Essential Oils 101 The Best Ways to Use Peppermint
When I got started with essential oils, peppermint was my cure-all-go-to essential oil. I knew nothing about essential oils, so when I was having a headache or a migraine, I would just apply a few drops straight onto my head. For how expensive essential oils are, that was such a waste of money (not to mention it’s absolutely too strong and should always be diluted).
I got headaches that were directly related to my gluten consumption (I didn’t know it at the time), but peppermint oil really helped make it feel less like someone was actively stabbing my temple with an ice pick.
And when I got pregnant with my second son, I kept my little bottle of essential oil with me everywhere I went just in case I felt like I was going to get sick. Again, it really helped me!
Like I said about lavender essential oil, here’s a very basic intro to dilution. 2-3 drops per tsp. for adults, and 1 drop per 4 tsp. for children 6 and under.
Related Post: Essential Oil Rollerball Recipes
How you can use peppermint essential oil:
- Nausea – Breathe in, breathe out. Repeat. Always keep it handy. Especially if you’re pregnant and are having morning sickness!
- Allergies – Breathe in, breathe out. Repeat. Or you can diffuse it when you’re having a bad day with allergies.
- Anti-itch rollerball – Dilute with witch hazel and apply to bug bite!
- Headaches – Use the rollerball with fractionated coconut oil and apply to back of neck, temples crown of head, and between eyebrows.
- Fever reducer – For a fever in a child, mix with coconut oil in a jar and rub on the backs of their neck and on their feet (add a drop of eucalyptus oil, too, and then put socks on them). Make sure to remember your dilution for children under 6: 1 drop for 4 tsp. carrier oil.
- Add it to your natural toothpaste – I add 2 drops of peppermint (and one of thieves) to our toothpaste of coconut oil and baking soda. Here’s the recipe that we use and love.
- Use it with oil pulling for fresh breath – 1 tsp (ish) of coconut oil, 1 drop peppermint oil, swirl in your mouth for 20 minutes. Yes, it’s a long time. But oil pulling is so great for your oral health!
- Repel spiders – Words cannot describe my arachnophobia. So this one is a personal favorite. Put a few drops in a spray bottle with some water and spray around the base of doors, behind furniture, in corners, and anywhere those little suckers might be lurking! A friend of mine tried this and it really helped her spider problem.
There’s plenty more uses for peppermint oil on my pin board:
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Kallee says
This is a great post. I have been wanting to learn more about essential oils