menthol

Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies with variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

anxiety

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 3 drops peppermint oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x1h

athletic performance

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 0.05 mL peppermint oil/500 mL water PO x1 given 30min before exercise

barium enema-related colonic spasm

[Possibly Effective]

Info: peppermint oil added to barium enema preparation

dental plaque

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 10 mL (1.6 mg/g mouthwash) swish/spit bid

dysmenorrhea

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 561 mg PO qd x3 days; Start: 1st day of menstruation

dyspepsia

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 90 mg PO bid-tid; Alt: 16.7 mg/1 mL PO tid

endoscopy-associated adverse effects

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 187 mg ER PO x1 given 4h before procedure

esophageal spasm

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 5 drops peppermint oil/10 mL water PO x1

fatigue

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 3 drops peppermint oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x20min qhs

halitosis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 0.5% peppermint oil topically bid; Info: used with tea tree oil and lemon oil

IBS

[Likely Effective]

Dose: 180-450 mg PO bid-qid

insomnia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 3 drops peppermint oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x20min qhs

menopausal symptoms

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 2 drops peppermint oil topically to hand and arm for aromatherapy massage x30min 2x/wk

migraine, acute

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 1-2 drops (1.5% peppermint oil) intranasally x1 at start of migraine

nausea/vomiting, chemo-related, adult patients

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 40 drops peppermint oil/20 mL water PO q8h after chemo; Alt: 2 drops peppermint oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x30min; apply 1 drop peppermint oil topically below nose tid; Info: used with or without antiemetics

nausea/vomiting, chemo-related, peds patients

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 2 drops peppermint oil/80 mL water diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x30min before chemo, then continue 2h and 4h after chemo 1x/wk; Alt: 0.2 mL (2% peppermint oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x3min before chemo; Info: used with or without antiemetics

nausea/vomiting, postop

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 10-30% peppermint oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x1; Start: 1-4h after surgery

nausea/vomiting, pregnancy-related

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 5% peppermint oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy q5min prn

nipple fissures

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply topically after breastfeeding; Info: products include gel, solution, cream

pain, adult patients

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply gel topically x1 before procedure

pain, peds patients

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 0.2% peppermint oil topically x1 before dental injection; Info: for patients 8-13 yo

postop ileus

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20 drops peppermint oil PO x1 given 4h after surgery, then 20 drops peppermint oil PO q1h x3 doses

postop pain

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 0.1 mL (10% peppermint oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy tid x7 doses; Alt: 5 drops peppermint oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x1 after surgery

postop sleep disturbance

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 0.1 mL (10% peppermint oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy tid x7 doses

pressure ulcer

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply 0.2% gel topically tid

pruritus

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 5% peppermint oil in petrolatum topically bid; Alt: apply 3.6% gel topically x24h covered with gauze; apply 0.5% peppermint oil topically bid

stress

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 5 drops peppermint oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x1

tension-type headache

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply 10% peppermint oil topically x1