Posted on 05/19/2026 8:39:40 PM PDT by Red Badger
Peppermint oil is a concentrated extract made from the leaves of the peppermint plant (Mentha × piperita), a hybrid of watermint and spearmint. Rich in natural compounds such as menthol and flavonoids, it is widely used in foods, medicines, and aromatherapy for its cooling sensation and potential health benefits. Credit: Shutterstock
Peppermint oil lowered blood pressure in adults with mild hypertension during a 20-day study, offering a potentially inexpensive and effective treatment option.
New research suggests that daily peppermint oil supplements may help reduce mildly elevated blood pressure.
Researchers at the University of Lancashire found that taking 100 microliters (about 0.0034 fluid ounces) of peppermint oil twice a day for 20 days lowered systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading, by an average of 8.5 mmHg.
The study, published in PLOS One, points to a potentially simple, affordable, and well-tolerated approach for helping people manage slightly elevated blood pressure.
Researchers Highlight Potential Alternative to Medication
Lead author Dr. Jonnie Sinclair, Reader in Sport and Health Sciences, said, “High blood pressure is one of the biggest causes of heart disease and death worldwide, and it costs a huge amount of money to treat. Although medicines are commonly used to treat it, it’s not always clear how well they work in the long term, and they can cause unwanted side effects.”
Peppermint contains compounds such as menthol and flavonoids. In the study, 40 adults between the ages of 18 and 65 were randomly divided into two groups. Participants with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension who took a small daily dose of peppermint oil showed improvements, while those given a peppermint-flavored placebo without the active oil experienced little change.
In addition to systolic blood pressure, researchers also monitored body measurements, blood test results, diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading), heart rate, mental well-being, and sleep quality.
Study Suggests Simple Treatment With Global Potential
Dr. Sinclair added, “Our findings were very positive, and they have significant clinical implications, especially given arterial hypertension is the most common preventable risk factor for cardiometabolic disease and the greatest single risk factor for global mortality.
“Peppermint oil is low in calories and price, so it’s proved to be a very simple and cost-effective solution to potentially treat millions of people around the world.”
Reference:
“Effects of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) oil on cardiometabolic outcomes in patients with pre- and stage 1 hypertension: A placebo randomized controlled trial” by Jonathan Sinclair, Benjamin Sant, XuanYi Du, Gareth Shadwell, Stephanie Dillon, Bobbie Butters and Lindsay Bottoms, 23 April 2026, PLOS ONE.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0344538
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“Scientists Discover Cheap, Natural Remedy for High Blood Pressure “
Don’t get married
That would work too............😏
Gophers have low blood pressure..............
Can’t do mint. Gives me heartburn. ANY kind of mint. And I take a PPI for GERD.
I use fennel or clove/cinnamon toothpaste. Tom’s of Maine.
Don’t understand the whole culture of “minty fresh breath.”
I learned decades ago as an army medic to never get close enough to a patient’s face you can smell last night’s steak rotting from poor dental hygiene
and have pretty much kept as far from people’s faces as possible in general.
Peppermint doesn’t upset my stomach, but after it I itch all over. Moringa is also supposed to help with BP but there are some medicines it doesn’t do well with.
I drink peppermint tea but any positive effect are probably overridden by the trips to the brewery.
“Don’t get married.”
NOW you tell me!
CC
I may try this. I’ve got moderately high blood pressure. Told the doc I don’t want to take meds anymore and she suggested cinnamon and beet supplements.
That’s kept it in check
Those alleged scientists are slow learners. Well documented herbal treatments have been around for a very long time.
Someone in the family used to take garlic tablets instead of expensive prescription medication and lived to 92.
A lot of the essential oils have numerous benefits.
Orange oil, Clove Oil and Tea Tree oil help repel swarming termites from entering through cracks in your abodes and some repel ticks...then there’s the holistic benefits.
Yep - for now, the blood pressure deal is not fully studied - but it has long been known to help with gastro issues.
But, if you have GERD, you have to be careful and maybe use capsules instead of drops - it relaxes the stomach/intestines, and also the sphincter of the esophagus which can lead to increased reflux issues.
I still never cared for chewing gum, no matter the packaging.
Who said anything about chewing the gum?
Fish oil for high diastolic.........
I’m always very suspicious of these “studies.” If they test for 20 items with a 95% accuracy, one of their so-calls “facts” will be wrong. And many times their number of participants is small or of a similar cohort (fat, diabetic, aged, same gender, students, etc.).
I am so sorry Veto. I have learned I can keep my flowers in vases outside on tables on our deck...2 kitties here.
They can’t make any money off of this so it’s right out.
I can still hear that jingle
What gum?
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