Pediatrics in Review
HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS CME ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Rapid Responses: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Charrois, T. L.
Right arrow Articles by Vohra, S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Charrois, T. L.
Right arrow Articles by Vohra, S.
Related Collections
Right arrow Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine

(Pediatrics in Review. 2006;27:e49-e51.)
© 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics

Peppermint Oil


Theresa L. Charrois, BScPharm, MSc*
Jessica Hrudey*
Paula Gardiner, MD{dagger}
Sunita Vohra, MD, MSc*
 * Complementary and Alternative Research and Education (CARE) Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
{dagger} Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.


   Introduction
 
Peppermint has been used since antiquity to treat a variety conditions, including gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, common cold and respiratory conditions, muscle pain, headaches, and neuralgia. (1)


   Definition and Description
 
Peppermint or Mentha piperita is a common herb grown in Europe and North America. (1) The plant contains about 1.5% essential oil, which consists of menthol, the primary active species. (1) Menthol is the primary component of the essential oil of peppermint (29% to 48%) and is mostly responsible for the agent’s spasmolytic effects. (1)

Peppermint oil often is used in pediatric patients for recurrent abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, and symptomatic relief of coughs and colds. (1) Peppermint also has been used for aromatherapy to treat nausea and vomiting and topically for relief of minor muscular pain and neuralgias. (1)(2)


   Pharmacologic Action
 
Current evidence suggests that peppermint oil reduces smooth muscle contractions through a calcium channel blocking effect; the blocking effect is believed to be carried out by the menthol component of the oil. (3)(4) This results is an antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscles of the GI tract. (5) Peppermint relaxes GI smooth muscle by reducing cellular calcium influx in the intestines. (6)(7) Menthol also stimulates bile flow, reduces the tone in the esophageal sphincter, facilitates belching, and acts as a . . . [Full Text of this Article]




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Pediatr. Rev.Home page
B. S. Collins and D. W. Thomas
Chronic Abdominal Pain
Pediatr. Rev., September 1, 2007; 28(9): 323 - 331.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS CME ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pediatrics Pediatrics in Review
Copyright © 2006 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.