Peppermint Oil

Peppermint Leaves

As a PhD student and writer for a variety of other publications, I often find myself suffering from mental fatigue. If I have to get up early to meet publishing deadlines and haven't had an opportunity to take a nap, it is typical that around 3:00 pm I will start to fade. The problem, however, is that I have to keep working. I can't just say to my publishers, "Sorry, but at 3:00 pm I was just too tired to write anymore so I didn't finish your project."

In order to drive myself to unrealistic heights of productivity, I confess I often rely on caffeine. A few weeks ago around 3:00 pm I asked my wife to make me a cup of tea. Esther replied, "Why don't you try peppermint oil in a glass of water instead." I confess I was skeptical at first, but I decided to give it a try. I watched as Esther dropped a couple drops of Young Living's therapeutic grade Peppermint oil into my glass of water.

Almost immediately I began experiencing a new mental alertness, a freshness and energetic uplift that enabled me to make it through the end of the day without a nap and without any caffeine.

From there I began researching about the benefits of essential oils in general and peppermint oil in particular.  This website explains how Peppermint Oil

has a long history as a powerful natural remedy for many physical, emotional and mental ailments. "Aromatherapy An A-Z" by Patricia Davis highlights peppermint oil's history and also provides information on its complex chemical compounds. Peppermint oil contains high menthol levels, something used in many commercial products. Menthol provides greater benefits when used in its natural state, such as in essential peppermint oil....

A strong natural stimulant, peppermint oil powerfully affects and improves mental clarity and raises energy levels. Patricia Davis recommends essential peppermint oil for any task needing high mental alertness and functioning. The book "Daily Aromatherapy" advises utilizing peppermint oil for increasing general energy levels and assisting in promoting clear thinking. Due to the strong stimulant properties, do not use peppermint oil in the evening or anytime when sleep is planned because it will likely inhibit or prevent sleep from occurring says essential oil author Marge Clark in her book "Essential Oils and Aromatics."

And that's actually only the beginning. Peppermint Oil can also be used to treat upset stomach and vomiting, relieve a headache, reduce muscle pain, in addition to simply being very healthy for the body. A friend of mine wrote as follows about her experience using Peppermint Oil to help her husband off his addiction to energy drinks:

One of the reasons I’m so thankful for its popularity in our household is because it finally broke my husband of his dependence on garbage energy drinks and cheap coffee when we’re on long road trips. Now, he drinks (and adamantly prefers) pure Spring water with a couple of drops of peppermint in it! It keeps him alert and refreshed on those late night road trips! In addition, he uses it during the day while he’s studying and writing his sermons. He even uses it on our all-day Sundays at church instead of visiting the coffee station multiples times! Yay for peppermint!