Clinical research shows that pure, therapeutic-grade peppermint oil can increase athletic performance. In one recent study, researchers looked at the effect of peppermint oil on running performance, and guess what? The amount of total work performed by subjects who ingested the pure peppermint oil increased by a whopping 51%! That’s a pretty good outcome if you ask me!
I (Filly) have actually been experimenting with peppermint oil during training. For anyone that has trained with me, I’m a bit of a whiner (haha…sorry coaches), and I tend to hold-back rather than giving it my all. On the days I have ingested a drop of peppermint oil I have actually felt really good in regards to energy, endurance, motivation and possibly even strength (although i’m still a weakling!). Some might say this is because of the Placebo Effect…but even if it is, if peppermint oil makes me feel better and perform better, than that’s a pretty good reason to keep on using it. Essential oils do have a profound effect on the mind because the olfactory bulb is so close to the amygdala where emotions are controlled. And our emotions and our mind greatly effect our body – how well it performs, whether it becomes diseased, whether it is in balance or not.
Regardless of all that, controlled blind studies do show that peppermint oil does actually increase athletic performance – and not just how subjects perceive their performance.
Peppermint oil is not all that expensive, especially when you only use a drop or two, and a much cheaper (and NATURAL) alternative to the overly-processed pre-workout supps that contain artificial nasties that could be damaging your insides in the long-run.
This Friday 19 Feb at 6:15pm, we’re holding an essential oils night about the benefits of using essential oils before, during and after training and competitions, and also about the therapeutic benefits of essential oils on our physical and emotional health. All welcome, members and non-members. Feel free to bring along a friend!
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