Peppermint Oil for Headache and Nausea: What Trials Found
What trials and reviews found about peppermint oil rubbed on the forehead for tension headache and inhaled for nausea, with menthol cautions for young children.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first. Menthol, the main cooling compound in peppermint oil, can affect breathing in young children. NCCIH says peppermint oil should not be applied to the face of infants or young children. [1] The European Medicines Agency (EMA) says peppermint oil preparations must not be used in children under 2 because menthol can induce reflex apnea (a pause in breathing) and laryngospasm (a spasm of the voice box). [2][3] It also lists a history of seizures in a child as a reason not to use them. [3] Misuse of essential oils can cause serious poisoning, so keep bottles out of reach. [4] If a child or pet may have swallowed peppermint oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). Call 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. See Poisoning: what to do first.
Which plant and which forms
Peppermint oil comes from Mentha × piperita L. (peppermint, family Lamiaceae), [5] and NCCIH describes it as the essential oil of the flowering parts and leaves. [1] The EMA's conclusions cover oil steam-distilled from the fresh above-ground parts. [2] Trials of skin application, inhalation and capsules are different things, and a result for one does not transfer to another. Capsules are covered separately in peppermint oil capsules for IBS. Peppermint tea has its own page in the herbal teas library.Traditional use
Traditional use, not proof. NCCIH says the use of mint plants for digestive disorders dates back to Greece, Rome and Egypt in antiquity, and that peppermint is promoted today for headaches, muscle tension, nausea and other conditions. [1]Headache: what trials found
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tension-type headache, oil on forehead and temples | In a randomized crossover trial, a 10% peppermint oil in ethanol solution reduced headache intensity versus placebo from 15 minutes, with no significant difference from 1,000 mg of acetaminophen. [6] | Promising but limited | 41 adults, 164 headache attacks, 1996 [6] |
| Same use, regulator view | The EMA committee classed this use as well-established for mild tension-type headache, citing a study of 10% peppermint oil in ethanol on the forehead. [2] NCCIH says evidence for topical use is limited. [1] | Promising but limited | Adults; skin application |
| Migraine, or inhaled oil for headache | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed on 2026-10-23 for peppermint oil with migraine and headache and found no migraine trial we could read. | Insufficient evidence | Not applicable |
The EMA says this skin use should not be used in children and adolescents under 18. [2] It says to consult a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms worsen. [3]
Nausea: what trials found
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea in cancer treatment | A 2024 review of 25 trials found aromatherapy reduced nausea in people with cancer, and peppermint oil was particularly successful, but the authors say conclusive evidence is lacking. [7] In a small open-label pilot, peppermint oil on the skin above the lip lowered nausea in most chemotherapy regimens (not cisplatin), added to routine antiemetic medicines. [8] | Promising but limited | Adults with cancer; inhaled or skin application |
| Nausea after surgery | The Cochrane review of aromatherapy found no evidence of an effect of peppermint versus placebo on nausea severity at five minutes (4 trials, 115 people, low-quality evidence). [9] A later trial of 76 cervical surgery patients compared inhaled peppermint with routine care, without a placebo, and found less nausea in the peppermint group. [10] | Mixed | Surgical patients; inhaled |
| Nausea in early pregnancy | In a single-blind trial of 56 pregnant women, both peppermint and placebo groups improved over four days with no significant difference between them. [11] | Insufficient evidence | Pregnant women with mild to moderate symptoms; inhaled |
What a reader can safely do
Ask a pharmacist or clinician before using peppermint oil on a child or in pregnancy, and see a clinician about new, severe or frequent headaches or ongoing nausea. For more, see peppermint oil: evidence and safety, peppermint oil safety: children, pets and menthol, essential oils for headache and migraine and essential oils for nausea.Frequently asked questions
Does peppermint oil help a headache?
For tension-type headache in adults, a 1996 trial found a 10% peppermint oil solution on the forehead reduced pain versus placebo. [6] NCCIH calls the evidence limited. [1]
Does peppermint oil help nausea?
Possibly in some settings. A 2024 review found peppermint oil particularly successful for cancer treatment nausea, [7] but the Cochrane review found no clear effect after surgery. [9]
Can I put peppermint oil on a baby or child?
Not on the face of an infant or young child. [1] The EMA says not under age 2. [2] Ask a pediatric clinician.
Is peppermint oil safe in pregnancy?
The EMA does not recommend it because safety has not been established. [3] Ask a clinician.
Can I swallow peppermint oil from a bottle?
We do not advise it. Misuse of essential oils can cause serious poisoning. [4] Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US) if this happens.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Limits and uncertainty
Safety and who should ask first
- Skin. NCCIH says side effects of skin use can include rashes and irritation. [1] The EMA says peppermint oil should not be applied to broken or irritated skin, and notes unwashed hands can irritate the eyes. [3]
- Allergy. NCCIH says peppermint oil can rarely cause allergic reactions. [1] The EMA lists hypersensitivity reactions such as rash and contact dermatitis. [3]
- Inhaling. NCCIH calls peppermint oil possibly safe as aromatherapy. [1] The EMA monograph reports apnea and airway narrowing in hypersensitive people after inhalation. [3]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The EMA says use is not recommended because safety is not established, [3] and NCCIH says little is known about medicinal amounts. [1]
- Medicines. The EMA lists no interactions reported for skin use. [3] NCCIH advises talking with a health care provider before any herbal product if you take medicine. [1] See how interactions work.
- Older adults, liver and kidney conditions, surgery: not described in the sources we read for these uses.
References
- Peppermint Oil (NCCIH). Read 2026-10-23.
- Menthae piperitae aetheroleum, peppermint oil: summary for the public (EMA HMPC). Read 2026-10-23.
- European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., aetheroleum, Revision 1 (EMA/HMPC/522410/2013, adopted 15 January 2020). Read 2026-10-23.
- Essential oils: Poisonous when misused (Poison Control). Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy record for Mentha × piperita L. (species key 8707933). Read 2026-10-23.
- Effectiveness of Oleum menthae piperitae and paracetamol in therapy of headache of the tension type. Nervenarzt 1996. PubMed 8805113. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effects of aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2024. PubMed 38330531. Read 2026-10-23.
- The effects of peppermint oil on nausea, vomiting and retching in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: an open label quasi-randomized controlled pilot study. Complement Ther Med 2021. PubMed 33197662. Read 2026-10-23.
- Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 (update of 2012 review). PubMed 29523018. Read 2026-10-23.
- Examining the effect of peppermint oil on postoperative nausea after cervical surgery. J Neurosci Nurs 2024. PubMed 39447066. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effect of aromatherapy with peppermint oil on the severity of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Reprod Infertil 2018. PubMed 29850445. Read 2026-10-23.