My ferrets have licked my hands before when they had peppermint essential
oil, and it doesn't seem to have made them sick in the least.  Peppermint
essential oil is known to be pretty stimulating, and it seems to have made
their tongues tingle, which they found to be unpleasant.  They stopped
licking pretty quickly, and moved on to other activities.
 
If you are concerned about it, though, you could dilute the peppermint
essential oil down in some water or oil or alcohol, or buy peppermint
spirits in the drug store.  (You might have to special order them through
the pharmacist).  Peppermint spirits are peppermint in an alcohol base,
and are designed to be a flavouring additive for children's medicines.
 
- Ela
 
Ela Heyn
Harborside Mail Stop 3024
201-860-3336
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[Posted in FML issue 3047]