Peppermint oil, mint oil - properties and uses for hair, face, lips, nails. Peppermint essential oil for colds and headaches

We have all been familiar with the wonderful plant Mint since childhood. This includes the usual refreshing taste of mint toothpaste, fragrant mint gingerbread cookies and lollipops, healthy soothing mint tea, and there is even a shade of green called “mint.” How much do you know about the very healthy oil that is obtained from this plant? If not, then you will receive a lot of new and useful information about mint oil, its medicinal properties and the most effective ways to use it in everyday life and cosmetology.

Medicinal properties

Due to the menthol content, mint ether has high antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. This common remedy of traditional and folk medicine is successfully used to lower high fever, normalize heart rhythm and blood pressure, treat and disinfect burns, colds and skin diseases, gallbladder and urinary tract diseases, nervous breakdowns, epileptic seizures, and also to combat seizures nausea, fainting and toothache.

Below we present the most popular recipes for the medicinal use of peppermint oil.

To increase heart rate and lower blood pressure, it is recommended to take a warm bath with peppermint essential oil or rub it on your body.

In case of fainting or an epileptic attack, you can let the unconscious person inhale the smell of this oil, and then first warm a couple of drops of it in the palms and then apply it to the temporal areas.

Special mint tablets, sold in every pharmacy, or taking 6-10 mint drops orally, which you can prepare yourself from oil and alcoholic infusion of mint, help well against nausea

To treat the digestive organs, prepare a solution of 15 mg of anise and mint alcohol (1% mint oil dissolved in 75% ethyl alcohol), 30 g of rose hip syrup and 120 g of linden water (pour boiling water over 1 tablespoon of linden flowers and leave for 10 minutes .), which is then taken orally, 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day. And to relieve stomach pain, mint ether is rubbed into the abdominal area and covered with a cold compress of gauze or any fabric. For heartburn , mix 1 teaspoon of fresh warm kefir and a couple of drops of mint ether and take orally.

For acute respiratory infections , the use of mint compresses (for fever, sore throat), gargles (for sore throat) and a mint bath (for temperature) are effective. for a sore throat, cough and runny nose . Also, during periods of flu epidemics and if there are people with colds or ARVI in the house, it is recommended to disinfect rooms using aroma lamps with mint oil solution .

For rheumatism and muscle pain, massage with mint essential oil.

And in dentistry, in order to relieve toothache, it is recommended to apply a cotton wool soaked in a few drops of mint ether to the sore tooth.

Homemade mint ointment helps with excessive sweating of the feet To prepare it, you need to mix 1 teaspoon each of soda, starch and any vegetable oil, and add 2 drops of mint essential oil to the resulting mixture. This ointment is regularly rubbed into the skin of the feet before bed.

Properties of mint:

The value and composition of peppermint oil

The light essential product contains all the valuable substances present in peppermint itself. Includes:

menthol - it takes up more than half of the total volume of the product;
limonene, dipentene and menthone;
alphapinene and methyl acetate;
cineole, geraniol and carvone;
dihydrocarvone and phellandrene;
menthofuran;
acetic acid;
other acids and aldehydes.

Due to its high concentration, the use of the oil is limited; it is used in extremely small dosages. However, the value of the product is very high - just a couple of drops of oil can have a strong beneficial effect on the body.

Application in cosmetology

In cosmetology, peppermint essential oil is valued due to its harmonious combination of menthol and a large amount of vitamins. Many well-known cosmetic brands add it to their cosmetic products for the skin of the face, lips and hair. Ready-made cosmetic products with mint oil are very effective, but homemade masks and creams prepared with its addition are no less effective. If you buy a small bottle of this ether, you can make very useful products with it yourself right at home.

For facial , the whitening, anti-inflammatory properties of this ester, as well as its ability to increase blood circulation, are used. It perfectly evens out skin color, fights wrinkles, age spots and acne of any complexity, and also prevents their appearance.

If you have problem skin, be sure to try making a mint mask. For it you will need: 1 tablespoon of blue or black clay, 2 tablespoons of warm water, 3 drops of peppermint oil and 1 drop of lavender. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and apply the warm mixture to clean facial skin. Exposure time: 10-15 minutes. In addition to such a mask, mint ether can locally cauterize inflammation.

To tone skin that has lost its freshness and fine wrinkles, there is a recipe for using special mint ice. You will need: 200 ml of boiled or mineral water, 1 teaspoon of honey, 2 drops of mint ether. Dissolve honey in water and add oil, then pour the resulting liquid into ice cube trays and place in the freezer. Wipe clean skin with a piece of cold ice in the morning and evening.

Peppermint essential oil, due to its ability to increase blood circulation, can temporarily increase lip volume . To do this, add a few drops of it to lip gloss or facial moisturizer and apply to the skin of the lips with light patting movements.

Peppermint ester is often used
for hair. It well normalizes the condition of hair prone to dandruff and excessive oiliness . It is also one of the products that can accelerate blood flow in the scalp, affect the functioning of hair follicles and thereby accelerate hair growth.
There is a recipe for such a mask for dandruff. You will need: 2 drops of peppermint oil, 1 drop each of rosemary and tea tree esters, and 2 tablespoons of castor oil. Mix all the ingredients, heat and rub into the scalp, then put on a special bath cap. Exposure time: 30-40 minutes.

To strengthen the roots and hair growth, mix any base oil (jojoba, olive, coconut, almond) in the amount of 2 tablespoons and 3-4 drops of mint ether. The resulting mixture is heated and massaged into the hair roots and scalp. Be sure to insulate the top with a polyethylene cap or terry towel. Leave on hair for 40 minutes to 1 hour and then rinse with shampoo. Frequency of use: 3-4 times a week.

Application for hair growth:

Other uses of peppermint oil

Peppermint is used widely in self-care recipes. Its use helps to care for the skin of the entire body, and essential oil also allows you to lose extra pounds.

For massage

Peppermint essential oil makes the skin silky and smooth, improves metabolism in the deep layers of the epidermis and helps get rid of cellulite. Using ether, you can perform a massage - add 6 drops of peppermint to 10 ml of any base.

Carry out the massage in the usual way - on clean skin, for 20 minutes. Upon completion, you need to take a warm shower and treat the skin with a softening lotion or cream to consolidate the effect.

When losing weight

The greatest effect for weight loss when using mint squeeze is for massage. When mixed with base oil, the product has a warming, tightening and stimulating effect, helps eliminate cellulite and makes body contours more attractive.

Another way to use peppermint is to inhale the essential oil vapors. A few drops of the product are applied to a clean handkerchief, and then the pleasant aroma is inhaled for about a minute. The smell of peppermint has a unique property; it muffles the feeling of hunger.

Important! Peppermint will only give its full effect in combination with a healthy diet and exercise—you can’t rely solely on essential oil when losing weight.

In cooking

Peppermint oil contains beneficial substances in a very rich concentration. It cannot be taken orally in its pure form - this will lead to burns of the mucous membranes and deterioration of well-being. However, in small dosages the product is used to flavor dishes and improve their taste.

In particular, mint extract is added to lollipops and sweets with a refreshing menthol taste. Peppermint is present in chewing gum and marmalade; the ether is used in the preparation of desserts, unusual sauces, alcoholic liqueurs and cocktails. At home, you can also add a little oil to ice cream or fruit salad, but it is very important not to exceed the dosage.

At home

The pleasant aroma of peppermint evokes positive emotions in most people. But at the same time, the mint smell repels rodents and insects, which makes mint an excellent tool for cleaning the house from pests.

If there are rats, mice or cockroaches in the house, just soak several cotton pads in a mint extract and place them in places where insects and rodents appear. From time to time, cotton pads need to be renewed, since the ether disappears quite quickly. It is useful to light an aroma lamp daily; it will also help fill the room with an aroma that is unpleasant for pests.

Peppermint squeeze is also used:

when cleaning - if you add 8 drops of ether to 1 liter of water and wipe tables, window sills and other surfaces with the solution, this will help not only remove dust and dirt, but also eliminate bacteria;
when caring for wooden furniture - 20 drops of mint ether are mixed with 25 ml of base, 25 ml of alcohol is added and the wooden surfaces are wiped, after which they acquire a special shine;
when washing dishes, you can add a couple of drops of ether to a regular gel and wash cups and plates in the usual way, paying special attention to thorough rinsing.

It is recommended to wipe the shelves of closets with clothes from time to time with water with the addition of mint oil. At the same time, things will always retain a pleasant fresh aroma, and there will be no mold or insects in the closet.

Aromatherapy

One of the most popular ways to use peppermint extract is to scent rooms. You can use mint essential oil in several ways:

add 5-6 drops of oil to the aroma lamp and turn it on daily for 15-20 minutes to fill the room with a pleasant smell;
drop 1-2 drops of ether on a handkerchief or napkin and inhale for a couple of minutes for headaches or nervous tension.

If you have severe stress and frequent headaches, you can lubricate a comb with mint ether and run it through your hair several times. This will have a good effect on both your curls and your emotional state.

Can you make your own peppermint oil?

Essential mint extract is sold in many pharmacies, but sometimes it may not be available in your immediate area. In this case, the remedy can be prepared at home from fresh mint leaves.

Collection and preparation of raw materials

To prepare the oil you will need only 2 main ingredients - mint leaves and olive oil:

Mint leaves, collected from your own plot or purchased in a store, should be fresh, juicy, without damage or signs of disease.
Before processing, they must be thoroughly rinsed with cold water.
After this, the leaves are dried by placing them between layers of paper towel until all the water has evaporated.

Clean and dry mint leaves, ready for use, need to be properly chopped with a knife and lightly mashed to release abundant juice.

How to make peppermint oil at home

The process of making oil looks very simple.

The crushed leaves are placed tightly in a glass jar.
Then pour olive oil over the mint so that it completely covers the leaves, and close the jar with a lid.
The oil is kept in a warm place for a day and then filtered through folded gauze.
Place a new portion of mint leaves in a clean jar and pour the infused oil on top.

In total, the procedure must be repeated 5 times, this will allow you to obtain the most rich and aromatic extract.

Attention! Homemade essential oil will be inferior in its beneficial properties to pharmaceutical products, but is suitable for use for medicinal and cosmetic purposes in most cases.

Storage rules

The fully prepared mint squeeze must be filtered again and poured into a clean dark glass vessel. Store the product in the refrigerator, away from sunlight and at a cool temperature. If you do not violate storage conditions, the product will retain its valuable properties for up to a year.

Aromatherapy

Peppermint essential oil has a special aroma - subtle, refreshing and cold. In aromatherapy, essential oil has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, and also increases the protective functions of the skin, has an antispasmodic effect on the blood vessels of the brain, and relieves heart and muscle pain.

You can use the oil by adding 2-3 drops to the aroma lamp and enjoy aromatherapy.

Contraindications

Peppermint oil has very few contraindications. This remedy is safe and rarely causes negative reactions from the body. However, the oil should be used with caution in the following cases: