Scientists Discover Cheap, Natural Remedy for High Blood Pressure

Scitech Daily ^ | May 19, 2026 | University of Central Lancashire

[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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TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: tcoyh

[Wuli]

Does the article describe the mechanism by which peppermint acts to lower blood pressure??

Are there, or are their not, other things that have a same or similar affect as peppermint??

[Wuli]

“A couple of years ago I developed an intestinal issue that required I needed to be near a bathroom to avoid an accident that would have been messy and embarrassing.”

I have referred to such things, in my own case, as having “an industrial accident”. Having a sense of humor about our problems helps not getting depressed about them.

[Red Badger]

Peppermint, the plant, is a hybrid species of mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint.

So you might try either one of those to see which plant has the benefit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppermint#Chemical_constituents

[Wuli]

Does not answer the question: what is the mechanism by which peppermint has some blood pressure-lowering affects?

[Red Badger]

BRAVE AI:

Peppermint lowers blood pressure primarily through menthol, its main active compound, which acts as an agonist for TRPM8 receptors located on vascular smooth muscle cells. The activation of these receptors triggers a cascade that includes the entry of calcium into the endothelium, stimulating nitric oxide production and causing hyperpolarization of the smooth muscle cells, which results in vasodilation and reduced peripheral resistance.

Additionally, menthol activates TRPM8 channels on sensory neurons, which modulates the autonomic nervous system by enhancing parasympathetic (vagal) activity and reducing sympathetic drive. This shift in autonomic tone helps lower resting heart rate and further contributes to reduced blood pressure. Peppermint also possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that protect blood vessels from oxidative stress, while spearmint (a related mint variety) contains carvone, a compound that acts similarly to calcium channel blockers to reduce vascular spasms.

AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.

[Organic Panic]

Mint juleps for all. Cheers.

[stevio]

I hear ya. Mint has been really slow this year due to the cold weather in the NE. Totally missed the Kentucky Derby.

[telescope115]

Don’t get married

That’s probably the most effective remedy of all…..

[telescope115]

We have peppermint sticks from Christmas…I wonder if they will work.

[Wuli]

Thanks. That is the important part.

And using that technical answer I looked for hypertension drugs that act as as an agonist for TRPM8 receptors located on vascular smooth muscle cells. And AI came up with none.

That says the METHOD of the vascular benefit of peppermint seems to be unique peppermint.

But it comes with a warning; high doses of peppermint oil (which concentrates the properties of peppermint) can be toxic and can be not tolerated well by the kidneys. Peppermint oil as a supplement should be sold with cautionary notes.

[Freedom4US]

I had one of those home grow kits that included cherry tomatoes, basil, peppers. Kind of fun. Well, I had all this Mint.

What can you do with Mint, I wondered. I asked the Internet and Mint Julep popped. A simple cane sugar syrup, and Bourbon, and away ya go! Dang tasty I gotta say.

[little jeremiah]

If someone has an ant invasion, peppermint essential oil drives them out without have to kill them, what to speak of using bug sprays which are very toxic for humans. I’ve used peppermint oil more than once. Ants just leave, don’t put it on them, just in the area where they are congregating.

[Red Badger]

Vinegar sprayed around the door sills and foundations will do the same..............

[little jeremiah]

I don’t mind ants. I looked into ants and found they are clean, they make their own antiseptic! Actually I like ants. I put a very small dish (actually a yogurt container lid) with a bit of honey it in for them. That way they stay in one corner and I don’t inadvertantly step on them.

[LilFarmer]

Same, I take beet root powder

[Red Badger]

We have some extremely tiny ants about the size of the period at the end of this sentence......

I have never seen them any where else.....

We have regular ants and Fire ants and Caribbean Crazy Ants, as well..........

[little jeremiah]

The biting kind are not nice! Don’t have those in our house, just standard type.

[Red Badger]

Some people call them ‘sugar ants’ but these are even smaller than ‘sugar ants’, way smaller.

If I knew an entomologist I could ask I might have a rare or newly discovered species!.........

[Jane Long]

Do these ants move around, not inline (like most ants)?

We had them, for a while ... they seem to have disappeared....strange.

Everyone called them crazy ants. Teeny tiny, like you described.

[Red Badger]

We have those Caribbean Crazy Ants too. They scatter all over the patio like ‘crazy’! They are an invasive species from the islands in the Caribbean and came her on fruit most likely. They don’t bother me much because they will actually drive off Fire Ants.

These so-called ‘Sugar Ants’ are so small that they can barely be seen. I’ve never seen them anywhere else. We spray along the base boards and the door sills and the foundation, but they eventually come back from somewhere..........