Peppermint Essential Oil Improves Driving Alertness

Aroma Complete by Young Living

Pick-up almost any medical magazine today and you are bound to read about discoveries for new peppermint oil uses.  Much has been written and studied about the myriad uses of peppermint oil for improving symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).  Many natural remedy products boast that their main active ingredient is essential peppermint oil, but did you know that it also improves driving alertness?  For the past several years, this popular topic has been circulating around academia and the health science community claiming that peppermint oil improves alertness and job performance.

Such is the case with studies coming out of West Virginia.  Building on earlier research performed by his professor, Bryan Raudenbush, undergraduate Will Esgro, an undergraduate from the department of psychology at Wheeling Jesuit University concludes that dabbing peppermint oil inside of a car improves driver alertness. [1] In Raudenbush’s study, peppermint oil was found to enhance moods and a person’s overall well-being and productivity.  If the studies continue to mount as they have recently, peppermint oil may be the new natural remedy rather than caffeine to stimulate alertness – without the jittery side effects.  Esgro’s study was funded by grants from NASA and NSF.

Pharmaceutical companies and producers of natural remedies have expanded into new product lines based around these and other tests for peppermint oil uses. Besides being more alert, both studies assert that the scent of peppermint essential oil decreases anxiety and thus the byproduct of fatigue.  Further, he concluded in a recent presentation, the scent of cinnamon also stimulates the olfactory senses, functioning as an alternative mood enhancer.   One could conclude therefore, that a person who is planning a prolonged drive could help minimize fatigue if these scents are present in the vehicle. It might be interesting to follow the sales of peppermint car refreshers, but a homemade one would probably be much for potent and therefore effective.

Results from the study associated a decrease in driving frustration, anxiety, fatigue, and general mental workload.  Further, the drivers experienced greater levels of alertness while operating their vehicles while inhaling the scent of peppermint essential oil.  Summing up the study, Raudenbush stated that,

“In general, prolonged driving led to increased anger, fatigue, and physical demand, and decreased vigor. However, fatigue ratings were decreased in the cinnamon condition. Both cinnamon and peppermint administration led to increased ratings of alertness in comparison to the no-odor control condition over the course of the driving scenario. Periodic administration of these odors over long term driving may prove beneficial in maintaining alertness and decreasing highway accidents and fatalities.”

Idea:
Soak several cotton balls in peppermint essential oil and place in a nylon stocking or other porous material.  Hang your homemade peppermint oil mood enhancer in your car.  Be cautious, however, as with other air fresheners, not to inhibit your view of the road.

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[1] Will Esgro,  “Effect of odor administration on driving performance, safety, alertness, and fatigue,” Wheeling Jesuit University, Inc. April 4, 2006, http://www.wju.edu/about/adm_news_story.asp?iNewsID=1976&strBack=/about/adm_news_archive.asp
(accessed January 10, 2011).