Peppermint is a widely used herb, originally from Europe and the Middle East. Mentha × piperita is a cross between watermint and spearmint. Although there are more than 25 species of mint, peppermint is the most commonly used and it is one of the oldest culinary and medicinal herbs. Its fresh scent and flavour is immediately recognizable and can be found in several cuisines as well as teas, candies and cosmetic products such as toothpaste. Health, beauty and cleaning products that incorporate peppermint usually do so in the form of peppermint essential oil.
Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts of plant matter. They are oils (not soluble in water) and comprised of volatile chemical compounds. Because they are so concentrated, essential oils are very potent and must be treated with respect. They almost always are diluted into carrier oils before use.
Peppermint essential oil is has two main constituents; menthol and menthone. These compounds are responsible for the pleasant minty taste and smell. Many of the benefits of peppermint oil and its characteristic cooling sensation are mainly attributed to menthol. Peppermint essential oil has been shown to be antimicrobial, as well as insecticidal (Molecules. 2023 Jun; 28(12): 4647). It is a common ingredient in pain lotions due to its analgesic and anesthetic properties. Additionally it improves blood flow (vasodilation) (J Clin Pharm Ther. 2018 Jun;43(3):313-319).
Peppermint oil has been investigated as a remedy for hair loss. In many cases, hair loss stems from restricted blood flow to the hair follicles. It is proposed that since menthol is a vasodilator, and vasodilators improve blood flow, peppermint could potentially increase circulation and therefore prevent hair loss. A 2014 study using mice compared a dilution of peppermint essential oil to the leading OTC hair growth product containing minoxidil. The two treatments had similar outcomes of thick healthy hair after four weeks (Toxicol Res. 2014 Dec; 30(4): 297–304).
On top of the promising results noted above, topical application of diluted peppermint oil improved duration and intensity of chronic itching (Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016; 9: 333–338). This property could come in handy for certain scalp conditions.
Lastly, menthol is also useful in cosmetic formulations as a permeation enhancer, which means that it helps other active ingredients in a formulation (like CBD) through the outermost layer of the skin (J Mol Model. 2017 Sep 15;23(10):279).
Peppermint essential oil is a widely used natural ingredient that holds promise for hair and scalp health. As with any cosmetic or medicinal product, avoid getting essential oil preparations in your eyes. Because higher concentrations of essential oils can potentially irritate the skin it is important to use a sufficiently diluted formulation. Choose a research-backed formulation that incorporates active ingredients at the correct concentrations for their intended purpose, and is ideally combined with synergistic ingredients. Talk with your doctor before using peppermint essential oil and other essential oils if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
