Spearmint Essential Oil

Most people want to be centenarians. A few people, like the oncologist Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, want a 75-year maximum life span. The health care advisor to President Obama’s opinion on life spans differs greatly from that of most Americans.

Emmanuel notes that life past the age of 75 is not as great as it sounds in theory. Older people are mentally slower, less active, and creative. The doctor’s view may be true for larger regions of the world, but not the five Blue Zone areas1.

Here, people live the longest, healthiest active lives. The older generation here is sailing past their 90s without the adverse pain and effects of cancer, heart disease, and other degenerative diseases. What is their secret?

Their secret is a combination of healthy food habits, active lifestyles, calm minds, purpose, belonging, wine at five, and lots of herbal teas2. At Okinawa in Japan, for instance, the nonagenarians take green tea all day. In Ikaria in Greece, they thrive on rosemary, mint, and oregano infused teas.

Spearmint Essential Oil

Spearmint Essential Oil in history

Mentha spicata or spearmint is from the mint family of plants. It is native to Asia and Europe, but you will find spearmint in many diverse parts of the world. In ancient Greece3, Mentha was the nymph that loved Pluto.

The jealous Prosperine turned to the nymph into the mint plant, giving the Mediterranean region a potent life-giving herb. In old Athens, the scent of mint was a perfume for the arms. The Romans and Greeks had mint crowns in their feasts, flavoring their sauces with it.

Mint was part of Icelandic folk medicine, mentioned in their thirteenth-century writings. It would whiten their teeth and is today part of the toothpaste production industry. This perennial plant has leaves that shape into a spear-like form.

It has a sweet taste that makes it a much-loved candy and chewing gum component. The Mediterranean Blue Zone residents brew its leaves into a tea to enjoy its amazing life-prolonging benefits.

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Spearmint Essential Oil Uses

Chemical components of spearmint essential oil

Mentha spicata essential oil has over 19 chemical components. Its main constituents4 are carvone, cis-carveol, limonene, 1,8 cineol, cis-dihydrocarvone, and carvyl acetate. These chemical parts have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

Health benefits of spearmint essential oil

1.      Relief from digestive upsets

Spearmint essential oil has high levels of carvone, an antispasmodic agent5. It can help to ease nausea, indigestion, gas, and vomiting arising from stomach upsets. Studies show that this extract can lessen abdominal pain amongst people with irritable bowel syndrome. Persons undergoing chemotherapy can use it to relieve vomiting and nausea. Apply it to the skin also cut down on the feeling of nausea.

2.      Protection from oxidative stress

The limonene, flavones, rosmarinic acid, and menthol in spearmint essential oil have potent antioxidant benefits6. These components can repair the damage and protect the body against oxidative stress by free radicals.

Spearmint essential oil can, therefore, help protect you against cancer, heart disease7, and diabetes. A few drops of this essential oil can provide great antioxidant effects.

3.      Can help mitigate the effects of hormone imbalance in women

Spearmint essential oil can cut down on the levels of male hormones8 in the body. It will decrease the levels of testosterone and increase estradiol, luteinizing hormone, and the follicle-stimulating hormone. Studies show that two daily cups of spearmint tea can lower the levels of testosterone in women.

In animal studies, Mentha spicata extracts can help heal ovarian cysts and increase ovum in the ovaries. One other benefit of teas that have spearmint essential oil is their ability to reduce the growth of facial, chest, and abdomen hair in women. They are a common remedy for hirsutism in the Middle East9.

4.      Can help enhance the memory

Spearmint essential oil can improve memory and learning. An observation that chewing on gum has positive effects on cognitive functioning is only true for gum that has mint in it. Studies show that a daily 900mg dose of spearmint10 can help older adults have better working memory.

5.      Antibacterial effects

Spearmint essential oil strongly affects the upper respiratory tract and e.coli-causing bacteria11 and a wide range of disease-causing fungi. Its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties make it an excellent breath freshener in toothpaste, chewing gums, and mouthwashes.

Other benefits of spearmint essential oil include;

  1. Lowering blood sugar levels
  2. Helping reduce stress and promoting relaxation
  3. Improving arthritis pain
  4. Lowering blood pressure

How to use spearmint oil

  1. Dilute it in water, skincare oil, unscented liquid soap, or lotion, then use daily for skin and gut health
  2. Blend 24 drops of spearmint essential oil with two ounces of water for a revitalizing room spray
  3. Combine it with sweet almond oil and use as energizing massage oil
  4. Add a drop of two of spearmint essential oil to your iced or hot herbal teas

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Contraindications

Spearmint extracts are safe for use as per the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)12. An allergic reaction to spearmint essential oil may include throat, skin irritation, dizziness, and headaches.

You should seek professional advice if you are pregnant, lactating, or on medication.

Consult with a healthcare professional before using it on children or infants. Finally, you should talk to a veterinarian before using this oil on pets.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Research shows that 70% of Americans13 want to be at least 100 years old. Unfortunately, while medicine and science can extend life expectancies, they cannot make a longer life healthy. The Blue Zone residents know taking a few cups of minty teas can help you age well like fine wine.

 

 Sources

  1. Nationalgeographic: 5 “Blue Zones” Where the World’s Healthiest People Live
  2. Nbcnews: ‘Blue Zones’: 6 secrets to borrow from people who live the longest
  3. Homestead: Worth a Mint
  4. Tandfonline: Chemical Composition, and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oil of Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) From Pakistan
  5. ncbi.nlm.nih: (-)-Carvone: antispasmodic effect and mode of action
  6. Tandfonline: Chemical Composition, and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oil of Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) From Pakistan
  7. ncbi.nlm.nih: The role of antioxidants in the chemistry of oxidative stress: A review
  8. ncbi.nlm.nih: Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism
  9. ncbi.nlm.nih: An update on plant derived anti-androgens
  10. ncbi.nlm.nih: Spearmint Extract Improves Working Memory in Men and Women with Age-Associated Memory Impairment
  11. Tandfonline: Chemical Composition, and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oil of Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) From Pakistan
  12. Medicalnewstoday: Spearmint: Health benefits and more
  13. Time: Most Americans Want to Live to 100: Survey