Spearmint Oil: Uses & Benefits

Do you need to improve you negative mood?

Have you been suffering from indigestion?

Is your breath missing that minty freshness?

Spearmint essential oil is a sweet, fragrant and delicious oil that comes from a perennial plant grown in temperate climates. It’s minty taste is great for adding to sweets and baked goods, and it can also be added to toothpaste to leave your breath smelling fresh. For centuries, it has been used as a digestive aid – it’s great for relieving indigestion. This oil is different from peppermint in that it’s more calming to sensitive skin and milder in taste. The bright, perky scent is also great for improving a poor mood. This essential oil can be diffused in a store-bought diffuser and mixed with other essential oils. When applied topically with a carrier oil, it is great for calming sensitive skin and muscles. It can also be digested when mixed with food or diluted in drinks to relieve stomach cramps.

What is Spearmint Essential Oil?

Principal Benefits

• Can relieve stomach indigestion when taken internally
• Can brighten a mood and create a clear mind when diffused
• Can be added to sweet and savory foods for a minty and fresh flavor

How to Use Spearmint Essential Oil

This essential oil can be used in a few different ways, and each way provides its own health benefit. Use it to target one area you would like to improve, or use it in all appropriate ways to receive the full benefits of this oil.

Spearmint Essential Oil Uses

• Aromatic Use: This essential oil can be added in a few drops to a diffuser to create a clearer mind or to help fix a bad mood.
• Topical Use: The essential oil can be mixed with a carrier oil and massaged into the skin to relieve sore, hot muscles or to soothe sensitive skin. It can also be added in a single drop to toothpaste for minty, fresh breath.
• Internal Use: It can be diluted in water, or another liquid, and digested to relieve a sour stomach. Add it to tea and drink immediately for pain relief. It can also be added to meals, sauces and dressings for regular consumption and to promote a healthy digestive tract.

Directions for Use:

In aromatherapy, place a few drops in a regular store-bought diffuser for its stress-healing effects. For topical application, always combine it with a carrier oil before applying to skin. If ingesting, dilute each drop of the essential oil with four ounces of water. Always avoid areas, such as eyes or open cuts, that could be overly-sensitive to spearmint.

Spearmint Essential Oil Health Benefits

• This essential oil is great for relieving an upset stomach. If you’ve had a heavy meal, add one to two drops to a cup of tea, and drink immediately to sooth any stomach pain. Ingesting regularly can also help promote a regular digestive tract and avoid any future indigestion.
• The essential oil can be added to savory foods, such as salad dressings, sauces and meats. Add a drop to intensify any ingredients or to add a pop of flavor to a dull meal. Minty flavors are popular in Indian cuisine, as well as some African and English dishes.
• It is also great for adding to sweets and baked goods. If peppermint is too overpowering, add spearmint instead to get a minty flavor that won’t muddle the other ingredients. This flavor can be used in cakes, ice cream and hard candies, and it tastes great when mixed with chocolate or vanilla.
• If you feel your breath hasn’t smelled very fresh lately, add a single drop of the oil to your toothpaste before brushing at night.
• If your muscles feel tight or hot, the essential oil can be used to relax them. Simply combine it with a carrier oil, and massage it into any aching areas that need to be cooled and calmed.
• By adding it to a diffuser in three to four drops, you can use its aromatherapy effects to clear your mind. This is great for when you are stressed out or have had a long day. If you’ve been feeling sad or unhappy, inhaling the fragrance can help you feel happier and optimistic.

Spearmint Essential Oil Research

In a study done in Pakistan, several strains of the essential oil were tested against multiple types of bacteria and fungi. It was perceived to show high rates of antioxidant powers, and it showed antimicrobial powers against four bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pasturella multocida and Escherichia coli (E. coli). It also was believed to have antifungal powers against Aspergillus niger, Mucor mucedo, Fusarium solani, Botryodiplodia theobromae and Rhizopus solani. It is believed that the oil is comparatively as powerful as amoxicillin, streptomycin and penicillin. Further studies will go on to confirm this, and the food preserving effects of the essential oil will also be studied. The FDA has not approved these claims, and it should never replace a prescribed medication.

Spearmint Essential Oil Nutrition

This essential oil has many nutritional benefits for external and internal uses. It is great for immediate relief of stomach cramps, when consumed with tea or another beverage. When regularly digested in food and beverages, it can promote a healthy digestive tract and avoid indigestion. You can also ward off stomach cramps from a heavy meal by including it in your entree. To promote healthy, fresh breath, add a drop to your toothpaste before brushing every night. The antibacterial qualities can help kill the germs in your mouth that cause bad breath. If your muscles are tight and sore, combine the oil with a carrier oil, such as hemp seed oil, and massage it into the skin to relax any aching areas. It can also be applied to areas that feel hot or irritated. If you usually feel stressed or anxious, add it to a diffuser to take advantage of its calming effects. It can clear your mind as well as make you feel happier and more at ease.

Spearmint Essential Oil Safety

When using this essenial oil topically, always combine it with a carrier oil, such as hemp seed or coconut oil, before applying it to any external areas of the body. Avoid areas that are already too sensitive, such as the eyes or open cuts and abrasions. If you’re ingesting it, you should always dilute each drop with at least four ounces of water or another liquid. Use one drop at a time, when combining it with your cooking, because it has a very concentrated flavor. Never ingest the oil by itself, or it will irritate the sensitive tissue in your digestive tract.

Spearmint Essential Oil Substitutes

This essential oil has many healing qualities, and it can replace many drug store or over-the-counter products. Instead of purchasing Tums or Pepto-Bismol, use it for relieving stomach cramps or indigestion from a heavy or rich meal. Instead of expensive massage oils or Icy Hot pads, use the oil with a carrier oil to to soothe any aching or hot muscles. If fresh mint is too expensive in grocery stores (or it’s out of season) use it in your baking and cooking to add a bright and minty flavor. This essential oil also adds a great flavor to tea and other hot drinks.

Spearmint Essential Oil Blends Well With

This essential oil has cooling and calming qualities that work well with other essential oils to intensify or increase those effects. Try blending the oil with ginger or chamomile in your tea to help relieve stomach aches and for all-over relaxation. it tastes good with turmeric and cardamom, which also hold benefits for improving the digestive tract. If using in a diffuser, blend it with citrus scents or ginger to create a clear mind with astute focus. Blend it with lavender or clary sage to create a more relaxing and stress-relieving environment.

Conclusion

Spearmint essential oil is a wonderful product that has been used for centuries as both a digestif and flavor-enhancer. It can be applied aromatically, topically and internally for improving the health and well-being on both the outside and inside of the body. Its aromatic properties have been known to calm anxious moods or improve a poor mood. Its topical properties have proven that the oil is great for massaging into sore muscles for pain relief, and it provides a cooling property. It’s also perfect for adding to toothpaste for an extra minty taste to freshen breath. This oil can be digested regularly for a healthy digestive tract and to aid in indigestion.

Disclaimer

Spearmint essential oil has many helpful qualities in aiding in multiple health areas. It should never be used as a treatment, cure or replacement for any existing disease or prescription. Always consult with your doctor before using spearmint oil as a means to improve health. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak with a medical professional before using it. Studies have compared spearmint oil with drugstore prescriptions, but it should never be taken in place of prescribed medication. Studies are ongoing and are not entirely conclusive.