Peppermint for Indigestion

Peppermint leaf infusion is one of the most common home remedies for the feeling of heaviness after eating, bloating, and indigestion. We describe what is known about it and how tea from leaves differs from peppermint oil.

Origin

Peppermint is a natural hybrid of water mint and spearmint. It grows in Europe, North America, and the Mediterranean region. According to the American NCCIH, peppermint has been used for digestive ailments since ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt.

In practice, there are two very different things:

• Peppermint leaves, from which tea (infusion) is traditionally prepared by pouring boiling water over dried leaves.
• Peppermint oil, which is an essential oil obtained from the flowering parts and leaves of the plant. Essential oils are highly concentrated. In studies on the intestines, mainly enteric-coated capsules of the oil were used, which dissolve only in the intestine, not in the stomach.

The results of studies on the oil do not automatically transfer to leaf tea and vice versa.

What We Know

Label: Weak evidence. The EMA recognizes peppermint leaf as a traditional herbal medicine for indigestion and bloating, but explicitly states that there is insufficient evidence from clinical studies. The NCCIH adds that very few studies have been conducted on peppermint leaves, and there is no evidence that peppermint oil alone helps with indigestion.

What Studies Say

• EMA, peppermint leaf monograph (2020). The Herbal Medicinal Products Committee (HMPC) concluded that based on long-term use, preparations from peppermint leaves may alleviate digestive complaints such as indigestion and bloating in adults and children over 4 years old. This means that their effect is considered probable and that they have been safely used this way for at least 30 years, including at least 15 years in the EU. Laboratory studies suggested that peppermint relaxes intestinal muscles and has antispasmodic effects.
• NCCIH (2025). Several studies indicate that certain preparations combining peppermint oil with caraway oil and some mixtures with peppermint leaves may alleviate indigestion. However, there is no evidence that peppermint oil alone helps with indigestion. In some individuals, self-administered oil may even worsen indigestion.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – not the same as regular indigestion. A systematic review from 2022 (Ingrosso et al.) gathered 10 studies involving 1,030 patients. Peppermint oil performed better than placebo for overall IBS symptoms and abdominal pain, but it caused more side effects, and the authors rated the quality of evidence as very low. According to the NCCIH, most side effects were mild, mainly reflux and indigestion. The results pertain to the oil in capsules, not tea.
• EMA, peppermint oil monograph (2020). The oral form of the oil, resistant to gastric juice, was recognized as a well-established medicine for alleviating minor gastrointestinal spasms, bloating, and abdominal pain, especially in individuals with IBS. This is a medicinal product, not a home remedy. The EMA does not recommend it for children under 8 years due to a lack of data.

Safety

Risks

• Heartburn and reflux: The EMA states that peppermint leaf preparations may exacerbate gastroesophageal reflux (the backward flow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus) and heartburn.
• Orally taken oil may cause heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, and dry mouth, and rarely allergic reactions.
• Oil applied to the skin may cause rash and irritation. It should not be applied to damaged or irritated skin, and touching the eye with unwashed hands after applying the oil may irritate it.
• The oil is highly concentrated. The EMA describes that overdose may lead to severe symptoms, including diarrhea, seizures, loss of consciousness, and heart rhythm disturbances.
• Peppermint leaf tea appears to be safe according to the NCCIH, but it is unknown whether long-term consumption in large amounts is safe.

Who Should Not Use It

• Individuals with gastroesophageal reflux and heartburn (the EMA recommends avoiding peppermint leaf preparations), as well as those with a hiatal hernia, for whom the oil exacerbates heartburn.
• Individuals with gallstones and other biliary tract diseases should exercise caution. In cases of liver disease, cholangitis, and lack of stomach acid, the EMA lists contraindications for oral oil.
• Children under 4 years: The EMA does not recommend peppermint leaf preparations for them due to a lack of data.
• Children under 2 years and children who have had seizures (including febrile seizures): contraindication for traditional peppermint oil preparations.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: The EMA does not recommend medicinal peppermint preparations for them as their safety has not been confirmed. According to the NCCIH, peppermint in amounts typical in regular food is likely safe.
• Individuals allergic to peppermint or menthol.

Drug Interactions

• For peppermint leaf, the EMA does not describe any drug interactions.
• Peppermint oil capsules: antacids and medications that reduce stomach acid secretion (H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors) may cause the capsule to dissolve too early. The EMA recommends not combining them.
• Do not combine multiple preparations containing peppermint oil at the same time.
• The NCCIH reminds that some herbs and medications can interact dangerously. If you are taking medications regularly, consult a pharmacist or doctor before using peppermint preparations.

When to See a Doctor

The EMA recommends contacting a doctor if symptoms worsen or last longer than 2 weeks. According to the NHS, you should see a doctor if:

• indigestion keeps recurring,
• the pain is severe,
• there is a noticeable weight loss without dieting,
• there are difficulties swallowing,
• vomiting occurs frequently,
• iron deficiency anemia is diagnosed,
• you feel something like a lump in your abdomen,
• there is blood in vomit or stool.

The NHS emphasizes that such symptoms may indicate something more serious than ordinary indigestion.

Sources

Compiled by the editorial team of informacja.com based on sources. Status as of October 24, 2026. This is not medical advice.