A daily serving of peppermint oil helped reduce blood pressure in a small clinical trial involving adults in the UK. Researchers asked 40 volunteers, aged between 18 and 65, to take a measured amount of the concentrated natural extract each day for 20 days.
Participants who consumed the oil recorded an average fall of 8.48 millimetres of mercury in systolic blood pressure, according to findings published in the journal PLOS One. Systolic pressure refers to the force of blood against artery walls when the heart contracts.
Blood pressure is recorded in millimetres of mercury and is shown as two numbers. The upper figure is systolic pressure, while the lower figure, known as diastolic pressure, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a major health concern because it can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It is often described as a silent condition, as many people do not realise they have it because it typically causes no obvious symptoms.
The reduction of 8.48mmHg reported by the researchers amounts to roughly an eight-point drop in systolic blood pressure, according to Science Alert.
Jonathan Sinclair, a sports and health scientist at the University of Lancashire, told the publication that the results were highly encouraging.
He said: “They have significant clinical implications, especially given arterial hypertension is the most common preventable risk factor for cardiometabolic disease and the greatest single risk factor for global mortality.”
The volunteers involved in the trial had either pre-hypertension or stage one hypertension, placing them at the milder end of the high blood pressure range.
The researchers said in their report: “The results of this trial suggest peppermint supplementation could be a valuable tool in the management of pre-hypertension and stage 1 hypertension.”
They also measured an average drop of 4.57 mmHg in diastolic pressure among those who took part in the trial as well as an average 8.92 beats per minute slower heart rate compared with a group given a placebo.
It is important to note that this was part of a clinical trial and should not be attempted at home.
If you are worried about hypertension, you can speak to your local pharmacist about a free check or contact your GP.
