Peppermint extract

Mint oil ( "Japanese peppermint oil " ) is a product obtained from the herb of certain arable Mint essential oil. It is used as an inexpensive alternative to the high-order peppermint oil in similar applications.

Production

The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from the herb menthol rich culture of the field mint. For pharmaceutical grades of oil ( Mentha arvensis aetherolum ) Mentha arvensis L. var are piperascens MALINV. ex HOLMES (Japanese mint ) and Mentha canadensis L. permissible parental plants. From the primarily obtained very menthol- rich viscous oil ( menthol content of up to 90 percent), a part of the menthol is separated by crystallization by filtration and the mint after rectification.

A mint oil natural state does not exist, because the natural menthol for an application is too high and has to be lowered. The field mint is used for the extraction of natural menthol for medicinal and cosmetic industries. From Mentha arvensis there are different plant varieties that have the goal of increasing the menthol and essential oil yield. Thus, the menthol content of newer plant varieties is about 90 percent of the total amount of oil.

Ingredients

Mint oil from Mentha arvensis L.

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Mint oil contains about 30 to 50% menthol, about 17-35 % menthone, about 5 to 13%, isomenthone, and about 1.5 to 7% of methyl acetate, as well as other terpenes.

Effect

The main chemical component of the oil is menthol. In higher doses, the oil therefore acts locally numbing ( anesthetic ) and pain- suppressing ( analgesic ), the effect is similar to the (real) peppermint oil.

Menthol acts at the cold -menthol receptor ( TRPM8 ), so the oil has a (seemingly) cooling effect, the body temperature is not affected. This effect is comparable to the heat stimulus of capsaicin.

Application

Internally mint oil is functional stomach, bowel (IBS) and Gallen complaints and catarrh of the upper air passages used in flatulence ( bloating ). The external application is done on the temples for headaches and to relieve the symptoms of colds. With the help of inhalation stuck cough can be solved and the upper respiratory tract are cleared. Rubbing tense muscles with mint oil causes a relief of symptoms.

Mint oil is also used as a flavoring in foods and oral hygiene products. With regard to odor and flavor quality mint oil is inferior to the real peppermint oil.

Restrictions on use

Mint oil and minzölhaltige preparations should not be used in young children and infants, there is a risk of life-threatening respiratory distress states.