Toms Blog on Life

Peppermint essential oil is so useful that is it comes as no surprise that even folks that are not well versed in the use of essential oils will have a bottle in their first aid kit. In my own case, peppermint oil was added to my collection in the ’80s when I started suffering debilitating migraine headaches. Thankfully, the headaches are gone, but peppermint essential oil remains a core component in my medicine cabinet.

There are many ways to use peppermint essential oil: topically either neat or mixed with a carrier oil, internally as a tea or as an addition to water, or aromatically in a diffuser or in a steaming bowl of water. Peppermint oil may also be ingested provided it is what is called “therapeutic grade”. You will know this by the supplement information on the label.

WHAT IS PEPPERMINT?

First and foremost, peppermint is a prolific garden plant that is so profuse that in my area. it must be confined to pots or planters lest it take over the entire garden. Trust me on this; left unchecked it is like a weed.

There is archaeological evidence that peppermint was used by the ancients for medicinal use. Most likely, the plant leaves were ingested in food as well as in teas, much as they are used today. Whether the ancients had their own version of the Mojito is up for grabs but chances are they did!

Peppermint and peppermint essential oil have many health-promoting properties. Peppermint is a great digestive, helps the respiratory system, promotes good circulation, and is an excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. It also smells good and makes a superb air and breath freshener.
According to the National Institutes of Health, peppermint oil reduces spasms in the digestive tract. When applied to the skin, it creates surface warmth, which in turn relieves pain beneath the skin.

Of the hundreds of potential uses for peppermint oil, I present 20 that are the most practical and most useful in a survival situation.

1. Zap Headaches: A few drops of peppermint oil massaged around the temples, the base of the skull and along the hairline will help chase away a headache. You may also dilute the oil in a carrier oil first. If you are prone to frequent headaches, add both peppermint and lavender essential oils to a roller bottle along with some fractionated coconut oil. Keep the bottle handy to apply whenever you feel a headache coming on.

2. Eliminate Bad Breath/Halitosis: Bad breath is typically a symptom of some underlying factor. If the issue is digestive, 4 drops of peppermint oil diluted with water and swished in the mouth like mouthwash will bring relief. Better yet, add a few drops to some brandy and swish.

3. Relieve Heartburn: Add a drop or peppermint oil to your tea along with a teaspoon of honey. Or, try a drop of two of peppermint oil in a glass of milk. You can also mix 5 drops with a teaspoon of carrier oil (coconut oil, olive oil, etc.) and massage onto your upper abdomen.

4. Cool a Fever: A few drops of peppermint mixed with a carrier oil and applied to the torso can reduce body temperature by 3 degrees in minutes. You can also place a few drops of oil on a wet washcloth and apply head to toe to comfort and cool a fevered body.

5. Prevent Drowsiness: Combine peppermint with a citrus oil such as lemon or orange and apply to the back of the neck. Inhale the oil that is left on your hands. I love this; it really does work.

6. Soothe a Stomach Ache: Put one drop in a large glass water and drink up.

7. Reduce Bloating: Rub on the stomach to help with bloating caused by gas and indigestion.

8. Combat Nausea: Rub a drop of peppermint oil on the abdomen or place a drop in a cup of hot water and sip it.

9. Stop Itching: Apply peppermint oil to stop itching caused by bug bites, hives, poison ivy or poison oak.

10. Relieve constipation: Combined with a carrier oil and massaged over the lower abdomen, peppermint will relieve the constipation and get things moving again.

11. Deter Mice: Place cotton balls with peppermint in areas around your home where mice like to congregate. Mice do not like peppermint (and by the way, neither do raccoons).

12. Repel spiders and ants: Place peppermint oil on a cotton ball or cotton pad and place in areas where you find spiders and ants. Better yet, make a peppermint bug spray. Add 4-5 drops of peppermint essential oil to water in a spray bottle. This also works to get rid of aphids in the garden.

13. Tick removal: Soak some peppermint oil on a q-tip then dab on the tick. Look for the tick to withdraw its head and then remove it.

14. Tendonitis and joint pain: I have shared this one with you before. Mix 10 drops each of peppermint, lavender and rosemary oil with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Massage away your aches and pains. This is also the basis for Miracle Healing Salve. It simply works!

15. Relieve seasonal allergies: Combine lavender, peppermint and lemon essential oils together with some carrier oil and rub on the bottoms of the feet, the back of the neck and across the forehead. Then take your hands, cup them over your nose and inhale with deep cleansing breaths. This will bring instant relief.

16. Relaxing foot soak: Add peppermint oil to a pan or bowl or warm water for a relaxing foot soak Follow up with some DIY Peppermint Scrub. The same applies to tired aching feet. Add a few drops to a foot bath to relieve sore, swollen and overworked feet.

17. Stress relief: Add to a diffuser to provide relief from stress, depression and mental exhaustion. There is something uplifting about peppermint and will leave you refreshed. This is also effective when your are feeling anxious and restless.

18. Freshen air: Ditto. Add to a diffuser to freshen the air.

19. Household cleaning: Mix with vinegar and water to make an effective, all purpose household cleaner that I call “Peppermint Juice”. Here is the recipe from Prepper Checklist: DIY Cleaning Supplies:

1/2 cup white vinegar
32 oz. (1 quart) cups water
1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. peppermint essential oil
20. Control odor: A few drops in the bottom of your kitchen or bathroom garbage can will leave a nice, fresh, minty smell and will also deter those ants, spiders and mice.

https://nexusnewsfeed.com/article/health-healing/20-miracle-uses-for-peppermint-oil/

(Tom: I received a newsletter promoting a fix for diabetes. The newsletter contains some useful information so I thought I’d share it with you. I do not have diabetes, I do not make a commission on the product they are selling so make your own decision as to whether or not you purchase it.)

For decades, mainstream media has demonized foods like eggs and meats, claiming they cause all sorts of metabolic diseases.  The truth is, they were wrong all along, and the science has consistently shown that in recent years (although pasture-raised is the most important choice for max health benefits).  

But let’s take a look at something even more specific in today’s email…the relationship between eggs and diabetes…

A study performed at The University of Eastern Finland, and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition studied the diets of men aged 42 to 60, and followed them for 20 years on average to find out if they developed Diabetes.  The study concluded that people who ate an average of 4 eggs per week had a 37% lower risk of developing type 2 Diabetes compared to people that only ate 1 egg per week (Hmm, I wonder how much lower the Diabetes risk would have been for people eating 10-20 eggs per week!)…

They also concluded that egg eaters had lower blood sugar levels on average.  As a health researcher, this doesn’t surprise me at all… eggs are almost a perfect food (especially if they’re pasture-raised), and are loaded with appetite-controlling protein, a plethora of vitamins & minerals, powerful antioxidants, healthy cholesterol and saturated fats (yes, HEALTHY fats!), and other nutrients that all help to benefit your hormones and control blood sugar levels.  

In fact, other studies have shown that people that eat eggs for breakfast (instead of carb-based breakfasts like cereals, muffins, or bagels), have reduced appetite levels for the remainder of the day, and less cravings for sugar and carbs, thereby successfully losing or maintaining weight easier.

And speaking of blood sugar & diabetes… If you think that Type 2 Diabetes is irreversible like many misinformed doctors will tell you, then you need to read some of the proof below on how to naturally reverse Type 2 Diabetes… Although eating “paleo” or even low-carb is a good first step, you’ll also see below other techniques on just how simple it can be to “fix” your diabetes, control your blood sugars, and lose all of that excess fat sitting on your stomach.

https://www.truthaboutabs.com/end-diabetes-usca.html