Peppermint Roll-On for Headaches and Cold Sores

If you often suffer from headaches, are pregnant, or deal with recurrent cold sores, I have something special for you. This is a homemade roll-on with peppermint essential oil and scientifically supported effects.

This product can be used in children from the age of 6 (after a patch test for allergies). Moreover, clinical studies have shown that topical application of a 10% peppermint oil solution may help relieve tension-type headaches. Its effectiveness has been compared to painkillers such as 500 mg paracetamol.

Peppermint oil was applied to the forehead and temples, with applications repeated after 15 and 30 minutes. The intensity of pain was then assessed at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes using a pain diary.

Compared to placebo, the 10% peppermint oil solution significantly reduced headache pain after just 15 minutes. The effect lasted throughout the one-hour observation period. This study showed that peppermint oil solution may effectively relieve tension headaches and could be a natural alternative to paracetamol.

In addition, laboratory studies suggest that peppermint oil also shows antiviral activity against the herpes simplex virus. Peppermint oil can “inactivate” the virus before it enters the cell. In laboratory tests, it reduced viral levels by over 90%, and in some cases even more. It also showed activity against strains resistant to standard medication (acyclovir, known as Zovirax).

Peppermint Roll-On for Headaches and Cold Sores (Science-Backed)

Emilia Hughes

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Equipment

• small jeweler’s scale,
• empty roll-on bottle with roller ball applicator

Ingredients

  

• 1 g of peppermint essential oil
• 9 g of vodka or alcohol ethanol/spirit

Instructions

 

• Pour 1 g of peppermint essential oil into a clean roll-on bottle.
• Add 9 g of vodka (40%) or ethanol (spirit).
• Close the bottle and shake thoroughly to combine the ingredients.
• Shake well before each use.
• Apply a small amount to the temples, forehead, or neck, avoiding the eyes and mucous membranes.

Notes

Warning: Do not apply to broken or irritated skin. Before first use, perform a patch test on a small area of skin to check for sensitivity or allergic reaction.

 

 

[Peppermint oil in the acute treatment of tension-type headache]

[Effectiveness of Oleum menthae piperitae and paracetamol in therapy of headache of the tension type]

Virucidal effect of peppermint oil on the enveloped viruses herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in vitro

A novel treatment of postherpetic neuralgia using peppermint oil