6 Amazing Uses for Peppermint Essential Oil – FAST Headache Relief!

Although I’m still fairly new to the world of health and wellness – I do have one solid tip I rave about to anyone who will listen, and it’s about headache relief! I often deal with headaches of different types due to sinus issues, fatigue, and more. I truly believe that it is CRUCIAL to determine and address the root cause of any ailment, including headaches. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t need a quick fix in the meantime, right?

Well, the trick is to use Peppermint Essential Oil. Essential oil?! Yes, I know there are skeptics regarding its validity and effectiveness, but I’ve actually been using essential oils for years and seen some amazing benefits. Peppermint essential oil has a natural cooling effect and is great for muscle tension relief, headaches, and more! Let me share with you my favorite uses for this essential essential oil.

Headache/Migraine Relief

This is my main use for Peppermint essential oil – fast headache relief. I rarely experience headaches that cannot be improved with this blend.

The recipe is quite simple. Dilute pure Peppermint Essential Oil by mixing equal parts essential oil + carrier oil (I use cold-pressed Olive Oil, but sweet almond, jojoba, or sunflower oil are also great). That’s it! Dab this mixture wherever your headache is or wherever you have muscle tension.

Store in a dropper bottle or roller ball bottle (made of amber glass to protect the product from UV damage) and keep at room temperature, or do what I do – carry it around everywhere you go! Your bag, work station, bathroom, wherever.

Muscle Tension Release

Going along the lines of tension, Peppermint essential oil is also soothing whenever you have tight or sore muscles, indigested or bloated tummy, or…you just feel off and icky.

The best (and easiest) way to apply Peppermint to the whole body is by simply submerging yourself in a Peppermint Epsom Salt Bath! Here’s how:

1.) Draw a bath by filling a bathtub 3/4 of the way with hot water, as hot as you can comfortably tolerate. **Remember, it is unsafe to take a hot bath after alcohol consumption!

2.) While the water is running, drop 10-15 drops of Peppermint essential oil next to the flowing water so it will disperse somewhat evenly into the bath.

3.) Shake 1 cup of Epsom Salt into the bath (I usually eyeball this part).

4.) Turn off the water when the water level is to your liking and slowly submerge yourself into the bath. I like to sink down enough that the back of my neck is also touching the water as that is where much of the tension normally is.

5.) Relax and enjoy!

The Epsom Salt has magnesium sulfate, which relaxes the muscles and helps with restful sleep. You can also find Lavender essential oil infused Epsom Salt if you need a good night’s sleep!

I love hot baths, so I usually do my self care routine in the bath at a leisurely pace and shower afterward, but for those who may not tolerate baths or hot water can get out after 15-20 minutes. Once you rinse off, you’ll find that your body is much more relaxed and any headaches, indigestion, or shivers you may have had are greatly decreased. The cooling sensation feels invigorating so it’s like you get a fresh start!

Bug Spray

Those of us living in the Pacific Northwest are blessed in that we don’t see a lot of the terrifying insects that other states or countries do. We have mild weather and rather mild bugs. That doesn’t mean that we want to share a living space with them, though!

If you have spiders or, like us, ladybugs in and about your home, try a natural deterrent before squashing our tiny neighbors. (They’re just trying to live their best life!) You can do this with, yes, Peppermint essential oil. Many types of bugs detest the smell of Peppermint and will avoid it at all costs, so we’re going to mix it with some water to create a natural bug spray!

You’ll Need:

-Spray bottle

-1 cup filtered water

-Peppermint essential oil

*Optional: Citronella essential oil (bugs hate this scent as well)

Instructions:

1.) Fill the spray bottle with 1 cup of water

2.) Drop 10-15 drops of Peppermint essential oil (and Citronella if you have it)

3.) Close the bottle with the spray nozzle top

4.) Shake, shake, shake

5.) Spray anywhere you have regular crawly visitors (basically anywhere you want). Be sure to turn the nozzle to “spray” instead of “stream” because you don’t want to have to mop up after yourself!

Diffuser

To add a stress-relieving punch to your senses, add 2-5 drops of Peppermint essential oil to your diffuser (adjust according to the size of your diffuser). It may smell strong, but taking in this scent will aid with congestion and calm the senses!

If you don’t have an essential oil diffuser, you can also apply a drop to your hands, rub them together furiously to create heat, and then form a cup with your hands, close your eyes, and slowly breathe in the scent. Observe how it affects your senses, neat, right?

Sinus Relief

Being in the Northwest with lush greenery all around, every summer I suffer from that blasted hay fever (seasonal allergies) and severe sinus congestion. The pressure often builds up to the point that I can HEAR the shifts in congestion! When that happens, there is intense pain around the eye sockets, which can make me feel tired.

I relieve sinus pain the same way as headaches and migraines. I carry the essential oil blend around in a small roller ball bottle and dab some on above the brow bone and the sides of the nose bridge (be careful and apply very little on this area as it is so close to the eyes!). I also use Chinese Gua Sha tools to “scrape” and massage the afflicted areas to relieve some of the pressure.

Breath

Lastly, ditch the breath mints and chewing gum! Peppermint is the MVP of breath fresheners, so why not go straight to the source? A drop of Peppermint Essential Oil on your tongue will immediately freshen your breath. If that sounds inconvenient for you, there are Peppermint Essential Oil beadlets that dissolve on the tongue and are great to carry around! Mints and gum may actually worsen the breath after the first few minutes because your mouth produces more saliva. Try the beadlets for a natural and easy alternative!

Which of these natural remedies will you be trying? Have you tried any other essential oils or blends? If so, share them below! I am so excited to share more uses for essential oils and some awesome smelling blends in the future. One of them includes a potent hair and scalp solution that has given me RESULTS! So, until next time –

xoxo – Joyce