Peppermint oil applied topically was significantly more effective than placebo for tension headaches, with results comparable to common pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen. A 10% peppermint oil solution in ethanol is approved and recommended by professional medical societies as a standard treatment for acute tension headaches in adults and children over 6.

This was a review of controlled clinical studies examining peppermint oil's effectiveness for tension-type headaches, the most common headache type. The research analyzed how peppermint oil works in the body and compared its results to established pain relief standards.

Funding not disclosed in abstract