Guide To Spearmint Essential Oil Benefits and Uses

Inhaling the scent of spearmint essential oil (Mentha spicata or Mentha cardiaca) creates a feeling of joy and happiness, according to 375 Essential Oil and Hydrosols by aromatherapist Jeanne Rose. The oil is an excellent addition to stress-relief blends.

Basic Spearmint Facts

Plant family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae

Production: Steam distilled from the spearmint plant, a perennial herb.

Aroma: Fresh, minty.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Top

Is spearmint safe to use during pregnancy? Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art suggests inhaling spearmint for morning sickness.

New York Institute of Aromatic Studies states the essential oil appears safe for pregnancy and offers this suggestion: For pregnancy-related heartburn, dilute spearmint to 1% (1 drop in one teaspoon carrier oil) and gently massage over stomach.

Some sources caution not to overuse this essential oil while pregnant, and that's good advice for any essential oil during pregnancy. Consult a professional.

Is spearmint essential oil safe for children? Yes. This essential oil has properties similar to peppermint oil but is gentler, making spearmint a better choice for young children.

Cautions: Low risk of skin sensitization.

Main components:

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition

Spearmint Essential Oil Benefits

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Use of spearmint essential oil may help relieve colic, indigestion, nausea, flatulence, stomach ache, neuralgia, muscle aches, nervous migraine, and nervous fatigue.

The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition): In skin care, use spearmint for acne, dermatitis, and congested skin. For the digestive system, the essential oil may help relieve colic, indigestion, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting. The oil may also help relieve colds, flu, fatigue, headaches, migraines, nervous strain, and stress.

375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols: Spearmint is calming and a digestive system tonic. The aroma creates a feeling of joy and happiness, making the oil useful in stress-relieving blends.

Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Volume I: Psychologically, spearmint promotes emotional stability and renewal and mildly stimulates the mind and promotes alertness. Physically, the essential oil decongests congestive/damp conditions. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the essential function of the oil is to regulate the Qi, cool the exterior, and harmonize the Shen.

Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Spearmint stimulates the mind, strengthening concentration and memory. The oil purifies, protects, and increases spiritual awareness.

Spearmint Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Three suggested uses of spearmint essential oil:

• Diffuse it for a minty, fresh scent, to promote alertness, and to relieve fatigue.
• Add it to homemade toothpaste or essential oil mouthwash.
• Add it to natural cleaning recipes or to DIY bug-repellent sprays for the home.

Diffuser blend for alertness:

• 3 drops spearmint
  
• 1 drop lemon essential oil
• 1 drop cypress essential oil

• 1 tablespoon olive or jojoba oil
• 2 drops spearmint      
• 1 drop rosemary essential oil 
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
  

1. Warm the olive or jojoba oil.
2. Blend in the essential oils.
3. Massage the blend into your hair from the ends up.
4. Wrap your hair in a towel (or in plastic wrap covered by a towel).
5. Leave for one hour, or overnight.
6. Wash and condition hair as usual.
   

Source: 10 Recipes with Spearmint Essential Oil

Travel Ease Blend

• 11 drops spearmint essential oil
• 13 drops tangerine essential oil
• 5 drops ginger essential oil
• 4 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 2-ounce spray PET bottle
  

1. Add essential oils to the spray bottle and top with the jojoba.
2. Shake well before each use. Spray a small amount onto your hand and then massage onto your neck and chest (and abdomen if you have an upset stomach) before and during travel.
   

Cautions: If irritation occurs, stop use. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Alternative: Blend 5 drops spearmint, 6 drops tangerine, and 2 drops ginger. Use a few drops of the blend in a personal inhaler or on an aromatherapy jewelry diffuser to use/wear during travel.

Adapted from Kelly Holland Azzaro, RA, CCAP, CBFP, LMT. NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Autumn 2016.3, p. 73.

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Photo Credit: Simon Eugster - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons