Peppermint essential oil is a substance that is obtained from perennial herbaceous plants of the mint family, in particular from different types of mint, most often peppermint. It contains many valuable components: most of all menthol, it is 70%, and there is also limonene, cineole, carvone, geraniol and many other aromatic compounds.
Getting substance
The main raw materials are slightly dried peppermint leaves and stems. On an industrial scale, the substance is obtained by distillation with water vapor (distillation). The content of essential oil in the plant is 0.5%, that is, in order to obtain one kilogram of the final product, it will be necessary to process 45-50 kg of raw materials. It should be noted that the substance obtained in this way will be quite expensive.
But more often than not, peppermint oil is made from some kind of base oil. Such a substance can be easily made at home. For this you will need:
- base oil, such as grape or wheat germ;
- glass container, always with a lid;
- dark glass container;
- small piece of gauze;
- wooden hammer;
- plastic bag;
-raw materials: fresh, freshly picked mint (no later than 24 hours).
So, my mint, dry it and put it in a bag. Then we beat off the raw materials directly in the bag with a hammer - this is how it will release the juice. We shift the mass into a glass container, ram it and fill it with an oil base. After a day, the mixture must be filtered. We repeat all the steps three more times, each time leaving the old oil and using fresh raw materials. Then the finished mint oil is poured into a dark glass container. You need to store it in a dark cool place tightly closed.
Peppermint Oil: Uses
This substance is used very widely: it is used in the production of cosmetics, personal hygiene products, in pharmacology and traditional medicine. Special mention deserves the use of mint oil in aromatherapy. In this area, it is used for aromatization of rooms, for massage and rubbing, for baths and saunas. Peppermint oil has a complex effect on the human body: it stimulates the nervous system, tones the body, acts as a mild stimulant (in intimate terms) remedy. In addition, this substance is used internally and externally for many diseases, such as rheumatism, muscle and joint pain, skin inflammations and rashes, migraine, nausea, spasms, etc.
Contraindications
Despite all its usefulness, peppermint oil is not a remedy that can be taken thoughtlessly and without any restrictions. For example, if you increase the dose of this substance in the mixture for inhalation, you can causerespiratory distress or bronchospasm. In addition, peppermint oil actively affects the functioning of the heart muscle, which can lead to pain in the heart. It is also not recommended to use this substance during pregnancy - it can cause contractions. And young children should not apply it to the skin - mint oil has too strong an effect on delicate children's skin. Therefore, use this substance wisely: in small doses and only externally is best.
