Peppermint is a wonderful herb, in scent, flavor and healing properties. It is used to flavor many common foods like candy, ice cream, coffee, cake and a number of other fun and tasty treats. It also is used as a flavor in many medicines. Peppermint is also known to deter many pests, stimulate the mind, combat depression, clear up and reduce cold or sinus issues, treat colic, help with symptoms throughout the digestive tract and treat acne.
Despite all the good about peppermint, there are some downsides and cautions about peppermint and its use. Since peppermint does stimulate the mind, it can disrupt sleep if used late in the day. It will help alert the senses for a short period of time, making sleep a little harder to reach. Peppermint oil on its own is too strong for topical use. Using it undiluted can cause skin rash, and even some heart or breathing difficulties among the most at risk individuals. Therefore, always dilute peppermint oil with the carrier oil of your choice for any topical use. I also suggest testing a small amount of the diluted oil, whether intended to use in a beauty or medicinal capacity, before committing to a complete use to test for allergic reaction or sensitivity. As with all recipes involving natural ingredients that can vary in strength, such as peppermint oil, I suggest starting with small amounts and increasing a tiny bit at a time if desired. A little bit of strong ingredients goes a long way. It is much easier to add more, than to make a brand new batch or try to adjust once too much of something is added.
You will need:
Fresh peppermint
Walnut or other edible carrier oil
Large sealable jar
Spoon
Sieve or strainer
Cheesecloth or muslin
Plastic wrap (optional)
A large bowl or container
Small funnel
Amber bottle(s)
Instructions:
1. Pick enough peppermint to completely fill your large jar.
2. Thoroughly wash the peppermint and stuff the jar to the very top.
3. Use a spoon to bruise the peppermint leaves inside the jar, releasing some of the essential oil.
4. Pour your walnut or other oil into the jar. Make sure that you completely fill up all the air pockets and fill the jar to the top.
5. Securely seal the jar. If the jar you are using has a lid that is metal, or is made from another material you feel might contaminate the mixture, place a layer of plastic wrap over the opening before screwing on the lid.
6. Put the jar in a sunny location: a windowsill, porch or safe spot in the backyard works great.
7. Leave the jar alone, and in the sun, for four to six weeks.
8. After the allotted time, strain the peppermint oil with a sieve or strainer lined with cheesecloth placed over a bowl.
9. Use the cheesecloth to crush the peppermint and squeeze any remaining oil out of the herb. The oil you get from this is the most potent gained from the process.
10. Pour the resulting oil into an amber bottle and seal. Store the finished oil in a cool dark place, where it safely can last up to six months.