And it's actually the scent of peppermint that's key. The scent stimulates the hippocampus area of the brain, the area that controls mental clarity and memory, particularly long-term memory. Basically, the aroma of peppermint - primarily the menthol component - triggers you to wake up and pay attention.
In aromatherapy, peppermint oil is promoted for treating coughs and colds, reducing pain, improving mental function, and reducing stress.
Because Peppermint Essential Oil is so powerful, it's one of our favorite essential oils to use in the morning to help wake up and get ready for our day. Add a few drops to a cotton ball or washcloth and place the scented cotton ball in the bottom of the shower.
Citrus (lemon, orange and grapefruit) helps boost the happiness hormone serotonin. Peppermint and rosemary both contribute to alertness.
Peppermint was found to enhance memory whereas ylang-ylang impaired it, and lengthened processing speed. In terms of subjective mood peppermint increased alertness and ylang-ylang decreased it, but significantly increased calmness.
If you are experiencing nausea, difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, slowed heartbeat, dizziness, and/or convulsions, then it could be because of using peppermint oil. Call in for medical care at the earliest to avoid complications.
Proven to help you nod off and sleep for longer, peppermint tea is another great option for a pre-bedtime drink. The essential oils in peppermint tea can help relax your muscles, setting the scene for a peaceful night of sleep.
Peppermint Essential Oil – Constituents Menthol and Menthone are responsible for Peppermint's stimulating, invigorating, and naturally energizing properties. Its sharp and cooling aroma is reputed to relax the body and recentre the mind, which can soothe overactive senses during stressful times.
It's not the smell of coffee. There are three scents that can wake you up: jasmine, which increases beta waves (the brain waves associated with alertness), and citrus and peppermint scents, which stimulate the same nerve that's activated when you're revived with smelling salts.
In order to create this extra boost, place 1–2 drops of Peppermint oil on your fingertips and then rub your temples. The invigorating aroma of Peppermint oil will help give you the natural sense of alertness you desire when you need it most.
Due to its stimulant properties, using Peppermint oil daily could interfere with sleep patterns. The following symptoms can also be the result of overdose: skin rashes, urinary problems, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, slow or rapid breathing, convulsions, depression, and in severe cases, unconsciousness.
To inhale peppermint oil, add only a few drops to a bowl of steaming water or dilute it in a carrier oil before adding to a bath. If using a diffuser, follow the device's instructions to get the right ratio of oil to water.
Diffusion and inhalation of peppermint oil also has substantial benefits. Inhaling diffused peppermint oil can help clear the sinuses or offer temporary relief from sore throats as well as coughs and asthma. The scent of the oil can also eliminate hunger pangs and acts as a natural energizer.
Factor, a clinical dermatologist, and researcher with MyEczemaTeam told us that "inhaling essential oils that are diffused is safe for most people." However, some people may react to the fumes and get an asthma attack. Breathing in essential oils can cause a severe lung infection known as pneumonitis in some people.
Pop a peppermint — or at least diffuse some of that refreshing oil! Research shows that the zippy aroma of peppermint can ease pain *and* anxiety in hospital patients about to be hooked up to an IV.
Can Smells Wake You Up? Smells do not usually cause a person to wake up. Researchers have found that smell sensitivity changes through the day in accordance with circadian timing. In general, the sense of smell is strongest in the evening and weakest overnight and into the early hours of the morning.
Peppermint
A known energy booster, peppermint invigorates the mind, promotes concentration and stimulates clear thinking. It is one of the best scents for focus. Find uplifting peppermint in our Onsen collection, along with eucalyptus and mandarin.
Eucalyptus oil's woodsy scent can help wake you up and — bonus — feel refreshed. And if you're feeling foggy due to congestion or a stuffy nose, breathing in some eucalyptus scent can help clear your sinuses, which will also give you that much-needed energy boost.
Many essential oils may help to promote relaxation and sleep. Examples include lavender, chamomile, and peppermint. Essential oils may not work for everyone, and a person may need to try several before finding one that works best for them.
However the mechanism of action is still unknown but it is hypothesized that the scents of peppermint can stimulate the areas of the brain responsible for alertness (e.g., brain's reticular activating system) (Raudenbush, et al., 2009 ▶).
Peppermint Oil and Anxiety
All of which can be improved by peppermint essential oil. If you've ever suffered anxiety, you'll also know about the mind fog that comes with feeling overwhelmed. Peppermint is also stimulating and promotes clarity of mind essential for refocusing and regaining control.
Boost Energy
If you want to feel more awake during the day, peppermint oil might do the trick.
Share on Pinterest Inhaling peppermint oil can help to open the airways and clear mucus. Many people find that inhaling peppermint oil feels good when they have blocked sinuses. This is because of its cooling effect.
Inhalation and Diffusion
It is not advisable to directly and intensively inhale essential oils for longer than 15-20 minutes, such as with steam inhalation. However, this does not apply to ambient inhalation from essential oils vaporized into the air.