Peppermint Altoids are an inexpensive option ..and for me they are without a doubt effective . i'm taking them now as i was six years ago two before and after each meal and two between meals..... They may be a problem for those with acid reflux and then the 50-200mg enteric coated capsule may be effective....Those with gall bladder disease may not be able to take the enteric coated capsule and they should talk to their doctor.
One may see some small changes in a week or two with less redness and slightly more or a different kind of flakiness that evolves to smooth skin..be patient It takes a good month and slowly over a few months that the changes take place...If you can get some sunlight, a tanning light or uvb..it may accelerate ones progress.
Finally, peppermint is not just a mint...menthol, the main ingredient is a powerful drug...it can destroy some types of microbes, causes an increase in bile flow, reduces glucose uptake and creates calcium channel changes in the intestinal wall effecting gut permeability... It's apparent the addition of menthol or peppermint reduces subliminal intestinal inflammation and our immune response to it. I think that any inflammation, and more specifically that in the gut , results in much of our daily flaring which is simply part of and corresponds to any immune response..from sinus or gout to the lesions themselves or subliminal inflammation in the small intestine.
Both peppermint oil and the ibuprofen should never be taken by women trying to get pregnant or who are pregnant. In the case of ibuprofen, it interferes with specific prostaglandins that are needed for implantation of the egg and the peppermint oil can bring on menstruation.
