Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Pep...Pep...Peppermint!



Oh, Peppermint, how I love thee!  Let me count the ways.  Actually, instead of recapping a book or someone else's list of how you can use Peppermint essential oil, I'll share some of my favorite uses of peppermint.

We all know that pure Peppermint helps aide in digestion, treats sore muscles, and re-energizes you.  How about using Peppermint on your temples and at the base of your skull the next time a headache, or even worse, a migraine comes a callin'?  Why pure?  Hopefully your Peppermint essential oil is free from additives.  Like most things in life, there are "degrees" of quality.  Pure Peppermint essential oil will have a variety of compounds, an "herb-y" scent that will expand energetically in your head when you inhale a whiff.

Finding it difficult to fall asleep at night?  Maybe you are dealing with a lot of stress?  Sometimes, our Bodies and systems are so fatigued that in order to fall asleep, you need to balance out some of that cortisol that is cursing around in your blood.  Having Peppermint in the air can help you fall asleep.  You can either diffuse the essential oil (if you have a diffuser), or put a few drops on a kleenex/cloth and have that near your head during the night.  Using Peppermint forever isn't the point; be willing to look at your lifestyle and nutrition to see how you can support your Body so it's not constantly in a state of stress.  Josh and Jeanne Rubin at EastWest Healing are a great resource to help you through your nutrition and daily habits.  Check them out!

Finally, you may or may not have heard of "vaginal steams."  I'll let you do the research on what that is exactly.  For us women, our reproductive organs take a hit when we are in times of dis-ease, stress, or fear/anxiety.  (Men, on the other hand, may experience more in their chests when they have dis-ease, stress, or fear/anxiety.)  Though this isn't exactly an "essential oil," using the herb Peppermint in your steam can have various supportive affects on your vagina, uterus, and ovaries.  Peppermint can have an astringent effect, an energizing effect, an analgesic effect, a soothing effect (yes, it can be both energizing & soothing), etc.  Find a practitioner in your area to get more help with vaginal steams.

As with all other scents, we can have memories associated with Peppermint.  Maybe Grandma's hand soap was Peppermint-scented, or your favorite candy as a kid was Peppermint Patties.  Be open to smelling a variety of Peppermint essential oils from different companies to find the oil resonates with you best.  Happy smelling!