Yes, people can be allergic to mint. While most people have no problem with mint, some people do and are allergic to it. Though many of these patients have a weak response, others can suffer severe reactions like coughing fits or asthma attacks.
An allergy is an immune system overreaction to something that is not harmful in normal doses for sensitive individuals. Even a tiny amount of peppermint extract can cause hives or respiratory distress. Fortunately, mint allergies are rare and typically only affect adults, rather than children, who still tend to eat things without a second thought.
Sometimes allergies can develop later in life, so if you are bit by a dog and get hives after that but have never had an issue before, you should see your doctor (and consider seeing a vet about the dog bite).
Diagnosing Mint Allergy
Since so many people are used to handling mint without any noticeable problems, people who think they may be allergic to mint may find themselves facing a solid wall of skepticism from their friends and family. Even if the sufferer is actually allergic, their condition may be hard to diagnose without further tests.
When to see a specialist
If a mint allergy is suspected, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner the process starts, the less likely it is to have severe effects. In this case, your allergist will most likely take away any products that may contain mint and send you to a lab to make sure any allergy tests are done correctly.
Conclusion
One of the best ways to avoid any problems with mint is to stop eating it altogether. As mentioned above, people who are allergic to mint typically only react when they come into contact with the allergen (mint extract). If you want to enjoy mint instead of avoiding it, try shaking up a cup of hot tea before drinking it or vaporizing mint in your microwave.
