Der Nervenarzt
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Effectiveness of Oleum menthae piperitae and paracetamol in therapy of headache of the tension type].
The effect of a locally applied peppermint oil preparation on tension-type headache was examined in the design of a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study for the first time. The preparation was tested against both the reference substance acetaminophen and to the corresponding placebo. The liquid test preparation contained 10 g of peppermint oil and ethanol (90%) ad 100 (test preparation LI 170, Lichtwer Pharma, Berlin); the placebo was a 90% ethanol solution to which traces of peppermint oil were added for blinding purposes. ⋯ The patients reported no adverse events. This controlled study showed for the first time that a 10% peppermint oil in ethanol solution efficiently alleviates tension-type headache. Peppermint oil thus proves to be a well-tolerated and cost-effective alternative to usual therapies.