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There are multiple reasons you may want to own a bottle of peppermint essential oil. For one, this uplifting aromatic is considered good for fighting nausea.
Peppermint has a long history of medicinal use. According to online health expert Dr. Josh Axe, DC, peppermint oil has been used medicinally since at least 1,000 BC.
In modern times this herb is still used as a digestive aid. This is why candied mints are often served after dinner. These candies contain tiny amounts of peppermint oil.
There are various ways to use peppermint oil to fight nausea. But I’m going to only discuss methods that don’t involve internal consumption. Essential oils should not be consumed unless someone is under the care of a doctor or a professional aromatherapist, who’s skilled in this practice.
How to Use Peppermint Oil for Nausea
There is a lot of bad aromatherapy advice circulating on the Internet. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts. They are extremely potent. Some people are much more sensitive than others. Blanket recommendations to ingest oils don’t take this factor into account.
So, in this article, when I’m mentioning specific oils, I do so with the intention they’ll be used either for inhalation or massage.
Anti Nausea Essential Oils
Please understand that I’m not a doctor. So I can’t give medical advice. Nor can I make any claims that aromatherapy can improve your health. All I can do is share with you how I and others use essential oils.
A number of essential oils are typically recommended for nausea, including ginger and lavender. But peppermint essential oil is the first that usually springs to mind. This oil is considered useful for so many things, including digestion.
Fortunately, I haven’t experienced nausea in years. But, a few times, I’ve used peppermint oil for mild stomach aches, likely caused by indigestion. What I do is dilute aromatic peppermint in a carrier oil. Olive oil is good for this purpose. You only need a drop or two of peppermint oil to one teaspoon of carrier. Even though it seems like the amount of aromatic oil is negligible, this is all you need. The carrier oil helps transport the aromatic compounds into your body.
How to Dilute Essential Oils
Please check with a health professional about the dilution ratio that’s right for you. An elderly person, for instance, would typically require a different dilution ratio, with less peppermint.
For me, peppermint oil is my “go to” remedy when I have a headache. Using a similar dilution, I mix it with carrier oil and apply it to my forehead.
The first bottle of peppermint oil I ever purchased was sold by Plant Therapy. I was a little hesitant stepping outside of the MLM circles. But I’m glad I did. There’s a whole world of excellent oils out there, sold in a more direct manner. Once I realized Plant Therapy has very high-quality oils, which are tested twice for purity, I became a repeat customer. This Idaho-based business also works with Robert Tisserand, an internationally known expert on essential oil safety.
Plant Therapy Organic Peppermint Oil
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Another way to use peppermint oil for nausea is to inhale it. Essential oils can be used in a cold air diffuser. The aromatic particles reach your bloodstream after traveling to your lungs.
There are certain precautions to take when using peppermint oil on children under 6. The owner of the website We Got Real interviewed Robert Tisserand specifically about this aromatic on little ones. He said it should be avoided for children under three and used very sparingly in children under six. One way to safety use it in this age group, he noted, would be to put it in a diffuser.
How to Use Ginger Essential Oil for Nausea
Ginger is another remedy that’s also been used for thousands of years, according to Dr. Axe. On his site, he also notes that aromatic ginger is a good digestive aid. He also suggests ginger essential oil to combat nausea. One way to use it, he suggests, is to rub it into your abdomen. Of course, just like peppermint oil, it would need to be first mixed with a carrier oil.
Can Lavender Oil Be Used for Nausea?
Another aromatic to consider for nausea is lavender essential oil, which is noted for its calming, soothing properties. Lavender oil is gentle and mild, and it also appears to contain compounds that work as natural tranquilizers. It’s also possible to combine two or more essential oils together. Actually, it’s believed that various aromatic recipes creates a more powerful synergy, which sort of supercharges the individual components.
Essential Oil Recipe for Nausea
It would be really easy to make your own anti nausea essential oil blend. Oftentimes, when I have a headache, I’ll mix peppermint with clove oil. I do this because of the synergy factor. For nausea, you may want to try something different. Here is a very easy recipe.
1 teaspoon of olive oil or another carrier oil
1 drop of peppermint essential oil
1 drop of lavender essential oil
Mix these ingredients together. You can also double the recipe if you think it would be easier to work with. Store any you don’t use immediately in a covered glass jar for later use. Keep the jar away from heat and light.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional. Certain essential oils should not be used on young children. If you suffer from a chronic health condition, please check with your doctor before using aromatics.