A daily dose of peppermint oil has lowered blood pressure among a sample group of people, a clinical trial has found. Researchers in the UK gave 40 volunteers aged 18 to 65 a measure of the concentrated natural extract over 20 days.
Those who took the oil saw an average drop of 8.48 millimetres of mercury in their systolic blood pressure, according to the study published in the journal PLOS One. Systolic blood pressure measures pressure inside your arteries when your heart beats.
It is measured in millimetres of mercury. Blood pressure readings have two numbers: the top number is systolic pressure and the lower number is diastolic pressure – it measures pressure in the arteries between heart beats.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to heart attacks or strokes. Many people have it without knowing it as it usually does not cause any symptoms.
The 8.48mmHg drop reported by the trial authors is equivalent to an eight point decrease in systolic blood pressure, according to Science Alert.
Jonathan Sinclair, a sports and health scientist at the University of Lancashire, told the same publication the findings were very positive.
He added: “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.”
Those who took part in the study had pre-hypertension or stage one hypertension, which is at the lower end of high blood pressure.
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.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
