Peppermint Essential Oil Shown to Improve Mental Functioning

by | Nov 12, 2018 | 2018, Brain Health, Essential Oils

Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Compared to the placebo, only the higher dose of 100 microL of peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) was effective in significantly improving participants’ cognitive tasks performance and reducing the mental fatigue associated with the extended cognitive testing in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, balanced cross-over study.

mint oilEssential oils have become increasingly popular with an estimated market value of 3.39 billion in the United States 1. It is estimated to grow by 9% by 2024 1, but how effective are essential oils? Recent research has shown ingesting peppermint essential oil improves performance on mental tasks and decreases mental fatigue associated with extended mental tasks 2.

One previous study found that supplementing an extract from the Mint family (Mentha) improved working and spatial memory, improved sleep onset, vigor, alertness and overall mood in older adults (50-70 yrs) after 90-days of supplementation 2,3. The Mint family includes over 7,000 plant species, of which the most commonly known are oregano, basil, thyme, sage, lavender, lemon balm, rosemary, spearmint and peppermint.

The current study 2 began with studying 6 types of mint essential oils, 3 spearmint and 3 peppermint, and the concentration of specific constituents and receptors in each oil. The mint oil with the strongest chemical make-up was chosen to be used in the study 2.

A total of 24 healthy participants (9 male/15female ages 21-35 years) were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the following groups:

  • 100 microL peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita in vegetable oil)
  • 50 microL peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita in vegetable oil)
  • Placebo (vegetable oil)

Capsules were administered in a double-blind envelope that had a peppermint aroma added to maintain the double-blind status. Participants were instructed to consume the capsules with about 7 ounces of full fat milk 2.

The following results were observed 2:

  • The highest dose (100 microL) of peppermint essential oil participants improved on the mentally demanding task test (Rapid Visual Information Processing task, RVIP) at 1-hour and 3-hour post-dose (p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively).
  • Mental fatigue was significantly reduced compared to placebo with the highest dose (100 microL) of peppermint essential oil, 3-hours after taking the capsule (p<0.01; via subjective ratings).
  • The mental task of Serial 3 s subtractions, significantly improved compared to placebo with the higher dose (100 microL) of peppermint essential oil, 3 hours after taking the capsule (p<0.01; based on more correct answers).
  • No changes in mood measures were observed.

In conclusion, peppermint essential oil taken via capsules at higher dosages (100 microL) was shown to improve mental task performance and decrease mental fatigue 2. There were no significant results observed with the lower dosage (50 microL), indicating a higher dosage is more effective 2. Future research should include a larger study to confirm results.

Source: Kennedy, David, Edward Okello, Paul Chazot, Melanie-Jayne Howes, Samuel Ohiomokhare, Philippa Jackson, Crystal Haskell-Ramsay, Julie Khan, Joanne Forster, and Emma Wightman. “Volatile Terpenes and Brain Function: Investigation of the Cognitive and Mood Effects of Mentha× Piperita L. Essential Oil with In Vitro Properties Relevant to Central Nervous System Function.” Nutrients 10, no. 8 (2018): 1029.

© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted November 12, 2018.

Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.

References:

  1. Research GV. U.S. Essential Oil Market Analysis by Product. 2017; U.S. Essential Oil Market Analysis. Available at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-essential-oil-market. Accessed November 2, 2018, 2018.
  2. Kennedy D, Okello E, Chazot P, et al. Volatile Terpenes and Brain Function: Investigation of the Cognitive and Mood Effects of Mentha× Piperita L. Essential Oil with In Vitro Properties Relevant to Central Nervous System Function. Nutrients. 2018;10(8):1029.
  3. Herrlinger KA, Nieman KM, Sanoshy KD, et al. Spearmint Extract Improves Working Memory in Men and Women with Age-Associated Memory Impairment. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2018.