Stomach Ache and Peppermint

Peppermint Oil Proven to Help Even the Most Serious Stomach Maladies

There are numerous kinds of upset stomach. They range from a mild “tummy ache” that you might get from eating something that doesn’t agree with you, to nausea from the flu, all the way to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). And, let’s not forget morning sickness, that feeling of nausea that often makes mornings unpleasant for many women during their first few weeks of pregnancy.

While some of these situations are mild or short-lived, when the stomach is upset, the whole day seems to be imbalanced. Along with the queasy feelings, there can be pain and even changes in stool consistency and frequency. Bloating is yet another uncomfortable symptom.

Numerous treatments, and several drugs, can be prescribed to overcome the discomfort and pain in the stomach.

Wouldn’t it be best if there were treatments that worked and didn’t require taking drugs? There are, and they’ve been with us for hundreds of years. One of them is peppermint oil. It is often an ingredient in over-the-counter medicines. The mere aroma and taste of peppermint calms the stomach for most of us. That fact has led many to suggest that peppermint works because it exerts a strong placebo effect.

Recent studies have demonstrated that peppermint oil is far more than a placebo. When taken by mouth it antagonizes calcium channels, which results in relaxation of the smooth muscles in the GI tract. This effect has been demonstrated to relieve cramping and GI pain, even when associated with IBS. This is good news for people with serious disorders as well as those of us who experience milder forms of stomach upset. Except in extreme situations, peppermint can be taken by anyone, even pregnant women.

Studies have shown that peppermint oil is safe and effective – especially when taken in an enteric-coated form. The special coating protects the contents from stomach acid and allows the capsule of peppermint oil to pass into the lower GI tract. In addition to offering the most efficient method of absorbing peppermint, moving the capsule to the lower GI practically eliminates and esophageal reflux that some people could experience.

Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules are available without a prescription. People who have been diagnosed with IBS are encouraged to discuss this approach with their doctors because there is a high probability (around 75%) that it will help even the most serious IBS patients. Others with less formidable conditions are also likely to find using enteric-coated peppermint oil helpful.

Orthomolecular is one of the most respected providers of nutritional supplements. We are proud to recommend their products because they stand behind them 100%, just as we do. We want you to be delighted with the products we sell.

If your problems often center on your stomach, consider using Orthomolecular’s Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules.

Studies that report on the effectiveness of peppermint oil capsules: