I've never had *any* side effects from peppermint caps and I've been taking them 3x per day for 8 months now - and they definitely help with cramps, pain and D! 
Peppermint oil has been thoroughly tested and shown to have virtually no side effects. Very rarely, it may cause heartburn or acid reflux in large doses, however this is usually only in people who have a history of these conditions.
The fact that peppermint caps are entric coated means that they release the strong peppermint oil in the intestines instead of the stomach, where it would be less effective (which is probably exactly while Altoids make your tummy burn and the caps don't, Becca).
Now, as for ulcers... I've never had one but I did a little googling on this. These are the only cautions that seem to be placed on peppermint oil caps:
1. Don't use peppermint oil if you have a hiatal hernia. The oil's muscle-relaxing effect will intensify its symptoms.
2. Consult your doctor before using peppermint if you have gallstones.
3. Avoid large doses of peppermint oil if you're pregnant, because it can relax the uterus before it's time to go into labor (eep!  )
I'm NO doctor, but I tend to think that these cautions all seem to be around the issue of muscle relaxation (which, after all, is what peppermint does). Since a hernia is a shift of an organ and an ulcer is a lesion, I don't *think* it should be a problem, right? Especially if you don't have an ulcer right now. But PLEASE don't take my advice! Like I said, I'm not doctor! Maybe Heather can give a more informed response.
Here's a site that may be of interest: peppermint oil info
Hope some of this was helpful!
Cheers, Laurel.
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Re: Peppermint caps question
