What do medical sources say about Peppermint during pregnancy?

1st Trimester: NCCIH says oral peppermint in food amounts is unlikely to raise concern during pregnancy, while information on medicinal amounts is limited. The EMA does not recommend medicinal peppermint leaf or oil during pregnancy because information is insufficient; the NHS says peppermint oil is not expected to cause problems, although it also notes limited information. Small inhalation studies in early pregnancy measured nausea symptoms, not miscarriage or fetal development. A 2025 review reported some symptom changes, but its evidence was low certainty and does not establish pregnancy outcomes. Ask your provider about your situation. 2nd Trimester: NCCIH says oral peppermint in food amounts is unlikely to raise concern during pregnancy, while information on medicinal amounts is limited. The EMA does not recommend medicinal peppermint leaf or oil during pregnancy because information is insufficient; the NHS says peppermint oil is not expected to cause problems, although it also notes limited information. A small inhalation trial enrolled pregnant women from 6 to 20 weeks, so it included some second-trimester participants, but it measured nausea rather than pregnancy outcomes. A 2025 review reported some symptom changes, but its evidence was low certainty and does not establish fetal outcomes. Ask your provider about your situation. 3rd Trimester: NCCIH says oral peppermint in food amounts is unlikely to raise concern during pregnancy, while information on medicinal amounts is limited. The EMA does not recommend medicinal peppermint leaf or oil during pregnancy because information is insufficient; the NHS says peppermint oil is not expected to cause problems, although it also notes limited information. The inhalation trials reviewed enrolled participants only through 20 weeks, so they did not study third-trimester exposure. Those trials measured nausea symptoms, not fetal or newborn outcomes. Ask your provider about your situation.

What do medical sources say about Peppermint while breastfeeding?

According to LactMed, small amounts of menthol and 1,8-cineole enter breast milk, while transfer of other components and effects on breastfed infants are not known. Small studies measured milk transfer after oral doses of these compounds, but did not assess infant health outcomes. LactMed reports that topical peppermint has been studied for maternal nipple pain and cracks; one trial used it after feeds and instructed participants to wash it off before the next feed. NCCIH cautions against peppermint oil on an infant's face or inhalation and advises wiping nipple products off before the next feeding; this is a direct-exposure warning, not evidence of an effect from milk levels. The EMA does not recommend medicinal peppermint during lactation because information is insufficient, while the NHS says oil may be taken when breastfeeding a healthy baby but notes that information is limited. Ask your provider about your situation.

Where do sources disagree on Peppermint in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Pregnancy guidance for medicinal peppermint The EMA monographs say medicinal peppermint leaf and oil are not recommended during pregnancy because data are insufficient and their use has not been established. NCCIH says oral amounts commonly found in food are unlikely to raise concern but medicinal amounts are poorly studied. The NHS says peppermint oil is not expected to cause problems during pregnancy, while noting limited information. The EMA monographs address medicinal preparations, while NCCIH separates food-level exposure from medicinal amounts and the NHS gives broader advice about peppermint oil. The sources apply different evidence thresholds and product scopes; their difference is not evidence that peppermint causes pregnancy harm. The small pregnancy trials measured nausea symptoms, not pregnancy outcomes. No source reviewed identified a peppermint-specific pregnancy risk signal, but the available human outcome information is too limited for a compatible rating. Under R2, insufficient is appropriate; avoid is not supported by an established risk signal.

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Peppermint

Herbal

Also called · 7 names▾

peppermint oil, peppermint leaf, Mentha x piperita, Mentha x piperita L., folium, Mentha x piperita L., aetheroleum, Menthae piperitae folium, Menthae piperitae aetheroleum

Herbal supplement (digestive symptoms)

Herbs and supplements are not FDA-approved before sale. About these sources

Tea
Capsule/tablet
Liquid extract
Essential oil
Topical
Food / spice

Pregnancy

Pasha et al. (2012) studied 60 first-trimester pregnant women in a double-blind randomized trial of inhaled mint oil. The study found no statistically significant difference in nausea or vomiting compared with saline. Joulaeerad et al. (2018) studied 56 pregnant women at 6 to 20 weeks in a single-blind randomized trial of inhaled peppermint oil; symptom changes were not statistically different from placebo between groups. Four peppermint-group participants reported headache, dizziness, or mild shortness of breath; one placebo participant reported headache, and the complaints resolved within 24 hours. Amzajerdi et al. (2022) studied 107 pregnant women at 6 to 16 weeks for one week, but described the study as semi-experimental rather than randomized; the full-text methods allocated by day. Peppermint symptom scores improved at some time points, but this study did not measure miscarriage, birth defects, fetal development, or newborn outcomes. The paper identifies a Barij Medicinal Plants Research Center coauthor, and Barij supplied study oils, so it is not counted as an independent check. A 2025 peppermint-inhalation meta-analysis reported symptom differences at 48 and 96 hours but not at 24 or 72 hours and rated the evidence low certainty. It describes included trials as randomized even though Amzajerdi et al. called its study semi-experimental; its narrative and certainty-table participant counts also do not match, so no pooled participant total is repeated here. A separate 2025 review of 21 pregnancy aromatherapy studies included many oils and five quasi-experimental studies; it included several oils and does not isolate a peppermint-specific nausea effect.

Breastfeeding

LactMed (last revision June 15, 2025) reports small amounts of menthol and 1,8-cineole in milk, no transfer data for other peppermint components, and no direct infant-outcome information. Hausner et al. (2008) measured l-menthol transfer after 100 mg oral doses in 18 lactating women. Kirsch et al. (2012) measured 1,8-cineole transfer after a 100 mg oral dose in 12 participants; transfer varied with sampling time and between people. These were compound-transfer studies, not studies of infant health after routine peppermint use. Topical nipple studies focus on maternal pain or lesions. Sayyah Melli et al. (2007) randomized 196 primiparous women to peppermint water or expressed breast milk and instructed the peppermint group to wash before the next feed; it excluded preterm infants and did not assess infant health outcomes. A 2026 systematic review of 14 articles included peppermint solution or gel among interventions for nipple-areolar lesions, but did not establish infant exposure effects. Suzuki et al. (2020) found effects on milk-production pathways in cell and lactating-mouse models. This is not evidence of reduced human milk supply; no human supply outcome was identified.

Pregnancy guidance for medicinal peppermint

Source A says: The EMA monographs say medicinal peppermint leaf and oil are not recommended during pregnancy because data are insufficient and their use has not been established. (EMA: EU herbal monograph on peppermint leaf, Revision 1, EMA: EU herbal monograph on peppermint oil, Revision 1)
Source B says: NCCIH says oral amounts commonly found in food are unlikely to raise concern but medicinal amounts are poorly studied. The NHS says peppermint oil is not expected to cause problems during pregnancy, while noting limited information. (NCCIH: Peppermint Oil, NHS: Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking peppermint oil)
Why they differ: The EMA monographs address medicinal preparations, while NCCIH separates food-level exposure from medicinal amounts and the NHS gives broader advice about peppermint oil. The sources apply different evidence thresholds and product scopes; their difference is not evidence that peppermint causes pregnancy harm.
What the evidence shows overall: The small pregnancy trials measured nausea symptoms, not pregnancy outcomes. No source reviewed identified a peppermint-specific pregnancy risk signal, but the available human outcome information is too limited for a compatible rating. Under R2, insufficient is appropriate; avoid is not supported by an established risk signal.

Peppermint during breastfeeding

Source A says: The EMA monographs do not recommend medicinal peppermint leaf or oil during lactation because information is insufficient. (EMA: EU herbal monograph on peppermint leaf, Revision 1, EMA: EU herbal monograph on peppermint oil, Revision 1)
Source B says: The NHS says peppermint oil may be taken while breastfeeding a healthy baby and that only tiny amounts are likely to enter milk. NCCIH says food-level oral amounts are unlikely to raise concern, while LactMed describes small milk transfer of menthol and 1,8-cineole and maternal topical nipple studies. (NHS: Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking peppermint oil, NCCIH: Peppermint Oil, LactMed (NIH): Peppermint)
Why they differ: The EMA statement applies to medicinal products and is based on missing data. NHS advice is broader and limited to a healthy baby; NCCIH separates food amounts from medicinal use. LactMed describes transfer and maternal treatment studies but provides no direct infant-outcome evidence.
What the evidence shows overall: The guidance is not a finding of observed infant harm. Milk-transfer and topical studies do not establish infant outcomes after routine peppermint exposure. Because key infant information is missing and the EMA advice is based on missing data, R2 supports insufficient rather than guidance or avoid.

Last reviewed 2026-10-16

Independent check 2026-10-16

Not yet clinician-reviewed

Ask your provider about your situation.

Caraway
Ginger
Spearmint

Peppermint

Peppermint — Breastfeeding

What the research shows

What's in it / what was tested

Sources disagree

Options sources describe

Beyond pregnancy

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