HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Peppermint Oil - Good or Bad?

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/4/2009 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
I keep reading mixed information on peppermint oil.  Some say it's good for GERD, others say it's not.  One site says it's contraindicated for those with Hiatal Hernias.

It's supposed to relax the muscles, which would be good for my esophageal spasms, but I also have a small hiatal hernia... (3cm is small, right?)

Does anyone have experience using peppermint oil?

Thanks,

   Leo

 

Posted 8/5/2009 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Leo:

I love tea so I had my apothacary put together a tea for me for my gastritis. He included the peppermint because it is great for indigestion. That part is true but boy was it awefull for gastritis.
It made the symptoms so much worse. There are other herbs that are relaxing to the stomach if that is what your looking for.

LP
Posted 8/5/2009 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks LP,

I don't have gastritis, but I do have GERD nad a hiatal hernia, so I don't want the peppermint oil flaring those up!

I was looking at it more for the esophageal spasms. I'm desperate to find something that will help!

I'm currently drinking herbal tea 3 times a day, but I'm not even sure what's in it. My acupuncturist gave it to me and I didn't even bother to ask. I'm willing to try anything that will help! It does help a bit, so far.

Uncle Leo
Posted 8/5/2009 10:48 PM (GMT 0)

Uncle Leo,

That is a tough question...............I do not know for sure on the peppermint oil.   I sure do hope your acupuncture treatments help with the spasms.  You are in my thoughts and I hope you get relief that sticks with you soon.

Sincerely

Kitt

Posted 5/25/2011 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
Leo
This is my first post. Since your post was in 2009 I guess by now you have tried peppermint oil and have worked out whether it works for you or not. I did not know what this dreadful pain similar to descriptions of a heart attack was called. As I have had it for 11 years, I eventually worked out it was not a heart problem as I am still walking around! My pain started after receiving a double transplant (renal/pancreas). When I told the specialists I was given medicine for angina. That did not work and since the pain came after eating, I eventually sucked on the strongest peppermint sweets I could find. It worked. I was already on medication for acid and to this day that does not help or stop it. As I am a diabetic, I only take the peppermint lollies when I am out and at home use pure peppermint oil and I find that it works better if you first take the oil with a small amount of water and then drink another half glass of water. Also find that once I belch or burp the pain goes. Three years ago saw a GI specialist whom I told that peppermint helped and he also said that maybe taking peppermint capsules (here in Australia they are called Mintec) before food. The only thing I do not like with that is that I only get this pain two or three times a month. If the belch or burp does not come soda water will do it. Hopefully this helps you or anyone reading this. Bye
Posted 5/25/2011 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
peppermint makes reflux worse because it relaxes your LES...although mint gum can help reflux because it promotes saliva flow and swallowing,,peppermint capsules made my GERD 100 times worse but the tea helps an upset stomach.
Posted 5/25/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome to HelingWell,

I am finding the same thing as bittersweet:  Do not administer peppermint oil to patients with gastroesophageal reflux or active gastric ulcers because the oil decreases esophageal sphincter pressure.

However I am finding articles that are in favor of using peppermenit. A small amount mixed in water makes the muscles of the esophagus contract normally again. I would suggest you discuss these findings with your GI physician. 

Do stick with us as we love to have new members.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 5/26/2011 8:40 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Kitt and bittersweet
Peppermint oil works for me because I do not have GERD or problems with LES. This pain only started after the double transplant and when I get it (I can go for months without any episodes) when I eat bread, or dry pastry like a pizza or a pie crust. At the time of the transplant Zantac was prescribed to protect the lining of my stomach as I was told that the drugs given to transplant patients are so potent that Zantac was given to delay stomach problems I may develop. I can also get the pain if lunch is after 2 pm and yes peppermint oil works for me. I went on your site because I was looking for DES which described exactly the pain I had. The thread ended after 5 pages when I went to the new thread discussions were on something totally different and when I saw the peppermint oil. I logged in. I would not do anything the internet tells me to do. I have specialists who have studied for years for that. Consult the five of them regularly and my renal consultant does know that I take pep oil and the GI was also aware of it and also advised I could take Mintec. Both help. I believe the jury is still out on what causes DES. I am thankful I am not as bad as what I read on other sites. Some people are on nitroglycerine, that never worked for me, others are on anti-depressant and yes, some people are taking peppermint oil. I suppose different courses for different horses and it is all a matter or elimination.
Maturin
Posted 5/26/2011 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
hello i am new to this site and wondered if anyone have suffered with gallstones,last week i had all the symtoms and spoke to numourous people and yes their experence was the same----that was last saturday well early hours sunday morning,and lasted for four longest hours,at the time i didnt know what on earth was going on but when the real dull bad pain stoped in the middle of my chest,it was a dull pain all around my back.finally when i felt well enough to get up and dress and have a bit to eat on the tuesday(which was little but all dairy products----then i came across all about gallstones and quickly went on the low fat diet--and all pain have stopped and today feel myself once again----i am however seeing the doctor tomorrow------------but can anyone tell me please can you drink alchol as i do like a tipple on the weekends not a big drinker but one or two.
thank you for reading and if i posted on wrong forum i am so sorry .
tinkerbell56
Posted 7/5/2012 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have the same problems as lots of you with gerd, acid reflux, gas, you name it and I always think my gallbladder is acting up but all tests come back good on the gall bladder. My thoughts are that our bodies are trying to tell us something about our eating habits and what we eat or drink. I'm always trying to figure it out. One time I had an upper and lower GI and the specialist said there is something I am eating that my system does not like. FRUSTRATING! At one point I was blaming it all on wheat and corn because I would feel bad afterwards, sometimes could not breathe easily and other times sneezing fits and/or sinus issues and not very obvious all at once. When I eat organic versions of the same foods, the symptoms do not exist as bad or not at all. Preservatives could be the culprits of lots of acid reflux or gerd, ect, If we don't like something we eat, we spit it out, well I think our bodies are trying to tell us something. Don't know, just a thought as I am trying to figure out the same puzzle.
Posted 7/6/2012 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
My GI told me that pepperment oil may help with GERD, but the side-effect is heartburn.
Posted 7/7/2012 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Uncle Leo, what my docs thought was only Gerd turned out to be also  combination of Cardio Esophageal Reflex compounded by Esophageal Spasms. After 2 years of meds and experimenting I now control the CER with 12 drops of peppermint extract in 4 oz of warm water and a peppermint tablet each day as well as a peppermint oil capsule. But along with that I take as needed the round sugar free red and white peppermint candies from CVS. Although the ES are 10 times worse then the CER I follow the same regimen for the ES but when they get to a level 10+ I then have to take .4 Nitrostat and the ES is gone in 45 seconds. I have been to 5 of the best cardios, 3 of the best Endos and now the best Gastroenterologist that I could find and he agrees that because this works for me when nothing else did to keep it going because he sees no downside to it and if I can relieve the pain fron the ES (which is the worst pain I have ever experienced) to keep up this regimen. Strangely I only get CER between 10 am and 6 pm and I only get ES from 11 pm to 4 am. Nobody can figure it out but when I had the probe down my esophogus for 3 days it confirmed it.

Good luck,  Craig

Posted 8/2/2012 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
I am still confused wheather peppermint oil is good or bad for GERD. I do realize that it helps in relieving gas (in the form of burb mostly). Many times, relieving gas (burping) helps with pressure that is built up below LES. Peppermint in general is said to relax LES. Confused.
Posted 8/2/2012 1:24 AM (GMT 0)

Guddan, my 13 year history with gerd and 4 year history with esopageal spasms has proven to me that previcid and peppermint oil capsules assists me more then any other medications with NO side effects. AND whenever I have a bad bout with gerd I also take a round red and white peppermint candy and it disappears. But if I get a bad spasm Nitrostat is the only thing that works. The best pep candy is the sugar free CVS brand. Hopefully you can avoid the spasms cause they are the worst thing I've ever experienced. Good Luck, ctaig 

Posted 8/2/2012 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Try magnesium for esophageal spasms that has really helped me along with diet.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply