PEPPERMINT

Peppermint is a herb commonly grown in England, and it has been commercially produced in the Mitcham area since the end of the 18th Century. More recently stills were introduced on site to avoid having to transport the peppermint plants into London for distilling. The result is a much better quality oil. It can be used to relieve a variety of complaints, in general terms those connected with oral health, nasal congestion and digestive upsets.

The essential oil is the active ingredient for most complaints and specifically for IBS. In particular it anaesthetises the nerve endings in the stomach, helping to prevent the associated spasms and cramps. 0.1%-1% of the whole plant is essential oil (the leaves and flowering tops are most commonly used), and English oils are highly prized due to the fact that 60-70% of the essential oil is menthol. American essential oil is only 50% menthol, but the Japanese produce an oil with 85% menthol. No references have been found linking menthol directly to IBS, but it appears to be an important active constituent for most medicinal uses.

Peppermint is harvested three times during its growing season, and the final harvest has the greatest essential oil content.

The most commonly used extracts in medicine are peppermint water (where the oil and water are distilled together) and spirit of peppermint. Both are listed in the British Pharmacopoeia.