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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Herb

Peppermint Oil

aka Mentha piperita · Enteric-coated

Enteric-coated peppermint oil is a first-line antispasmodic for IBS.

Gut Health

Overview

Enteric-coated peppermint oil is a first-line antispasmodic for IBS.

Natural sources
  • Mentha piperita
Common forms
  • Enteric-coated capsule (e.g., IBgard)

Mechanism of action

Menthol blocks calcium channels in intestinal smooth muscle.

Pathways
  • · Ca-channel block in smooth muscle

Effects on the body

Decreases
IBS pain and bloating

Organ system effects

Digestive / Gut

Reduces IBS symptoms ~40%.

Evidence-based benefits

Reduces IBS symptoms

Strong evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · Heartburn (non-coated)
Rare
  • · Anal burning
Serious

    Drug interactions

    Antacids
    Dissolve enteric coating prematurely.
    moderate

    Safety & non-supplemental interactions

    Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

    Avoid if you are
    • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
    • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)

    Supplement interactions

    Pairs well with

    None listed.

    Avoid combining with

    No specific avoidances listed.

    Dosing & bioavailability

    Typical dose
    180–225 mg enteric × 3/d

    Where to buy

    Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

    Herb
    Peppermint Oil
    Amazon
    Wide selection · fast shipping
    Herb
    Peppermint Oil
    iHerb
    Global delivery · curated brands
    Herb
    Peppermint Oil
    Thorne
    Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

    Scientific evidence (8)

    Meta-analysisJ Clin Gastroenterol · 2014

    Peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome

    Khanna R, et al.

    Meta-analysis of enteric-coated peppermint oil RCTs.

    Key findings

    Significantly reduced IBS symptom severity.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Peppermint Oil — Reduces IBS symptoms

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Peppermint Oil Reduces IBS symptoms" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Peppermint Oil and "Reduces IBS symptoms". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Peppermint Oil — randomized controlled trial

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Peppermint Oil randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Peppermint Oil and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Peppermint Oil — meta-analysis

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Peppermint Oil meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Peppermint Oil and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Peppermint Oil — pharmacokinetics

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Peppermint Oil pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Peppermint Oil and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Peppermint Oil — safety adverse events

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Peppermint Oil safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Peppermint Oil and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Peppermint Oil — dose response

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Peppermint Oil dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Peppermint Oil and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

    Google Scholar: Peppermint Oil — clinical evidence

    Live Scholar search

    Cross-database citation index for Peppermint Oil as it relates to "clinical evidence".

    Key findings

    Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

    Open study
    Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.