Peppermint: the capsule has the evidence, the tea does not

Almost everything proven about peppermint belongs to a capsule of concentrated oil rather than to the leaf in a cup. Across four placebo-controlled trials in 392 adults with irritable bowel syndrome, peppermint oil brought the risk of symptoms persisting down to 0.43 of placebo, with a confidence interval of 0.32 to 0.59. All four of those trials are older than the 2008 search that found them, and the outcome was how patients rated themselves. A network of 51 trials in 4644 adults with the same diagnosis put the capsules first of every traditional treatment for global symptoms, at a relative risk of 0.63 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.83), and only 13 of those 51 trials were at low risk of bias. The Cochrane review of 3725 patients names peppermint oil among the antispasmodic subgroups with a significant benefit. Its headline figure, abdominal pain improved in 58 percent against 46 percent on placebo, belongs to the whole class of antispasmodic drugs and not to mint alone. Reviewers still argue about the size. An umbrella review of 175 trials calls the benefit real, small and of low to very low certainty, while a review of polyphenol supplements in gut disease graded this one use moderate to high. One diagnosis, one preparation, and a contested amount. The headline trials are in adults. In 228 children aged 8 to 18, neither peppermint oil capsules nor peppermint sweets beat placebo after 8 weeks. The European monograph on the oil sets 0.12 to 0.24 tsp (0.6 to 1.2 ml) a day for adolescents and adults and at most 0.12 tsp (0.6 ml) a day for children aged 8 to 11. It does not recommend the capsules under 8, in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

The numbers, per 3.5 oz (100 g)

How much is actually in it

• Fresh peppermint leaf carries 31.8 mg of vitamin C and 8 g of fiber per 3.5 oz (100 g) in the only USDA record there is, and the British table has no leaf entry to check it against. — USDA SR Legacy record Peppermint, fresh (FDC 173474), Spices and Herbs group Evidence E source
  Per 100 g: copper 0.329 mg (37% DV), vitamin C 31.8 mg (35% DV), fiber 8 g (29% DV); no Foundation Foods sample exists, so the spread between samples is unknown

What a real portion looks like

• Neither reference table can say what a portion of peppermint is or what cooking does to it, because both leave the plant out entirely. — USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors Release 6 and USDA FNDDS household measures, both searched for peppermint Evidence E source
  No retention method and no food group for peppermint in Release 6; no record at all among the 5432 FNDDS survey foods, so no household measure exists

What your body absorbs

• Peppermint tea drunk with a bread meal cut absorption of non-heme iron by 84%, which puts it level with strong black tea. — adult volunteers, iron absorption from a bread meal measured by erythrocyte incorporation of radio-iron, beverages compared against a water control (n = not reported in abstract) Evidence C source
  Iron absorption inhibited 84% by peppermint tea, 79 to 94% by black tea, 73% pennyroyal, 71% cocoa, 59% vervain, 52% lime flower, 47% camomile; beverages with 100 to 400 mg polyphenols per serving cut absorption 60 to 90%

What it does to your health

• A 2022 meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials in 1030 people with IBS found peppermint oil beat placebo for overall symptoms (RR of not improving 0.65, NNT 4). — adults with irritable bowel syndrome in randomized placebo-controlled trials of peppermint oil (n = 10 RCTs, 1030 patients) Evidence A source
  Global IBS symptoms not improving RR 0.65 (95% CI 0.43 to 0.98), NNT 4; abdominal pain not improving RR 0.76 (0.62 to 0.93), NNT 7
• A 2026 meta-analysis of plant-based IBS treatments pooled 7 peppermint oil studies and found a symptom response risk ratio of 1.63 versus placebo. — patients with irritable bowel syndrome in trials of plant-based preparations, searched to May 2024 (n = 60 studies, 6329 patients overall; peppermint oil 7 studies) Evidence A source
  Peppermint oil RR 1.63 (95% CI 1.33 to 2.00) for improvement in IBS symptoms; fiber RR 1.22 (1.00 to 1.49)
• A 2019 meta-analysis of enteric-coated peppermint oil found global IBS improvement was 2.39 times as likely as on placebo in 7 trials with 507 adults. — adults with IBS (Manning or Rome criteria) randomized to enteric-coated peppermint oil or placebo for at least 2 weeks (n = 7 RCTs, 507 patients (12 RCTs, 835 patients in the review)) Evidence A source
  Global symptom improvement RR 2.39 (95% CI 1.93 to 2.97), I2 0%, NNT 3; abdominal pain RR 1.78 (1.43 to 2.20), NNT 4
• A 2008 BMJ meta-analysis found peppermint oil cut the risk of persistent IBS symptoms to 0.43 of placebo in 4 trials with 392 adults. — adults with irritable bowel syndrome, therapy of at least one week (n = 4 RCTs, 392 patients) Evidence A source
  Relative risk of persistent symptoms 0.43 (95% CI 0.32 to 0.59) vs placebo
• In subgroup analyses of a Cochrane review of antispasmodics for IBS, peppermint oil was among the agents with a statistically significant benefit. — patients with irritable bowel syndrome aged over 12 years (n = 29 antispasmodic studies, 2333 patients) Evidence A source
  Antispasmodics vs placebo, abdominal pain RR 1.32 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.55), NNT 7; subgroup benefit for peppermint oil
• Across four placebo-controlled trials in 392 patients, peppermint oil cut the risk of irritable bowel symptoms persisting to 0.43 of placebo. — 392 adults with irritable bowel syndrome in 4 randomized trials, minimum one week of therapy (n = 392) Evidence A source
  Relative risk of persistent symptoms 0.43 (95% CI 0.32 to 0.59) versus placebo
• In a network of 51 trials with 4644 patients, peppermint oil capsules ranked first of all traditional irritable bowel treatments for global symptoms, at a relative risk of 0.63. — 4644 adults with irritable bowel syndrome of any subtype, 51 randomized trials, 4 to 12 weeks of treatment, searched to August 2019 (n = 4644) Evidence A source
  Failure to improve global symptoms RR 0.63 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.83), P-score 0.84, ranked first ahead of tricyclic antidepressants at 0.66
• The Cochrane review of 56 trials in 3725 patients names peppermint oil as one of four antispasmodic subgroups with a statistically significant benefit. — 3725 patients with irritable bowel syndrome across 56 randomized trials, of which 29 trials with 2333 patients tested antispasmodics (n = 3725) Evidence A source
  Antispasmodics overall improved abdominal pain in 58% versus 46% on placebo, RR 1.32 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.55), NNT 7; peppermint oil named in the effective subgroups
• Of 23 trials of plant-polyphenol supplements in gut disease, peppermint oil for irritable bowel was one of only two with moderate to high certainty behind it. — adults with Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome in 23 randomized trials, searched to April 2020 (n = 23 trials) Evidence A source
  Gastrointestinal symptoms improved overall, SMD 0.43 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.63) at very low GRADE; peppermint oil for irritable bowel reached moderate to high certainty; no effect on adverse events (P > .05)
• One 182 mg peppermint oil capsule lowered pressure and motility in the fasting stomach of 13 healthy volunteers. — healthy volunteers, 13 for intragastric pressure measurement and 13 for barostat study, randomized controlled crossover with a single 182 mg capsule or placebo (n = 13) Evidence B source
  Intragastric pressure and proximal motility index fell versus placebo (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05); appetite scores during fasting fell (P = 0.01); no difference in satiation, maximum infused volume, compliance or sensitivity
• A single 100 microlitre dose of peppermint essential oil improved sustained attention at 1 and 3 hours and blunted the build-up of mental fatigue in 24 healthy adults. — 24 healthy adults of mean age 25.2 years, double-blind placebo-controlled balanced crossover, encapsulated 50 and 100 microlitre doses, tested before dosing and at 1, 3 and 6 hours (n = 24) Evidence B source
  The 100 microlitre dose improved Rapid Visual Information Processing at 1 and 3 hours; both doses attenuated fatigue and improved Serial 3s subtraction at 3 hours

Safety, limits and interactions

• The same 2022 meta-analysis found side effects were more common on peppermint oil than placebo (RR 1.57). — adults with irritable bowel syndrome in randomized placebo-controlled trials of peppermint oil (n = 10 RCTs, 1030 patients) Evidence A source
  Any adverse event RR 1.57 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.37) vs placebo; gastro-esophageal reflux assessed as a safety outcome
• In a crossover trial of 12 adults, a 600 mg dose of peppermint oil raised blood levels (AUC) of the blood pressure drug felodipine to 140% of those with water. — healthy volunteers, single dose, 4-way crossover (n = 12) Evidence B source
  Felodipine AUC 140% (range 77% to 262%) vs water, P < .05; grapefruit juice 173%
• NCCIH lists heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain and dry mouth as possible side effects of peppermint oil taken by mouth. — general public, oral peppermint oil Evidence E source
  Possible oral side effects: heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, dry mouth; enteric coating used to reduce heartburn
• The EMA monograph says peppermint oil capsules are taken until symptoms resolve, usually within one or two weeks, and for no longer than 3 months per course. They must be swallowed whole, because a broken capsule releases the oil early and can irritate the mouth and esophagus. — users of gastro-resistant peppermint oil capsules Evidence E source
  Usually 1 to 2 weeks; no longer than 3 months per course; swallow whole, 30 minutes before meals
• The EMA reports heartburn, perianal burning, blurred vision, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting as frequent in clinical trials of peppermint oil capsules. People who already have heartburn or a hiatal hernia sometimes get worse and should stop. — users of peppermint oil capsules, including people with heartburn or hiatal hernia Evidence E source
  Heartburn, perianal burning, blurred vision, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting frequent in trials; heartburn may worsen in people who already have it
• The EMA advises against combining peppermint oil capsules with acid-reducing drugs such as proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers, which may dissolve the enteric coating too early. Food or antacids taken at the same time can do the same. — people taking acid-reducing drugs or antacids with peppermint oil capsules Evidence E source
  H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors may dissolve the enteric coating early and should be avoided; food or antacids at the same time may release the oil early
• A meta-analysis of 12 RCTs in IBS found adverse events in 9.3% of people on peppermint oil and 6.1% on placebo, a difference that was not statistically significant. Most were mild and transient, heartburn the most often reported. — adults with irritable bowel syndrome in 12 randomized trials; adverse events pooled from 8 trials (n = 835) Evidence A source
  Adverse events 9.3% (32 of 344) with peppermint oil vs 6.1% (20 of 327) with placebo; RR 1.40 (95% CI 0.87 to 2.26)
• A 600 mg dose of peppermint oil raised blood levels of the blood pressure drug felodipine to 140% of those taken with water. — 12 healthy volunteers, randomized four-way crossover, felodipine 10 mg extended-release taken with grapefruit juice, peppermint oil 600 mg, ascorbyl palmitate 500 mg or water (n = 12) Evidence B source
  Felodipine AUC 140% of water (range 77% to 262%, P < .05) with peppermint oil, against 173% with grapefruit juice; peak concentration also raised, half-life unchanged
• A 69 year old man went into anaphylaxis within five minutes of sucking a peppermint candy, with skin tests positive to both the candy and a fresh peppermint leaf. — one 69 year old male with no previous food or drug allergy, skin prick tested against peppermint candy slurry and fresh leaf with five healthy controls (n = 1) Evidence D source
  Lip and tongue swelling, throat tightness and shortness of breath within five minutes, needing intramuscular epinephrine; controls all negative
• Four patients with eczema on the lips were patch tested against everything in their lip balm, and peppermint oil came out as the culprit. — 4 patients with allergic contact cheilitis, patch tested with the North American Contact Dermatitis Group standard series plus flavorings, sunscreens, plant and fragrance components and their own products (n = 4) Evidence C source
  Peppermint oil identified as the most likely cause, ahead of propolis, lanolin, coconut oil, almond oil and vitamin E in the same balm
• Of ten fresh vegetables sampled at markets in northeast Thailand, peppermint carried intestinal parasites most often, in 70 percent of samples. — 300 samples of ten fresh vegetables collected from 10 markets across five districts of Khon Kaen province, Thailand (n = 300 samples) Evidence C source
  Overall parasite contamination 36.0 percent; peppermint highest at 70.0 percent, celery and Thai basil 53.3 percent each; commonest organisms Blastocystis hominis 24.7 percent, Strongyloides stercoralis 13.0 percent

What people believe that the data does not support

• In a network meta-analysis of 51 randomized trials in 4644 adults, peppermint oil capsules ranked first of the traditional IBS treatments for global symptoms, RR 0.63 for treatment failure at 4 to 12 weeks. — adults aged at least 18 years with IBS of any subtype, 4 to 12 weeks of treatment (n = 51 RCTs, 4644 patients) Evidence A source
  Failure to improve global IBS symptoms RR 0.63 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.83), P-score 0.84; no significant difference between active treatments on indirect comparison
• NCCIH says a small amount of research suggests enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules may improve IBS symptoms in adults. — adults with IBS Evidence E source
  Cautious positive position limited to enteric-coated capsules in adults
• A 2025 European expert consensus on functional bloating lists peppermint oil among antispasmodic options, next to diet changes and probiotics. — adults with functional bloating and abdominal distension, often overlapping with IBS Evidence E source
  Peppermint oil named as an antispasmodic treatment option for bloating
• An umbrella review of 58 meta-analyses covering 175 trials found the peppermint oil benefit real but small, and rated the certainty low to very low. — 175 trials inside 58 meta-analyses of 11 nutritional interventions in adults with irritable bowel syndrome, searched to June 2023 (n = 175 trials) Evidence A source
  Peppermint oil among interventions that improved symptoms, but with small effects and low to very low GRADE certainty; only probiotics and a low-FODMAP diet reached moderate certainty
• For nausea after surgery, inhaling peppermint worked no better than inhaling saline, which points at the breathing rather than the smell. — 33 ambulatory surgery patients complaining of nausea in recovery, randomized to inhale isopropyl alcohol, peppermint oil or saline placebo (n = 33) Evidence B source
  Nausea fell from 60.6 mm to 43.1 mm at 2 minutes (P < .005) and 28.0 mm at 5 minutes in all groups alike, with no difference between treatments at any time

Who this works differently for

• In a 2026 randomized trial of 228 children aged 8 to 18 with IBS or functional abdominal pain, neither peppermint oil capsules nor peppermint sweets beat placebo after 8 weeks. — children aged 8-18 years with IBS or FAP-NOS at 13 Dutch hospitals; 182 mg peppermint oil capsules or peppermint sweets, two or three times daily for 8 weeks (n = 228) Evidence B source
  Treatment success 44.0% peppermint oil vs 37.3% placebo, OR 1.33 (97.5% CI 0.58 to 3.09); sweets vs placebo OR 1.05 (0.45 to 2.44)
• An older randomized trial in 42 children with IBS reported that 75% had less severe pain after 2 weeks of enteric-coated peppermint oil. — children with irritable bowel syndrome, pH-dependent enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules vs placebo, 2 weeks (n = 42) Evidence B source
  75% of the peppermint oil group had reduced pain severity at 2 weeks (placebo figure not given in the abstract)
• For bowel spasm and IBS, the EU monograph on peppermint oil sets 0.2 to 0.4 ml per dose in gastro-resistant capsules, up to 0.24 tsp (1.2 ml) a day for adolescents and adults. Children aged 8 to 11 get at most 0.12 tsp (0.6 ml) a day, and use under 8 is not recommended. — adolescents, adults and elderly; children 8 to 11 years (peppermint oil, gastro-resistant oral forms) Evidence E source
  Adults 0.2 to 0.4 ml per dose, 0.12 to 0.24 tsp (0.6 to 1.2 ml) a day; children 8 to 11 years 0.04 tsp (0.2 ml) three times a day, 0.12 tsp (0.6 ml) a day; not recommended under 8 years
• The EMA does not recommend peppermint oil capsules in pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been established. It lists liver disease, gallstones, other bile duct disorders and achlorhydria as contraindications. — pregnant and breastfeeding women; people with liver or biliary disease or achlorhydria Evidence E source
  Not recommended in pregnancy and lactation; contraindicated in liver disease, cholangitis, achlorhydria, gallstones and other biliary disorders
• Among 230 pregnant women surveyed at a Sudanese antenatal clinic, peppermint was the single most used herbal self-medication, at 19.4 percent. — 230 pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at Soba Teaching Hospital, Sudan, interviewed with a structured questionnaire (n = 230) Evidence C source
  80 percent practiced self-medication, 21.9 percent used herbal remedies, peppermint 19.4 percent and citrus fruits 17.5 percent; the commonest reasons were nausea (49.5 percent) and heartburn (46.2 percent)
• The European Medicines Agency monograph does not recommend peppermint leaf for children under 4 years, because the data are not there. — European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., folium, revision 1, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products Evidence E source
  Use in children under 4 years not recommended; the only listed contraindication is hypersensitivity to peppermint leaf preparations or to menthol

What is still unknown

• In the PERSUADE trial of 189 adults with IBS, 8 weeks of peppermint oil did not significantly raise the abdominal pain response rate (46.8% vs 34.4% on placebo) on the FDA endpoint. — adults with IBS by Rome IV criteria at 4 Dutch hospitals; 182 mg peppermint oil three times daily for 8 weeks; mean age 34.0, 77.8% female (n = 189) Evidence B source
  Abdominal pain response 46.8% small-intestinal-release vs 34.4% placebo (P = .170); secondary outcomes of pain, discomfort and IBS severity improved; adverse events more common (P < .005)
• A meta-analysis of trials of biophenol-rich supplements rated the evidence for peppermint oil improving gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in IBS as moderate to high certainty (GRADE). — adults with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or IBS in randomized trials to April 2020 (n = 23 trials) Evidence A source
  Peppermint oil for IBS: greater certainty of evidence (GRADE moderate to high) for gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life; no effect on adverse events overall
• In a test tube, peppermint leaf polyphenols blocked 27.3 to 77.2 percent of protein glycation, on a par with metformin used as the positive control. — bovine serum albumin with methylglyoxal as the glycation agent, peppermint leaf dry extract and its isolated polyphenols Evidence D source
  Glycation inhibited 27.3 to 77.2 percent; extract IC50 2 mg/mL; eriocitrin contributed 35.4 percent and rosmarinic acid 25.6 percent of the activity

The bottom line

The leaf is a different product with thinner data behind it. The number worth carrying from a teapot is about iron. Peppermint tea cut absorption of non-heme iron from a bread meal by 84 percent, level with strong black tea at 79 to 94 percent, in a radioisotope study whose abstract never says how many volunteers took part. The effect tracks total polyphenols, so it rises with how strong you brew, and the sensible move is to keep the tea away from the meal you are counting on for iron. On composition there is one USDA record for fresh peppermint, 31.8 mg of vitamin C and 8 g of fiber per 3.5 oz (100 g), from a single legacy sample with no second sample to check it against, and nobody eats 3.5 oz (100 g) of mint leaf. Neither the USDA retention table nor its 5432 survey foods list peppermint at all, so there is no official portion for it and no figure for what brewing or drying costs. Caution belongs mostly to the capsules. The European monograph sets 0.04 to 0.08 tsp (0.2 to 0.4 ml) of oil per dose in gastro-resistant capsules. A course usually lasts one or two weeks and no longer than 3 months. The capsule is swallowed whole, because a broken one releases the oil early and can irritate the mouth and esophagus. Acid-reducing drugs such as proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers can dissolve the coating too early, and so can food or antacids taken at the same time, so the EMA advises against combining them. It lists liver disease, gallstones, other bile duct disorders and achlorhydria as reasons not to take the oil. Heartburn, perianal burning, blurred vision, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting were frequent in trials, and people who already have heartburn or a hiatal hernia sometimes get worse and should stop. How often is still argued. One meta-analysis of 10 trials found side effects 1.57 times as common as on placebo. Another, of 12 trials, found 9.3 against 6.1 percent, a gap it could not separate from chance. Peppermint oil at 600 mg lifted blood levels of the blood pressure drug felodipine to 140 percent of the same dose taken with water in 12 healthy volunteers, with individual results ranging from 77 to 262 percent. Grapefruit juice in that same crossover reached 173 percent. The dose was a concentrated oil capsule rather than a cup of tea, and the authors say the mechanism still needs further work. Allergy is real and rare. One 69 year old man needed injected epinephrine within five minutes of sucking a peppermint candy, and four patients with eczema on the lips turned out to be reacting to peppermint oil in a lip balm rather than to anything they ate. The separate monograph on the leaf does not recommend it under 4 years of age, and states the reason as missing data rather than known harm. For pregnancy there is no trial here at all. The EMA does not recommend the oil capsules in pregnancy or while breastfeeding because their safety has not been established. Beyond that we hold only a survey of 230 women at one Sudanese antenatal clinic where 19.4 percent reached for peppermint, most often for nausea. Wash the fresh leaf. Of ten vegetables sampled at ten markets in Khon Kaen province, Thailand, peppermint carried intestinal parasites most often, in 70 percent of samples, which describes that supply chain and the rinsing rather than the plant itself. Two popular claims do not hold. Inhaled peppermint did not beat inhaled saline for nausea after surgery: in 33 patients in recovery, nausea fell by the same amount in the peppermint, alcohol and saline arms, with no difference between them at any time, which points at the slow breathing. And the glycation figure sometimes quoted, 27.3 to 77.2 percent inhibition on a par with metformin, happened in bovine albumin in a test tube, at concentrations a cup of tea does not put into blood. Two small trials in healthy people sit outside all of this and prove nothing about the herb: a single 182 mg capsule lowered fasting stomach pressure and proximal motility in 13 volunteers, and a single 100 microlitre dose of the essential oil improved sustained attention at 1 and 3 hours in 24 adults of mean age 25.

Compared with other foods

Sources

1. pmnt-r5-17 · dataset
   Peppermint, fresh [FDC 173474, SR Legacy, Spices and Herbs]: copper 0.329 mg per 100 g (37% DV); vitamin C 31.8 mg per 100 g (35% DV); fiber 8 g per 100 g (29% DV). Records in USDA for this entity: 1. Foundation Foods samples: 0.
   USDA SR Legacy, FDC ID 173474, Peppermint, fresh · checked 2026-09-24
2. pmnt-r5-18 · dataset
   USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007), query peppermint: no method matched and no FDC group is assigned to this food. USDA FNDDS, query peppermint among 5432 survey foods: no record, therefore no household portion.
   USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6, 2007 and USDA FNDDS · checked 2026-09-24
3. pmnt-r5-07 · human absorption study
   Inhibition by black tea was 79-94%, peppermint tea 84%, pennyroyal 73%, cocoa 71%, vervain 59%, lime flower 52% and camomile 47%.
   Br J Nutr, 1999 · checked 2026-09-24
4. ev-pmibs-01 · meta-analysis
   Peppermint oil was more efficacious than placebo for global IBS symptoms (RR of not improving = 0.65; 95% CI 0.43-0.98, number needed to treat [NNT] = 4; 95% CI 2.5-71), and abdominal pain (RR of abdominal pain not improving = 0.76; 95% CI 0.62-0.93, NNT = 7; 95% CI 4-24).
   Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2022 · checked 2026-10-07
5. ev-pmibs-04 · meta-analysis
   Meta-analysis was performed for fiber (8 studies, RR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.00-1.49), peppermint oil (7 studies, RR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.33-2.00), Aloe vera (3 studies, RR = 1.25; 95% CI: 0.76-2.06), and Chinese herbal medicine (7 studies, RR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.27-1.92).
   Phytother Res, 2026 · checked 2026-10-07
6. ev-pmibs-05 · meta-analysis
   The risk ratio (RR) for seven RCTs for the effect of PO (n = 253) versus placebo (n = 254) on global symptoms was 2.39 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.93, 2.97], I2 = 0%, z = 7.93 (p < 0.00001) (Fig. 3a).
   BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019 · checked 2026-10-07
7. ev-pmibs-06 · meta-analysis
   Four trials compared peppermint oil with placebo in 392 patients (0.43, 0.32 to 0.59).
   BMJ, 2008 · checked 2026-10-07
8. ev-pmibs-07 · meta-analysis
   Subgroup analyses for different types of antispasmodics found statistically significant benefits for cimteropium/ dicyclomine, peppermint oil, pinaverium and trimebutine.
   Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2011 · checked 2026-10-07
9. pmnt-r5-01 · meta-analysis of RCTs
   Four trials compared peppermint oil with placebo in 392 patients (0.43, 0.32 to 0.59).
   BMJ, 2008 · checked 2026-09-24
10. pmnt-r5-02 · network meta-analysis of RCTs
    Based on an endpoint of failure to achieve improvement in global IBS symptoms at 4-12 weeks, peppermint oil capsules were ranked first for efficacy (RR 0·63, 95% CI 0·48-0·83, P-score 0·84) and tricyclic antidepressants were ranked second (0·66, 0·53-0·83, P-score 0·77).
    Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2020 · checked 2026-09-24
11. pmnt-r5-04 · Cochrane meta-analysis
    Subgroup analyses for different types of antispasmodics found statistically significant benefits for cimteropium/ dicyclomine, peppermint oil, pinaverium and trimebutine.
    Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2011 · checked 2026-09-24
12. pmnt-r5-05 · meta-analysis of RCTs
    Resveratrol (for UC and CD participants) and peppermint oil (for IBS participants) had greater certainty in the evidence for improving GIS and QoL (GRADE: moderate to high).
    Nutr Diet, 2022 · checked 2026-09-24
13. pmnt-r5-08 · randomized crossover trial
    During fasting, IGP and motility index (MI) of the proximal stomach decreased significantly after PO administration compared with placebo (P < 0.0001 and <0.05, respectively).
    Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2013 · checked 2026-09-24
14. pmnt-r5-10 · randomized crossover trial
    The highest (100 µL) dose of essential oil improved performance on the cognitively demanding Rapid Visual Information Processing task (RVIP) at 1 h and 3 h post-dose and both doses attenuated fatigue and improved performance of the Serial 3 s subtraction task at 3 h post-dose.
    Nutrients, 2018 · checked 2026-09-24
15. ev-pmibs-02 · meta-analysis
    Adverse event rates were significantly higher with peppermint oil (RR of any adverse event = 1.57; 95% CI 1.04-2.37).
    Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2022 · checked 2026-10-07
16. ev-pmibs-11 · randomized crossover trial
    Grapefruit juice and peppermint oil increased the area under the curve (AUC) values of felodipine to 173% (range, 94%-280%; P <.01) and 140% (range, 77%-262%; P <.05), respectively, of those with water.
    Clin Pharmacol Ther, 2002 · checked 2026-10-07
17. ev-pmibs-12 · agency position
    Possible side effects of peppermint oil taken orally include heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, and dry mouth.
    NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Peppermint Oil (last updated May 2025) · checked 2026-10-07
18. hf2-pmnt-2 · EU herbal monograph
    The gastro-resistant dosage forms should be taken until symptoms resolve, usually within one or two weeks. At times when the symptoms are more persistent, the intake of gastro-resistant dosage forms can be continued for periods of no longer than 3 months per course. ... The gastro-resistant solid dosage forms should be swallowed whole, i.e. not broken or chewed, because this would release the peppermint oil prematurely, possibly causing local irritation of the mouth and oesophagus.
    EMA/HMPC, European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., aetheroleum, Final Revision 1, 15 January 2020 (EMA/HMPC/522410/2013) · checked 2026-10-08
19. hf2-pmnt-3 · EU herbal monograph
    Patients, who already suffer from heartburn or hiatal hernia have sometimes an exacerbation of this symptom after taking peppermint oil. Treatment should be discontinued in these patients. ... Heartburn, perianal burning blurred vision, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting were frequent in clinical trials.
    EMA/HMPC, European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., aetheroleum, Final Revision 1, 15 January 2020 (EMA/HMPC/522410/2013) · checked 2026-10-08
20. hf2-pmnt-4 · EU herbal monograph
    Use of food or antacids administered at the same time could cause early release of the capsule content. Other medicinal products used to decrease stomach acid, such as histamine-2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors may cause premature dissolution of the enteric coating and should be avoided.
    EMA/HMPC, European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., aetheroleum, Final Revision 1, 15 January 2020 (EMA/HMPC/522410/2013) · checked 2026-10-08
21. hf2-pmnt-6 · systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
    Twelve randomized trials with 835 patients were included. ... Most of the reported adverse events were mild and transient. ... There was no statistically significant difference in reported adverse effects in IBS subjects using PO (32 events, 344 total, 9.3%) versus placebo (20 events, 327 total, 6.1%); RR 1.40 [95% CI: 0.87, 2.26]
    BMC Complement Altern Med, 2019 (Alammar et al.) · checked 2026-10-08
22. pmnt-r5-06 · randomized crossover trial
    Grapefruit juice and peppermint oil increased the area under the curve (AUC) values of felodipine to 173% (range, 94%-280%; P <.01) and 140% (range, 77%-262%; P <.05), respectively, of those with water.
    Clin Pharmacol Ther, 2002 · checked 2026-09-24
23. pmnt-r5-12 · case report
    A 69 year old male developed sudden onset of lip and tongue swelling, throat tightness and shortness of breath within five minutes of sucking on a peppermint candy.
    Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol, 2014 · checked 2026-09-24
24. pmnt-r5-13 · case series
    Our patch-test results showed that peppermint oil was the most likely culprit in these patients' ACC.
    Dermatitis, 2010 · checked 2026-09-24
25. pmnt-r5-14 · prevalence study
    Peppermint showed the highest prevalence rate at 70.0%, followed by celery and Thai basil at 53.3% each.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2025 · checked 2026-09-24
26. ev-pmibs-03 · network meta-analysis
    Based on an endpoint of failure to achieve improvement in global IBS symptoms at 4-12 weeks, peppermint oil capsules were ranked first for efficacy (RR 0·63, 95% CI 0·48-0·83, P-score 0·84) and tricyclic antidepressants were ranked second (0·66, 0·53-0·83, P-score 0·77).
    Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07
27. ev-pmibs-13 · agency position
    A small amount of research suggests that peppermint oil in enteric-coated capsules may improve IBS symptoms in adults.
    NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Peppermint Oil (last updated May 2025) · checked 2026-10-07
28. ev-pmibs-14 · consensus statement
    Treatment may include dietary modifications (e.g. lactose-limiting diet and low FODMAP diet), probiotics, antispasmodics (e.g., otilonium bromide, peppermint oil), rifaximin, secretagogues (e.g., linaclotide), neuromodulators (e.g., serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, buspirone), and plethysmography-based biofeedback.
    United European Gastroenterol J, 2025 · checked 2026-10-07
29. pmnt-r5-03 · umbrella review
    For instance, soluble fiber, peppermint oil, and aloe vera improved IBS symptoms, and vitamin D3 and curcumin improved IBS symptom severity...Nevertheless, these outcomes have mainly shown small effects and low to very low evidence certainty.
    Nutr Rev, 2025 · checked 2026-09-24
30. pmnt-r5-09 · randomized controlled trial
    Nausea scores did not differ between the treatments at any time.
    J Perianesth Nurs, 2004 · checked 2026-09-24
31. ev-pmibs-09 · RCT
    In 228 children (8-11 years: n = 92; 12-18 years: n = 135; 75-78 per group), treatment success was comparable between patients receiving peppermint oil (n = 30; 44.0%) and placebo (n = 28; 37.3%) (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 97.5% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-3.09; P = .44), and between placebo and peppermint sweets (n = 30; 38.7%) (OR, 1.05; 97.5% CI, 0.45-2.44; P = .91).
    Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2026 · checked 2026-10-07
32. ev-pmibs-10 · RCT
    After 2 weeks, 75% of those receiving peppermint oil had reduced severity of pain associated with IBS.
    Journal of Pediatrics, 2001 · checked 2026-10-07
33. hf2-pmnt-1 · EU herbal monograph
    0.2–0.4 ml in solid gastro–resistant dosage forms. Daily dose 0.6–1.2 ml divided in two or three times daily. ... 0.2 ml solid gastro–resistant dosage forms three times daily. Daily dose 0.6 ml. ... The use in children under 8 years of age is not recommended due to a lack of data on safety and efficacy.
    EMA/HMPC, European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., aetheroleum, Final Revision 1, 15 January 2020 (EMA/HMPC/522410/2013) · checked 2026-10-08
34. hf2-pmnt-5 · EU herbal monograph
    Hypersensitivity to peppermint oil or menthol. Patients with liver disease, cholangitis, achlorhydria, gallstones and any other biliary disorders. ... Safety during pregnancy and lactation has not been established. In the absence of sufficient data, the use during pregnancy and lactation is not recommended.
    EMA/HMPC, European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., aetheroleum, Final Revision 1, 15 January 2020 (EMA/HMPC/522410/2013) · checked 2026-10-08
35. pmnt-r5-15 · cross-sectional survey
    Of the 230 pregnant women interviewed, 67% were multigravida, 184 (80%) practiced self-medication, 45.6% used pharmaceutical products, commonly analgesics (32.5%), and 21.9% used herbal remedies, including peppermint (19.4%) and citrus fruits (17.5%).
    Med Sci Monit, 2024 · checked 2026-09-24
36. pmnt-r5-16 · agency monograph
    The use in children under 4 years of age is not recommended due to a lack of adequate data.
    European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., folium, revision 1, EMA · checked 2026-09-24
37. ev-pmibs-08 · RCT
    Abdominal pain response did not differ significantly between the peppermint oil and placebo groups: 29 of 62 patients in the small-intestinal-release peppermint oil group had a response (46.8%, P = .170 vs placebo), 26 of 63 patients in the ileocolonic-release peppermint oil group had a response (41.3%, P = .385 vs placebo), and 22 of 64 patients in the placebo group had a response (34.4%).
    Gastroenterology, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07
38. ev-pmibs-15 · meta-analysis
    Resveratrol (for UC and CD participants) and peppermint oil (for IBS participants) had greater certainty in the evidence for improving GIS and QoL (GRADE: moderate to high).
    Nutr Diet, 2022 · checked 2026-10-07
39. pmnt-r5-11 · in vitro study
    The capability of peppermint leaf polyphenols to inhibit glycation (27.3-77.2%) and form adducts with MGO was confirmed.
    Molecules, 2023 · checked 2026-09-24