Peppermint oil lowers blood pressure in just 20 days
A study from the University of Lancashire found that taking peppermint oil twice daily for 20 days significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in participants. The findings suggest a potential low-cost, natural intervention for those with mild hypertension.
Why it matters
High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease, and finding inexpensive, well-tolerated alternatives to traditional medication could improve global public health outcomes.
Daily peppermint oil may offer a simple way to reduce mildly elevated blood pressure, according to new research.
Researchers at the University of Lancashire found that taking 100 microliters of peppermint oil twice a day for 20 days reduced systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by an average of 8.5mmHg.
The findings, published in PLOS One , suggest peppermint oil could provide a simple, inexpensive, and well-tolerated option for people with slightly elevated blood pressure.
A Potential Low-Cost Approach to Blood Pressure
Lead author Dr. Jonnie Sinclair, Reader in Sport and Health Sciences, said: "High blood pressure is one of the biggest causes of heart disease and death worldwide, and it costs a huge amount of money to treat. Although medicines are commonly used to treat it, it's not always clear how well they work in the long-term, and they can cause unwanted side effects."
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