Info: 18 ml Flow-Restricted Bottle
This is 100% Pure, Authentic Japanese Mint Oil, which is one of the main natural sources from which soothing menthol (which is found in many cough medicines or cold or chest rubs) can be derived. It also has anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties which can be put to other uses (such as for oral hygiene or to protect plants).
Info: 18 ml Flow-Restricted Bottle
This is 100% Pure, Authentic Japanese Mint Oil, which is one of the main natural sources from which soothing menthol (which is found in many cough medicines or cold or chest rubs) can be derived. It also has anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties which can be put to other uses (such as for oral hygiene or to protect plants).
Product Notes:
The nomenclature behind "Japanese mint oil" is a bit confusing, because even if that's how it originally got its name for a type of mint being widely cultivated there (where its called "Hakka"[ハッカ]) that may have originated in China, not all Japanese mint oil actually comes from Japan.
In fact, even in Japan itself, the domestic production has declined relative to consumption so much that they need to import much of their oil, to the extent that a new study (by Masumoto & Michiho, 2023) found that most of what is currently on the market there is actually of the North American Mentha canadensis variety, rather than the original Mentha arvensis Linné var. piperascens Malinvaud type listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia!
Thus, rather than country of origin, what truly distinguishes so-called Japanese mint – which is also known as "wild mint" or "corn mint" – from other members of the mint family is that it has a much higher menthol content than the regular old peppermint of Christmas candy cane fame that North Americans are most familiar with (the biological species called "Mentha x piperita").
While some types of peppermint have about a 40% menthol content (Schmidt et al. 2009), the overseas supplier for this particular type of Mentha arvensis have tested theirs and found it to be in the 70 to 75% range.
That high menthol content is why Japanese mint oil is not only characterized as somewhat gentler in both aroma and effect than peppermint, but also tends to have two main types of external uses (although there are more): for topical pain relief, and to relieve coughs or colds.
With just a few drops, a natural menthol solution like this is able to stimulate circulation in the affected areas and have deep heating and penetrating effects when used topically, whether massaged into the skin, to relieve cramps, sprains, swelling, tight muscles, rheumatic pain, or applied to the temples, to relieve headaches.
It can also be used as an aromatherapy to relieve sinus congestion, whether with a diffuser, or by dropping some into a bowl of hot water, or even by dripping some onto the bathtub or shower floor as you shower.
Japanese Mint Oil (as well as regular Peppermint oil) also has both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, and so is also used in a variety of oral hygiene products such as toothpaste or mouthwash that you can also fashion yourself, or even as a natural pesticide for your houseplants or garden.
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Ingredients:
Pure Japanese Mint Oil (Mentha arvensis), extracted through steam distillation, with no other oil added.
Suggested Usage:
To prevent possible irritation, do not use essential oils undiluted: mix them with a carrier oil, in a ratio of about one drop of Mint Oil to fifteen drops of the carrier.
For localized pain relief (from muscle or rheumatic aches, or minor cuts, bruises, or irritations): Massage a few drops into a specific area.
For Headache Relief, massage on Temples and Back of the Neck.
For head and chest cold relief, rub on chest.
For Sinus Congestion relief, add a few drops to a basin of hot water and inhale, while keeping eyes closed.
For aromatherapy, blends well with: Basil, Bergamot, Cajeput, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Marjoram, Niaouli, Pine, Rosemary, and Thyme.
Warnings:
Keep Japanese mint oil out of reach of young children, and do not ingest (seek urgent medical attention or contact a Poison Control Centre if that happens). Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Keep away from the eyes, inner ears, or sensitive areas (rinse immediately with either vegetable oil or cold or warm water, if that happens). Discontinue use if you experience an allergic reaction. This product is not recommended for doing a complete, full body massage with, but just for smaller areas.
Supporting Science:
Imai, H et al. “Inhibition by the essential oils of peppermint and spearmint of the growth of pathogenic bacteria.” Microbios, 2001.
Kamatou, Guy P P et al. “Menthol: a simple monoterpene with remarkable biological properties.” Phytochemistry, 2013.
Makkar, Manpreet Kaur et al. “Evaluation of Mentha arvensis essential oil and its major constituents for fungitoxicity.” Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2018.
Masumoto, Naoko, and Michiho Ito. “Genetic identification of the original plant species for Mentha Herb listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia and analyses of their essential oil composition.” Journal of Natural Medicines, 2023.
Schmidt, Erich et al. “Chemical composition, olfactory evaluation and antioxidant effects of essential oil from Mentha x piperita.” Natural Product Communications, 2009.
Tardugno, Roberta et al. “Phytochemical composition and in vitro screening of the antimicrobial activity of essential oils on oral pathogenic bacteria.” Natural Product Research, 2018.