Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
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Peppermint
Mentha × piperita
- Traditional use
- Traditionally used for upset stomach, gas and bloating, and as an aromatic for stuffy-feeling heads.
- How people take it
- Tea from the leaves, or enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules made for digestion. Peppermint oil is strong and is not meant to be swallowed straight.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH notes that peppermint oil may help ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for some people. Evidence for other uses is limited.
- Cautions and interactions
- Can worsen heartburn or acid reflux. Peppermint oil should not be put on or near the face of babies or young children. Peppermint oil may affect how the body handles some medicines, and acid-reducing medicines can interfere with enteric-coated capsules, so ask your pharmacist first.
More herbs
Where to read more
The information here was written for this site as a plain-language overview. For current, detailed and regularly reviewed information, check the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Mayo Clinic, which both have herb and supplement fact sheets. Your pharmacist can also check your medicines for interactions. Research changes over time, so these sources are always the better place to confirm the latest guidance.
Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
