Peppermint oil

[Spirit Unleashed]

My new LMT suggested I put peppermint oil on a small heel spur. He said that was an anti-inflammatory and would slowly dissolve the spur.

I am trying it. It does feel good and seems to kill pain.

Anyone else heard of this?

[toobusy]

I have heard of peppermint for the digestion (ie nausea) but didnt think of it as a topical thing. Although, menthol comes from the mint family and it is used in lots of topical ointments

[Jwolf]

It's the menthol that will be the active ingredient, although the more active ingredient in other topical analgesics is methyl salicylate (found in oil of wintergreen). These are chemically very different.

If it works, go for it.

[VeloCarrie]

My new LMT suggested I put peppermint oil on a small heel spur. He said that was an anti-inflammatory and would slowly dissolve the spur.

I am trying it. It does feel good and seems to kill pain.

Anyone else heard of this?

The main component of peppermint is menthol. Menthol depresses sensory receptors in local areas, so it's main function would be as a local analgesic, not an anti-inflammatory. There are a lot of folk remedies using peppermint as an antibacterial, antiseptic or anti-inflammatory. I have not heard of "dissolving."

From The Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines (Fetrow & Avila):

Most of peppermint's pharmacologic activity is due to menthol which, in concentrations of 0.1% to 1%, depresses sensory cutaneous receptors and alleviates itching and irritation. in higher concentrations, it acts as a counterirritant by stimulating the nerves that perceive cold while depressing the nerves that perceive pain and itching. when applied to the skin, mentol causes an initial feeling of coolness, followed by a sensation of warmth. the cooling effect may result from direct desensitization of warmth receptors, and warming follows vasodilation of small blood vessels under the skin.

Menthol is generally recognized as safe and effective when used externally as a local analgesic or anesthetic and as an antipruritic.

[Jwolf]

Oh, yeah- I missed that part.... it definitely won't dissolve a bone spur. That's a bit of hooey. Bone spurs generally just get reabsorbed on their own.

[KBO]

Well, let me know if it 'dissolves' it because I have a charming one that has messed real bad with my foot for well over a year now. More seriously though, I've been told there isn't much you can do for a heel spur. Apparently most of us actually have them, it's just that most of them don't become an irritant. The only thing I've seen that may have some merit in actually 'getting rid' of it is the shockwave therapy, but I don't think that's well proven.

[Nicholas]

Works better with a shot of rum and a twist of lemon....maybe some crushed ice as well.

[Spirit Unleashed]

As a matter of fact, using this oil on my heel has become part of my post run ritual. If all it does is what Carrie said (topical analgesic) then I'd say it works much better than the 30% methylsalicylic (forgot exactly what this is called) products which come in a tube. My heel has a much healthier appearance also.

[DonnaRigs]

I have a funny story about peppermint oil. My MIL suffers from sciatica. I did some research and a lot of sites recommended adding two or three drops to your bath, so I got her some. A few days later I asked how it went. She burst out laughing and said, "They were not kidding about the two or three drops. I thought 'more is better' and put about ten or fifteen. I managed to sit for about two minutes, before I had to leap from the tub."

As you may have guessed, too much peppermint oil does not feel pleasant in certain delicate spots of the body.

[toobusy]

[jgore]

I have a funny story about peppermint oil. My MIL suffers from sciatica. I did some research and a lot of sites recommended adding two or three drops to your bath, so I got her some. A few days later I asked how it went. She burst out laughing and said, "They were not kidding about the two or three drops. I thought 'more is better' and put about ten or fifteen. I managed to sit for about two minutes, before I had to leap from the tub."

As you may have guessed, too much peppermint oil does not feel pleasant in certain delicate spots of the body.

There is a reason why the word "pepper" is part of the name.

[pts]

Too funny about the bath!

It also can apparently stimulate labour in pregnant women- not that it applies to the original post, but just FYI for people reading and thinking of using it!