peppermint Health Article

Generic name(s):

peppermint

Brand name(s):

What is the most important information I should know about peppermint?

Do not take peppermint without first talking to your doctor if you have a blockage of the gallbladder or bile ducts, gallbladder inflammation, gallstones, or liver damage.

Peppermint has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of peppermint may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

What is peppermint?

The use of peppermint in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

Peppermint is also known as Mentha piperita, brandy mint, and lamb mint.

Peppermint has been used for liver and gallbladder complaints, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, respiratory infections, menstrual cramps, toothache, the common cold, cough, and fever. Topically, peppermint has been used for muscle and nerve pain and as an antiseptic.

Peppermint has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of peppermint may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Peppermint may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using peppermint?

Do not take peppermint without first talking to your doctor if you have a blockage of the gallbladder or bile ducts, gallbladder inflammation, gallstones, hiatal hernia, or liver damage.

Before taking peppermint, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have allergies (especially to plants), have any medical condition, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Peppermint may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take peppermint without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether peppermint will harm an unborn baby. Do not take peppermint without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether peppermint will harm a nursing infant. There is no information available regarding the use of peppermint by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.