Peppermint Essential Oil: A Fresh Burst

Welcome back to Harvesters’ Corner! Today we are going to take a look at one of the original oils dōTERRA launched with: Peppermint. This oil is one of the most-used oils, with commercial, health and wellness applications. Peppermint’s use extends back to the Egyptian Empire, with papyrus dating to 1550 B.C. referencing the aromatic, refreshing plant. Even though Pliny the Elder, a Roman scientist and historian writing in the first century A.D., referenced Peppermint in his natural history collection, the modern-day Peppermint is believed to be native to England. Come join us as we take a closer look at this classic plant and how Healing Hands and Co-Impact Sourcing are bettering the lives of hundreds of thousands of people world-wide.

The Nymph, Myth, and History

fresh peppermint

Mentha peperita, as it is known, is a cross between Winter Mint and Spearmint, and the number-one flavor additive for non-chocolate hard candies. Derivatives of mint have been found across the world, with many ancient remedies from all corners referencing the plant. Modern-day applications include being a flavoring for food and beverages, as well as cosmetic applications. The Mentha genus has been classified into forty-two primary species, fifteen hybrids, and hundreds of sub-species. (1) Among the better-known species are Water Mint (Mentha aquatica), Spearmint (Mentha spicata), Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis), and Peppermint (Mentha piperita).

The name Menthe alludes to the nymph Minthe, a tragic figure in Greek Mythology who was beloved by Hades and became his mistress. The latter’s jealous wife, Persephone (or her mother, Demeter, depending on the source and translation), discovered the romance, and killed the nymph. (1,2) A scorned woman is a force to be feared, as Minthe soon found out. Accounts vary as to what happened, and by whom, but most agree that Minthe’s body was dismembered as punishment. Hades intervened, and a fragrant plant began to spread from where Minthe’s remains lay.  

As indicated earlier, mint’s uses extend back to Egyptian times. The Ebers Papyrus, mentioned above, references mint’s use for multiple digestive complaints. The plant was used in both Grecian and Roman times in funerary rites and to mask the odor of decay from the body. (3) Pliny also records that Rome used the plant to flavor wine and sauces. (4) Interest in the plant revived in the 1500s for its digestive properties, as well as a mental stimulant. By the 1600s mint was being recommended for oral hygiene, as well. (3) By the 1700s the early American colonists, tired of importing an old, dried herb from England, started growing mint in New York and New Jersey. As America spread westward through the 1800s, so to did the humble mint plant. By the early 1900s mint was growing (both commercially and in popularity) in the Pacific Northwest. (3)

Sourcing Peppermint Essential Oil and Impacting Lives

Peppermint thrives today in the Willamette Valley in northwest Oregon. Among the farmers cultivating Peppermint there today is the Venell family, who have been growing Peppermint for three generations. In 2018 the Venells were growing over five hundred acres of Peppermint. The harvest starts in late June and lasts for about two months. As the harvest starts, Swathers, also called windrowers, drive the fields cutting the mint and gathering it into rows where it is left to dry for a few days. Then the harvesting machine gathers the rows, chops them up, and collects the mint in a truck. The full truck is then hauled to the distillery for processing (5)

harvesting peppermint

The Venells operate a sixteen-bay distillery on their farm, where high-pressure steam collects the oil for the plant material. As the steam cools it separates into water and oil. The oil is collected into barrels for shipping. These are typically 55-gallon drums (208 liters) and weigh close to four hundred pounds (181 Kilograms). (5) As of 2020, Oregon ranked third in the United States for Peppermint production, with eighty-three farms raising 18,000 acres (7,284 Hectares). (5) That equated to 1.7 million pounds of oil (771,107 Kilograms) with a value of $34 million US dollars in total. (5)

Choices have to be made by the farmers, though. Mr. Venell states, “When the plant starts to bloom, the quality of the oil starts to change. We don't want to end up with oil that's not of the consistency that the consumer wants. Although we could get more oil by letting the plant get more mature, there's a certain time in there when we have the best quality for the maturity.” (6) His wife adds, “We want to be the best in whatever it is that we're doing. So I love it when the wellness advocates come to visit our mint still. It’s such an emotional experience to me to be able to talk about something that we are so passionate about; to see the impact of our efforts, of our hard work, through the stories that are then told to us... And you think, 'Wow. We really are making a difference.'” (6)

Oregon is not the only location where dōTERRA sources Peppermint oil from, though. Similar conditions that bless Oregon can also found in northern India. There are three primary growing seasons in India, with the first and third usually dedicated to food crops needed to feed India’s massive population. The second season, however, tends to be unused. This has changed with dōTERRA and the partnerships developed through Co-Impact Sourcing. Thousands of Indian farmers, most of which own less than five acres (4 Hectares) of land are now raising the plant commercially. Peppermint is grown in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Bihar. Why these states? Bihar is one of the poorest states in India. Yet despite the poverty, it and Uttar Pradesh are two of the most populated states in the country. (7)

Bihar was a traditional source of mint during the late nineteenth and early-to-mid twentieth centuries, prior to scientists developing artificial mint in laboratories, so the return of Peppermint is a welcome opportunity for the thousands of farmers wanting to become more self-sufficient. Co-Impact Sourcing has gone further, however, by establishing Peppermint nurseries. Farmers can obtain seedlings and receive advice as to how best protect and nourish their crop for the best results from these nurseries. These services have enabled farmers to optimize the yields and efficiency of their lands.

The biomass left over from the distillation process is dried. This is then used to fuel the distillation boilers. This helps cut waste and benefits the farmers, who do not have to buy firewood or other fuels to power the fires.

Overall, there were 121,641 people empowered via jobs growing, processing, and distilling Peppermint. Of that number, less than forty jobs are in the United States. The impact of Peppermint is far-reaching, with 535,152 lives supported by those working in the Peppermint industry with dōTERRA. Again, less than one hundred people are supported by the jobs in the US. That means the little 15mL bottle you purchase helps support over a half-million people in some highly impoverished regions. (7)

Cooling, Cooking, Pep and More!

What, exactly, can Peppermint oil be used for? The list is long. For example, this powerhouse of nature helps promote healthy digestive function, has a scent that invigorates the atmosphere for mental and physical activity, and helps sooth when used in a massage. Peppermint is also certified as being Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration, which means this oil is safe for internal consumption! It works well in candies and sauces and can also perk up your drinking water. I have mixed the oil with chocolates numerous times, as candies, with chocolate chips in cookies, and in chocolate lava cakes. I also enjoy putting a drop on my hands and rubbing them together, and then cupping my hands in front of my nose before breathing deeply. The sensation I receive is one of pep and exhilaration as I prepare to face any task at hand. I also rub it on the back of my neck and enjoy the cooling sensation down my spine.

Sparkling lemonade, one of the many uses for peppermint oil

However, a quick word of warning: don’t rub your eyes if you have Peppermint oil on your hands! If, like me, you are a slow learner, and do this, remember that oils and water DO NOT MIX! Instead of flushing your eyes with water, take some clean paper towel and put cooking oil on the towel. It doesn’t matter if it is plain cooking oil, olive oil, avocado oil, or even fractionated coconut oil. The oil on the towel will help dilute the oils in your eye, cutting the sting and burn. If you don’t have cooking oil for some reason, milk will also work, just not as effectively.

So what else can Peppermint do? Put a drop of Peppermint with a drop of Lemon in water, mix, and use as a quick mouth rinse. You can add a boost to your water by adding a drop of Peppermint oil. Then supercharge the water by adding sliced strawberries or limes. Very refreshing, especially when it is 115O F (46 C) outside! Try adding Peppermint to your lotion and massage your feet. Let the footsies know how much you appreciate them. To refresh the air at home or work, blend two drops of Peppermint with three drops of Grapefruit and two drops of either Sandalwood or ‘Iliahi (Hawaiian Sandalwood) in a diffuser and turn on. Sandalwood helps ground your mind, while the Peppermint and Grapefruit combine to sooth and uplift. Peppermint can also help rid your home of pests, like spiders and other bugs. Put three to four drops on a cotton ball and place the cotton ball wherever these unwanted guests may be. (8)

Peppermint oil in your diffuser

I really hope that by now you can see just how versatile an oil Peppermint is. We love it in our home and take pride in knowing we can help the struggling farmers in India become more self-sufficient through purchasing the oil. Why, just that very thought makes me want to go mix up a batch of Peppermint brownies!

Feel free to experience Peppermint first-hand, click to purchase a bottle of Certified Pure, Tested Grade Peppermint oil. The other oils mentioned in this blog are also available. If you are new to our page, follow the link to learn more about Co-Impact Sourcing.

We invite you to join us next time, when we start looking at Wild Orange and its close cousins Bitter Orange, Neroli, and Petitgrain. Until then, stay safe. We will see you soon, here at Harvesters’ Corner!

 Sources

1.    Silva, Henrique A. “A Descriptive Overview of the Medical Uses Given to Mentha Aromatic Herbs throughout History.” Biology (Basel). 2020 Dec 21;9(12):484. doi:10.3390/biology9120484. PMID: 33371310; PMCID: PMC7767097. Online:< https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7767097/>. Accessed 10 May 2024.

2.    Wikipedia. “Minthe” 23 June 2024. Online:<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minthe>. Accessed 10 July 2024.

3.    Pickering, Victoria. “Plant of the Month: Mint.” JSTOR Daily, 1 April 2020. Online: <https://daily.jstor.org/plant-of-the-month-mint>. Accessed 10 July 2024.

4.    Our Herb Garden. “History of Peppermint – Earliest Recorded Uses.” Online. <www.ourherbgarden.com/herb-history/peppermint.html>. Accessed 10 May 2024.

5.    Agriculture in the Classroom. “Peppermint.” Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation. Online: < https://oregonaitc.org/resources/oregon-resources/oregon-grown-commodities/peppermint/>. Accessed 6 July 2024.

6.    dōTERRA. “How dōTERRA Peppermint Essential oil is Harvested – Peppermint Oil Distillation.” YouTube. December 2018. Accessed 6 July 2024.

7.    dōTERRA. “Source to You: Peppermint.” Online. <https://sourcetoyou.com/en/stories/story/peppermint>. Accessed 6 July 2024.

8.    dōTERRA. “Peppermint Oil Uses and Benefits.” The Blog. Online: <https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/spotlight-peppermint-oil>. 6 July 2024