscles and joints can also relieve pain.
You can also diffuse it. Add a few drops of spearmint oil to a diffuser filled with water, and relax! Why don’t you try making mint extract at home for these benefits? It’s easy!
Before using any essential oil topically, you must always conduct a patch test and consult with your doctor. Don’t forget to dilute essential oils with carrier oils, as they can be pretty potent!