Peppermint

INCI	Mentha piperita
Other names	Pepřová máta, balšám

Description

Peppermint is a strongly aromatic perennial herb from the mint family (Lamiaceae). Peppermint has a strong sweet scent and a warm, pungent taste with a cooling flavor. The leaves are typically used fresh as a culinary herb, while the flowers are dried and used to flavor confections, desserts, beverages, salads, and other foods. Its essential oil is also widely used as an aroma. The plant is a hybrid of water mint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (M. spicata) and is cultivated in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Effects and Uses

Peppermint is versatile in the form of essential oil and offers numerous benefits for beauty, health, and the home. There are countless ways to use peppermint oil to treat common ailments, rejuvenate cosmetic procedures, or clean the household.

Peppermint oil naturally cleanses the skin and has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It has a cooling effect that soothes irritation and inflammation caused by acne.

Due to its antimicrobial properties, peppermint oil can help reduce the levels of acne-causing bacteria on the skin, aiding in the treatment of pimples. However, like many other essential oils, peppermint essence can be irritating to the skin, so caution should be exercised when using products containing peppermint oil.

Peppermint oil is also great for hair and the scalp. It helps with dryness or itching. It assists with dandruff due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, it helps strengthen hair roots, which can aid in preventing hair loss.