Peppermint oil may lower blood pressure, study finds

A clinical trial published in the journal PLOS One suggests that peppermint oil may help lower blood pressure in adults with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension. The study, conducted by researchers in the United Kingdom, involved 40 participants aged 18 to 65 over a 20-day period.

Participants in the treatment group received 50 microliters of pure peppermint oil mixed with 100 milliliters of water twice daily. Compared to a placebo group, those taking the peppermint oil experienced an average reduction in systolic blood pressure of approximately 8.5 mmHg.

Additional physiological benefits were observed in the treatment group, including an average diastolic blood pressure decrease of 4.57 mmHg and a reduction in resting heart rate by an average of 8.92 beats per minute. Researchers believe these effects may be linked to menthol, a natural compound in peppermint that may help relax blood vessels and improve circulation.