Did you know that some of the chewing gum that you are so fond of contains spearmint oil? And that although spearmint essential oil is not as popular as peppermint, it is still just as beneficial as its other cousin of the mint family? Spearmint is similar to peppermint but taste wise it has a less discordant flavor, which makes it a widely used herb in various dishes. In terms of benefits, your skin, digestive system and even muscles can benefit from spearmint essential oil.

1. Skin Benefits:

Your skin will greatly benefit from the incorporation of spearmint essential oil in your daily beauty regimen. It serves as a natural skin brightener which removes flaky dry skin on the top and reveals the plump, fresh skin underneath. It is very useful for those who chronically suffer from acne. By controlling the excess oil secretion of the pores, it leaves your skin feeling soft yet not greasy. You can make your own home recipes of scrubs, masks and toner using spearmint oil for added benefits. Not only that, it also reduces dandruff if you regularly apply spearmint oil on your scalp.

2. Antiseptic:

Wounds and ulcers often lead to sepsis which, in addition to complicating the situation, causes enough pain to land you in the ER. To prevent this, you can take spearmint oil, which contains several antiseptic components like myrcene, caryophyllene and menthol. Infectious diseases like dermatitis, syphilis, gonhorrea and scabies used to be treated with spearmint in ancient Greence. Although it may not prove that effective in our times, it has been found to be helpful in treating minor stomach, intestinal and gastric infections.

3. Digestive System:

Our digestive systems are often overwhelmed by the amount of fatty foods we consume daily. To calm down an irritated digestive system, spearmint essential oil is very useful. It has a property which helps it in releases excess gas from your stomach. If you feel bloated, dilute 5 drops of spearmint essential in half a cup of cool water. Drink this to soothe your stomach and intestines. You can also add a few drops of the oil in your tea and drink that concoction. Spearmint essential oil can be bought from the drug store in pure, extracted form. You can also extract it using simple methods. To make tea with spearmint essential oil, boil water and after taking off the heat, add tea leaves and some bruised mint leaves (use a pestle and mortar or any heavy utensil to bruise the leaves). If you are on a strict diet regime, you can inhale spearmint essential oil as it suppresses appetite and makes you feel fuller.

4. Controlling Hair Growth:

Many women suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS, which has a side effect of male pattern hair growth. For these women, spearmint essential oil can reduce such unwanted hair growth. Drink spearmint tea to alleviate this symptom twice daily for a month. What the oil does is reduce the level of male hormone in the blood, which is responsible for the abnormal growth.

5. Cold And Sore Muscles:

If you catch a cold, stuffy nose and a throbbing headache can really get you down. Try to massage spearmint essential oil onto the chest or add to the humidifier to clear your sinus and lungs. Using spearmint oil to steam is also a good method of clearing your nose and head. You can add spearmint oil to any carrier oil like almond or castor oil and rub this mixture over your forehead. Massage for two to three minutes and you will instantly feel relief. If your muscles are sore from a long day of work, spearmint oil can mitigate the fatigue of muscles. Take a few drops of spearmint oil in your palm and rub on to the leg and arm muscles. The spearmint oil diffuses through the skin and soothes the tired muscles underneath.
Spearmint can be your ally in treating not just colds and headaches, but also a poor stomach. What’s more? It doesn’t cost you a fortune! Try this all natural oil, the next time you are down with a bad cold, and you will be ready to roll in no time at all!