August 6, 2025

Migraine  is  a  neurological  disorder  characterized  by  headache,  photophobia,  phonophobia,  nausea  and  vomiting. Pharmacological treatment of migraine has advanced in the past years but  is  still  considered  unsatisfactory  for  a  significant  number  of  patients.  In this sense, there is increasing evidence that  essential  oils  from  several  plants  may  provide  benefit  for  migraine  patients.  Peppermint essential oil is one of the most used essential oils in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. It is typically obtained through the steam distillation of aerial parts of the flowering plant.  Menthol  is  a  major  component  of  peppermint  essential  oil  and  has  been  used  as  a  non-opioid  pain  reliever  since ancient times. In  addition  to  menthol,  it  has  menthone  as  another  main  component  and  a  mixture  of  volatile  metabolites  that  contribute  to  innumerous  biological  activities,  such  as  antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. In migraine patients, two clinical trials showed that intranasal application of peppermint essential oil (1.5%) or application of a solution containing 10% menthol to the forehead and temporal  area  reduced  the  severity  and  duration  of  the  migraine  crisis  similarly  to  lidocaine, and  also reduced  nausea and/or  vomiting,  and  phonophobia  and/or  photophobia.