Peppermint oil Side Effects: What Reddit Users Report
About this entry (Peppermint oil capsules): Peppermint oil in capsules that release in the intestine rather than the stomach.
22 of 285 Reddit owner comments about Peppermint oil (8%) describe an unwanted effect. The effects people mention most are heartburn, reflux or burping, cramping or stomach pain and nausea. These are self-reports from Reddit IBS and gut communities (November 2025 to October 2026), not a measured side-effect rate, and many people report no problems at all.
Peppermint oil capsules overall: 3.8 · tolerability 4.5 (higher means fewer unwanted-effect reports).
What people describe
| Effect mentioned | Owner comments |
|---|---|
| Heartburn, reflux or burping | 4 |
| Cramping or stomach pain | 3 |
| Nausea | 3 |
How we counted: among the 22 comments that describe an unwanted effect, a category counts when a sentence names the effect with wording like "gave me" or "made me". Questions and sentences about an effect going away are skipped. One comment can count in more than one row, and keyword counts can include some unrelated mentions, so read the quotes below for context.
Most common complaints
- Side effects: 21 owner comments
- Pain & cramping: 7 owner comments
- Cost: 2 owner comments
Safety notes from NIH and published research
- Possible side effects include heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain and dry mouth; enteric coating is meant to reduce heartburn.[NCCIH]
Stop and talk to a doctor if an effect is severe or does not settle. Ask a pharmacist about interactions with any medicine you take.
In their words
4/5 Side effects“I tried IBGard and it gave me acid reflux for the first and only time in my life lol.”
2/5 Side effects“Yeah peppermint oil capsules were one of the first things I tried.”
3/5 Pain & crampingSide effects“theres peppermint oil, which is step 1 usually, and when that didnt work for me i got put on amitryptiline which has worked wonders.”
3/5 Side effects“i put on peppermint oil on my nose and behind my ears to help.”
1/5 Side effects“Atrantil no, I avoid peppermint because peppermint oil extract made me worse too.”
1/5 Bloating & gasSide effects“My pelvic floor PT suspects I have this but peppermint oil extract made my bloating worse”
3/5 Bloating & gasSide effects“i also tried iberogast (if you have any upper stomach symptoms like bloating/nausea) and IBGard/FDgard which helped immensely when i was really flaring.”
1/5 Pain & crampingSide effects“Have you ever tried enteric coated peppermint capsules (e.g.”
Frequently asked
What side effects do people report with Peppermint oil?
22 of 285 Reddit owner comments about Peppermint oil (8%) describe an unwanted effect; the ones mentioned most were heartburn, reflux or burping, cramping or stomach pain and nausea. These are self-reports, not a measured side-effect rate.
Is Peppermint oil safe?
Safety depends on your health and medicines. The NIH and other sources listed on this page note specific cautions. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting, especially if you take other medicines or are pregnant.
More on Peppermint oil
Compare side-effect reports: Peppermint oil capsules vs Iberogast (STW 5) · Peppermint oil capsules vs Ginger supplements