Peppermint is such a familiar herb that it's easy to overlook its importance as a natural remedy. Peppermint crops up daily in toothpaste, as an after dinner mint or a sweet to suck while driving. In the garden, it's an easy herb to grow and can often be taken for granted.

But herbalists have valued peppermint for hundreds of years and its oil can be very beneficial with many health problems today. Here's just a few ways peppermint can help.

• IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
  Oil of peppermint has been clinically proven in double blind trials to relieve the symptoms of IBS with trials in hospitals in Denmark and the UK achieving excellent results. In the Danish double blind trials, patients took Obbekjaers oil of peppermint capsules for four weeks and 68% reported an improvement in their symptoms. Oil of peppermint is an antispasmodic which has a relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of the intestine and stomach. Take Obbekjaers Enteric Coated Oil of Peppermint Capsules for maximum benefit.
• CHILBLAINS
  Banish chilblains by taking oil of peppermint tablets which can help alleviate the circulatory problems which cause them. Peppermint is a peripheral vasodilator and has a relaxing or dilating effect on the smooth muscle of the blood vessels, thereby improving circulation. Chilblains can be eased with a massage oil containing oil of peppermint.
• HEADACHES
  Dot peppermint oil on the temples and ear lobes to relieve the pain and tension of a headache.
• INDIGESTION
  For indigestion, sip peppermint tea or take oil of peppermint tablets. Oil of peppermint is known as a carminative, having a soothing effect on the digestive system, thereby easing conditions such as flatulence and colic.
• TRAVEL SICKNESS & NAUSEA
  Take Obbekjaers peppermint tablets, or dab a drop of pure oil of peppermint on a handkerchief to inhale during a journey. Oil of peppermint has a mild anaesthetic effect on the stomach wall, which helps alleviate nausea and quells the desire to vomit.

Obbekjaers oil of peppermint products, including tablets, capsules, powder and pure Japanese oil of peppermint, are available from health stores. Mail order: www.healthremedies.co.uk

April 2008