Updated 29 January 2024
Botanical characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Lamiales
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Genus: Mentha
- Part used: Aerial parts
- Country of origin: Europe, India, Nepal, China
Precautions for use
Caution! Wild mint essential oil should be used with caution due to its ketone content.
It is neurotoxic and abortifacient.
It is therefore contraindicated in children, infants and pregnant women.
The diluted cutaneous route is the most indicated.
It can be used in diffusion, but only in small percentages mixed with other essential oils.
Finally, it is recommended that people with asthma seek medical advice before use.
Other precautions
Warning:
- If you suffer from asthma, seek medical advice before use.
- Pregnant women may use Wild Mint essential oil in diluted diffusion, ingestion or diluted skin application as advised by their doctor.
Cutaneous use:
- It is essential to dilute Wild Mint essential oil to 15% in a vegetable oil (15% essential oil to 85% vegetable oil) before applying to the skin.
- It has a cooling effect when applied over a large area.
Diffusion:
- Do not dilute this essential oil pure: dilute it 10-15% with other essential oils.
Contraindications:
- Be careful, the essential oil is highly abortive.
- Wild mint essential oil is not recommended for hypertension, as it is itself hypertensive.
Allergenic components:
Wild Mint essential oil contains two biochemical allergenic components:
- limonene (2 to 5%)
- linalool (≤ 0.5%)
Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).
Authorised users
How to use
Risks of use
Properties
- Tonic, stimulant (in low doses, higher doses may be stupefying)
- Digestive and liver tonic, increases glandular secretion
- Hypertensive, vasoconstrictive
- Analgesic, anaesthetic
- Antimigraine
- Anti-infective
- Anti-acid
- Decongestant for mucous membranes
Indications
- Bruises, shocks
- Concentration disorders
- Toothache
- Dyspepsia
- Slow digestion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Travel sickness
- Bad breath
- Hepatic colic
- Renal colic
- Constipation
- Headache
- Migraine
- Rhinitis
- Sinusitis
- Neuralgia
- Sciatica
- Joint pain
- Shingles
- Herpes
- Chicken Pox
- Laryngitis
- Angina pectoris
- Hypotension
Directions for use/usual dosage
- For a blow, apply 1 drop topically to the sensitive area.
- For headaches, 1 drop on the temples.
- For indigestion or nausea, 1 drop on a sugar cube 2 to 3 times a day.
- For itching, 1 to 2 drops diluted in a vegetable oil mixed with other essential oils on a small area.