Whenever we experience digestive uneasiness, we reach for anything that will quickly relieve our pain and discomfort. Whether it’s gas pain, indigestion or nausea, digestive discomfort can become crippling and make it near impossible to execute simple tasks.
Luckily, peppermint essential oil is an incredibly effective digestive aid that can relieve a variety of digestive issues. This affordable and safe product can treat everything from bloating to indigestion.
What Causes Digestive Discomfort?
Digestive pain and discomfort can be caused by a variety of factors. Sometimes, we just eat something that doesn’t agree with us. Other times, we have caught a disease like a virus that has us doubled over in pain for days. Whatever the cause, we all want the same thing: fast relief. That’s why peppermint essential oil should always be stocked in the medicine cabinet.
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How Does Peppermint Oil Aid in Digestion?
The soothing character of peppermint essential oil is the secret behind its powerful healing abilities. With antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, this oil can treat a variety of issues that affect the digestive tract. In fact, many popular over-the-counter digestive medications contain high amounts of peppermint essential oil.
Relief from Bloating and Gas Pain
The consumption of peppermint essential oil is one of the most popular methods of relieving pain and discomfort associated with gas and bloating. Peppermint is a carminative, meaning that it relieves flatulence by eliminating gas bubbles along the digestive tract while moving gas along and eventually out of the body.
Peppermint oil relieves gas and bloating by relaxing the digestive tract. When the digestive tract is tense, gas can easily get trapped, resulting in pain, discomfort and bloating. When we consume peppermint essential oil, the digestive tract loosens up in response to the oil’s anti-inflammatory properties as well as the relaxation-inducing effects of menthol, peppermint’s leading ingredient (source).
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Relief from Nausea
Nausea can suddenly hit us any moment. This uncomfortable sensation can result from motion sickness or even an unpleasant smell. Luckily, peppermint essential oil is capable of treating nausea quickly.
One study demonstrated peppermint essential oil’s unique ability to combat nausea by giving it to hospital patients who were experiencing the symptom. The study concluded that 88 percent of patients were relieved of their nausea when they inhaled peppermint essential oil (source).
Relief from Indigestion
Indigestion occurs when food is not breaking down properly. When we eat, our body sends enzymes throughout the digestive tract to break down the food quickly. When this food isn’t broken down properly, we can experience indigestion symptoms like heartburn, excessive burping and general digestive discomfort.
Peppermint essential oil can treat indigestion by encouraging the gallbladder to release bile. Produced by the liver, bile is stored in the gallbladder and is released when we eat. This bile is rich in enzymes that break down food so that it can pass through our digestive system quickly (source).
How to Use Peppermint Oil for Digestion
Peppermint essential oil can be digested or inhaled. When it is inhaled, it can relieve nausea. To reap the benefits of peppermint essential by inhaling it, you can simply lift a bottle of the oil directly to your nose and take several deep breaths. You can also inhale it by mixing it with steam. Many people choose to do this with an oil diffuser. Alternatively, you can pour some drops of essential oil into a hot bath.
To ingest peppermint essential oil, dilute it in another liquid. By ingesting it, you can treat digestive problems like indigestion and excessive gas.
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Summary
Thanks to peppermint essential oil, we can treat a wide variety of digestive problems quickly, safely and effectively.
Let us know in the comments below how you like to use peppermint essential oil for digestion. Feel free to share this article with your friends who may benefit from this information.