PEPPERMINT USES
All true mints belong to the genus Mentha. Peppermint is a hybrid plant, a cross between watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata).
Distribution and Habitat: Peppermint is found growing wild in the moist soils of the warmer parts of Europe, Asia, and America.
It was cultivated in Europe but also in America, where it has become a vital crop over the last one hundred years.
Peppermint is a perennial shrub which grows best in very moist soils with high water-holding capacity.
While the plant has proved invaluable in medicine, for both topical and oral uses, it is also used widely in the perfume, soap and of course the food industries, becoming the most commercially important of the Mentha species.Plant Description: The peppermint plant grows to about 2-3 feet in height. It produces very small purple or white flowers that bloom from July through August. The leaves are dark green and fragrant.
Plant Parts Used: The leaves are harvested when the plant is in bloom and the leaves are at their most flavorsome. The oil is used for pharmaceutical preparations, as well as a flavor for gum and candy, etc… The stems and leaves can be used for tea.
Therapeutic Uses and Benefits of Peppermint
Peppermint as a tea has become very popular and it is thought to have a number of health benefits for variety of ailments such as biliary disorders, dyspepsia, enteritis, flatulence, gastritis, intestinal colic, and spasms of the bile duct, gallbladder and gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
When the steam from the tea is inhaled it can ease sinus congestion and the inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose and throat.
Preparation and Dosage
The peppermint leaves and sometimes the stalks are harvested just before, or during flowering.
The leaves are dried for teas and flavoring and steeped in boiling water. Generally, 1-2 grams of the herb is recommended, 3-4 times per day.
Safety and Side Effects of Peppermint
Individuals with achlorhydria, biliary or gall bladder obstruction, or gallstones, acid reflux or issues of the esophagus should not use peppermint.
Highly concentrated peppermint oil should not be rubbed on or inhaled profusely as it can cause dermatitis, flushing or headaches.
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