Spearmint is derived from the spearmint plant, scientifically known as Mentha Spicata. Specifically, it is extracted through a process of steam distillation of the flowering tops of the plant. Actually, spearmint essential oil is very similar to peppermint oil in terms of having the same properties. However, peppermint oil may be too strong for some, as it might induce skin irritations and its fragrance might be too overpowering for some.

Spearmint essential oil provides a milder and gentler option as the menthol content in spearmint is negligible, as compared to peppermint oil. It is widely used in the culinary world as it is added to dishes and beverages to enhance their flavours.

However, it also has a number of useful medicinal properties that can help provide a natural remedy for various ailments and complaints. In fact, its use actually dates back to thousands of years in ancient Greece.

Health Benefits of Spearmint Essential Oil:

1. Supports Digestive Health

One of the most popular uses of spearmint essential oil is to augment the health of your digestive system. For example, it has carminative properties which helps the gases formed to pass out of the body naturally and prevents the formation and buildup of excess gas in the intestines and stomach. Thus, it helps to provide relief from indigestion, vomiting and bloating.

Furthermore, it helps to stimulate the proper and timely secretion of digestive enzymes, gastric juices and bile which thus allows for the proper breakdown of foods that can be readily absorbed into the bloodstreams, which further prevents indigestion and diarrhea as well.

Also, spearmint oil has a chemical compound called carvone, which is a monoterpene that is known to contribute to its anti-spasmodic attribute, as investigated by researchers from the Federal University of Sergipe in Brazil who carried out a study in 2013. As such, it helps to relax the gastrointestinal walls and soothes cramps, convulsions and contractions of the stomach and intestines.

2. Provides Pain Relief

Spearmint essential oil is also an excellent pain relief remedy from headaches as well as from aching joints and muscles. It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that helps to calm and soothe bouts of pain and discomfort arising from such conditions.

As such, you can always rely on spearmint oil to nurse your headache or painful muscles and joints arising from rheumatism or from a tiring workout session.

Being a pain reliever agent, it also helps to soothe menstrual cramps for some women who experience it during the time of the month as its anti-spasmodic qualities helps to soothe painful muscle contractions and convulsions.

3. Promotes Skin Health

Due to its antibacterial nature, spearmint oil is also a great antiseptic agent to heal wounds, insect bites, cuts and scrapes on the skin. It cleanses the wound and kills off bacteria festering on your skin, thus preventing further infections and wounds from becoming septic or from incurring tetanus.

Its anti-inflammatory properties also help to calm and soothe inflamed skin associated with such wounds and even from skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. As such, spearmint oil is also great for such chronic skin conditions. Furthermore, it is antifungal, thus serving as a potent agent to help treat skin fungal infections such as jock itch, athlete’s foot and nail fungus.

4. Provides Nausea Relief

Spearmint essential oil is also a great anti-nausea agent as it provides relief for those suffering from it due to sickness, pregnancy or when you are travelling. In fact, it is actually one of the best natural treatments for nausea.

According to a 2013 study published in the open access cancer journal from the European Institute of Oncology and the OECI, spearmint essential oil exhibited strong inhibitory activity towards chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Another 2013 study carried out by researchers from the Carolinas Medical Centre University found that a blend of ginger, spearmint, peppermint and cardamom essential oils as an aromatherapy treatment was highly effective in reducing levels of postoperative nausea.

5. Supports Emotional Health

Besides the abovementioned benefits, spearmint oil is also effective in augmenting your emotional health. If you are stressed, feeling tense or anxious, try using spearmint essential oil to help calm and soothe your senses.

It also helps to uplift your emotional spirits and curbs mild depression, as well as provides a much needed mental boost if you are suffering from fatigue or exhaustion after a long and tiring day. Its cephalic qualities means it helps to exert a relaxing and cooling effect on the brain, removing stress, thus enabling you to concentrate better.

As such, you can also use spearmint oil to provide mental clarity and to give you focus as well as concentration which is ideal for those sitting for important examinations or those who need to make important decisions.

6. Promotes Oral Health

Not only that, spearmint essential oil also serves as a good oral health agent. We all know how important it is to maintain the health of our oral cavities as we use our mouths to eat and communicate to people. It forms a huge part of our self-confidence. As such, it is imperative to ensure that there are no mouth infections or bad breath.

Spearmint helps to mitigate problems of bad mouth odor as it has a very cooling and minty fragrance that leaves your mouth smelling fresh and clean! Furthermore, it has antibacterial and antiseptic qualities that helps to rid your mouth of bacteria and other infections, which helps to prevent mouth and teeth infections.

7. Promotes Hair Health

Also, its antibacterial and antifungal properties help to ensure the health of your hair by making it an effective natural scalp treatment to get rid of pesky hair conditions such as dandruff and lice. Furthermore, it exhibits cooling properties which makes it a good remedy for itchy and dry scalp.

Since it is a stimulant as well, spearmint essential oil can also stimulate the hair follicles and promotes hair growth as well as strengthens the hair since it actively promotes blood circulation to the scalp area. This hence prevents hair loss and you will have much healthier, radiant hair!

How to Use Spearmint Essential Oil:

Now that you have read about the superb 7 benefits of spearmint essential oil, find out how you can easily and safely use the oil in your daily life to reap its myriad beneficial effects!

• Topically: Dilute spearmint essential oil with a carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil or coconut oil) in a 1:1 ratio and apply topically onto desired areas. You can do this to heal wounds, cuts or skin fungal infections, apply it onto the scalp for hair health, to get some pain relief from sore and aching joints or even rub it onto your stomach and abdominal area to relieve nausea and to promote digestive health.

• Diffuse: You can diffuse about 3-4 drops of spearmint oil in an oil burner or diffuser and let the aromatic wafts soothe you. If you want to get rid of your nausea feeling, you can also inhale it through a diffuser.

• Mouthwash: To boost oral health, add about 1-2 drops of spearmint oil to a cup of water and use as a gargle mixture. However, be sure to avoid ingestion of the oil while gargling.

• Bath: You can also add about 5-6 drops of the oil in a tub of warm, bathing water to soothe your aching muscles and to soak away whatever stress and tension that you might be feeling.

• Compress: Alternatively, you can also add about 2-3 drops of the oil to a compress to hold it against your head to deal with headaches and to provide some relief from menstrual cramps.

Safety Precautions:

• Pregnant women should avoid using spearmint oil as it is also an emmenagogue which means it stimulates menstrual flow and bleeding as well as estrogen production, thus it might result in a miscarriage.

• When applying it topically, be sure to dilute the oil with equal amounts of a carrier oil and perform a skin patch test to ensure there are no sensitive, allergic or irritant reactions. Also, avoid applying it on open cuts, wounds and open sores.

• Do not take spearmint essential oil internally unless you are under expert supervision.

Spearmint blends well with basil, lavender, peppermint and rosemary essential oils.

References:

Souza FV, et al., “(-)-Carvone: antispasmodic effect and mode of action” PubMed (2013)

Z Tayarani-Najaran, et al., “Antiemetic activity of volatile oil from Mentha spicata and Mentha x piperita in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting”, European Institute of Oncology and the OECI (2013)

Hunt R, et al., “Aromatherapy as treatment for postoperative nausea: a randomized trial”, PubMed (2013); 117(3)