Peppermint Benefits & Information (Mentha × piperita) Peppermint has several dietary uses and health benefits: Coughs & Colds Peppermint is a remedy for the common cold and for coughing symptoms that often accompany a cold. The oil from this plant has a soothing effect for coughing symptoms and can calm certain common cold ailments. It can also help build a stronger immune system and has both antimicrobial and antioxidant qualities. Liquid Peppermint oil can be inhaled as a vapor. This manner of peppermint use can create an effective at soothing cough and cold symptoms. Mouth & Sinuses Peppermint has been frequently used as an agent that reduces inflammation of the mouth or throat. Sinus inflammations and infections can be remedied by inhalation of the plant essential oil. Menthol is the main active ingredient in peppermint and is the reason for its ability to help clear congestion and help make breathing easier. . The herb can be used topically or in a tea to alleviate common respiratory symptoms such as congestion, coughing and difficulty breathing caused by obstructed or inflamed passages.

Digestive Issues Peppermint can help with a number of painful digestive problems including gas, bloating and nausea, morning sickness and stomach cramps. Additionally, it can help ease the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. One study showed that 75% of participants who took a capsule of Peppermint oil daily saw a significant decrease in their IBS symptoms, in comparison with 38% who took a placebo capsule. Menstrual symptoms Painful cramps and nausea caused by a woman’s natural cycle can be eased with the help of peppermint. Peppermint acts as a muscle relaxer and therefore reduces the pain caused by a woman’s cramps. Pain Relief Headaches, nerve pain, toothaches, inflammation of the joints, and general body aches and muscle pain are all thought to be relieved by the use of peppermint. The main ingredient in peppermint, menthol, creates a cooling sensation when applied to the skin. As a result it can temporarily reduce minor levels of pain associated with athletic injuries, overuse or muscle pain. Headaches Topical application of Peppermint oil can reduce certain types of minor headaches.

Peppermint oil, diluted with another oil, can be applied directly to the forehead or upper sinus areas. In fact, a German study showed Peppermint to have the same power as 1,000 milligrams of acetaminophen. Skin Peppermint oil diluted with water can be used as a wash capable of alleviating skin problems such as rashes and dry skin. Also, it can be used as a hair rinse to soothe both dry and oily scalp. Infections, itchiness, allergic rashes and bacterial infections have all been remedied with peppermint herbal supplements. Energy The scent of peppermint is energizing and inhaling its scent can result in heightened levels of energy. Drinking peppermint tea, as well as using peppermint oil in a diffuser or in a candle are ways of using peppermint as a stimulant. Other Applications for Peppermint There are additional applications for peppermint that are frequently used: Foods and beverages are flavored with the peppermint extract oil in order to create a distinctive flavoring. Deserts and candies frequently use a peppermint flavoring. Manufacturers often use the plant extract from the peppermint to produce a popular fragrance for soaps and cosmetics.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers use peppermint plant extract as a flavoring agent for several everyday over the counter medicines and other prescription medicines as it very effective at masking strong, unpleasant tastes. How to Use Peppermint Peppermint can be taken in many ways: The oil can be applied topically to the skin; a tea can be made of the dried and crushed leaves; the oil and/or dried plant material can be ingested in capsule form; peppermint liquid tincture is available; the oil can also be vaporized for inhalation. Peppermint oil is usually the most potent way to gain the active ingredients and benefits, however lower levels of peppermint, such as those ingested through tea, are still very effective. References Iscan G, Kirimer N, Kurkcuoglu M, et al. Antimicrobial screening of Mentha Piperita essential oils. J Agric Food Chem 2002; 50:3943-6.

Nair B Find report on the safety assessment of Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf, and Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Water. Int J Toxicol 2001; 20: 61-73. Tate S. Peppermint oil: a treatment for postoperative nausea. J Adv Nurs 1997; 26: 543-9. You will also like: Mentha.info - names of mints home classification cultivation books names collections sources plants glossary links navigation updates Names of mints There is quite a lot on this page and it's all about how to write the names of mint so that it is of use to someone else as well as yourself. All mint naming on this website, as with the records of my Collection, is done in accordance with the Codes, the practical side of which follows below. Writing it down This page will I hope help you to understanding exactly what is being "said" to you by the way the mint name is written.

Unfortunately some nursery folk, label makers, publishers and even TV programme editors are apparently not as aware of the correct way to write plant names as they should be. There may be some degree of difference of opinion as to the origins of a variety, form, hybrid or cultivar, even whether the name has been superceded or changed, but the way each opinion is written is laid out in Codes agreed internationally, to be sure that everyone is using the same "language". So I'm afraid we start off with not only what is being written being possibly wrong, but also the way it is written being wrong, which could be describing a different mint or even a plant that isn't a mint. But don't give up now, buy your plant, just keep an open mind and learn through disappointment. Very occasionally you'll get a new plant to you, that might take years of enjoyment before you identify it. o0o What's your name? You can, of course, call a plant anything you like for your own reference - I do - or even when you talk to another person that knows what you are on about.

But when you are talking to someone you don't know, or when writing something for publication, or giving a talk to a horticultural Society, or even creating a National Plant Collection, there is really no latitude for personal idiosyncrasies. The rules for the naming of plants are there to avoid misinformation, misunderstanding and disappointment. If, as a plant nursery owner, you sell your "apple mint" as Mentha suaveolens, when in fact it is Mentha x villosa alopecuroides , and should better be called Bowles' mint, then to a mint collector it's like the "DVD" you want for your young daughter turning out to be "Die Hard" when you wanted an episode of "Pingu". To someone wanting some mint to go with their new potatoes, that are then covered in gravy, it may not matter which form of Mentha suaveolens, or Mentha x villosa, or Mentha spicata, or maybe even Mentha x smithiana you use. How many people could tell the difference anyway? Well the point is if the wholesaler, retailer or gardener doesn't definitely know what it is, they should only write what they do know.

"Garden mint" is not a specific common name, and doesn't guarantee the plant apart from implying a reasonable flavour. "Mint" is often used as a shorthand for the same sort of plant, but could of course legitimately be used for any Mentha species or cultivar. Mint is sometimes used for both spearmint and peppermint, even though they both have individual common names and botanical/horticultural names. The common name spearmint should only be applied to Mentha spicata, but there are variations even within this species, with named cultivars, subspecies, varieties and yet-unnamed variants. How many of these really warrant being included in the common name spearmint is open to question, but not clear-cut. Where are you from? In the last decade a number of "new" mints have come to the UK from various parts of Europe, and from Canada or the USA. Sometimes the "new" part is just the name, as we have had the plant in the UK for a long time, and maybe the import even originally came from the UK, although not being sold or listed in the current RHS Plant Finder.

(As helpful as it is the RHS Plant Finder is only a list of those commercially available plants actually notified to the RHS in the winter of the previous year.) When I started growing mints in the early 1980s there was less variety available from Herb Farms, but you could find them, and went round them all, and compared the variety of plants to names, there was many pleasant surprises. These days we have the RHS Plant Finder online, and nurseries with websites, but still unfortunately not good accompanying pictures. (This website no exception!) Plants go in and out of fashion, so maybe 200 years ago Mentha arvensis 'Banana' was growing in the UK, in a Monastery or in the wild. The plant being sold under that name in the UK now was new to me when it was introduced by Janet Elliott of Old Hall Plants, from Richters in Canada, at the time the nursery imported a lot of herbs to the UK, and then the unusual banana mint got taken up by many other UK herb growers.

Chocolate mint, Mentha x arvensis 'Chocolate' was introduced by, amongst others, Arne Herbs who got their plant from Well Sweep in the USA, but I know there were similar or identical plants in the UK, but again not actually commercially available at the time, so in this case some of the chocolate mint you will buy today will be from non-USA origin. Other mints have appeared in catalogues or the nursery benches, within a few years and it isn't possibly to find who brought it to the UK, or who noticed it in the wild or in a garden and bulked it up in such a short time. o0o Complications A large number of the different mints that you will find actually for sale are different forms of hybrids between species, e.g. Mentha x piperita f. citrata 'Chocolate', Mentha x piperita f. citrata 'Lime', Mentha x piperita piperita and Mentha x piperita 'Swiss Ricola'. But you can also get varieties of single species, e.g. Mentha arvensis, Mentha arvensis var. piperascens & Mentha arvensis var.

piperascens 'Sayakaze'. Long names, but that's the way it is. Common names can sometimes help, Mentha x piperita f. citrata 'Chocolate' is known at chocolate mint, but Mentha arvensis var. piperascens 'Sayakaze' is not Japanese mint, which is Mentha arvensis var. piperascens, but a further variant without a common name. If the cultivar name is ever used by nurseries to describe the plant I hope they also give you the long name so you know it is a cultivar name and not a common name. The reality is that the name listed by a nursery cannot be relied on completely. Common sense would indicate the larger the list of mints, the more likely the name is to be accurate, however a small nursery owner may know his plants far better than a nursery with many mints if they are only part of a vast list of plants.

The Plant Finder started and established by Chris Phillips' (originally published by The Hardy Plant Society) and eventually given to the RHS to maintain, has helped considerably and I would say that over half the nurseries in the UK have been improved by this reference work to plant names available elsewhere in the UK. But there are still nurseries out there using botanical names that were incorrectly applied before I bought my first mint plant. You will need to accept a percentage of purchases will be duplicates of what you have bought or acquired under another name. Knowledge comes with time and experience, even if it is of disappointment. o0o Naming of Plants Wild plants are given names in a specific language, a botanical form of Latin, which also includes some Greek and Latinised personal names from all countries. The naming is done by botanists and so as gardeners we gardeners just accept what they say. Sometimes a earlier description of the plant is found in a reference somewhere and then the plant appears to change it's name, and our acceptance gives way to annoyance.

But the rule is the first naming of a particular plant that has a description that conclusively identifies the plant, takes priority, even if all the world knows it by a name given by a more popular botanist, 2 years later on the other side of the world. These names should always be written in italic type, eg Mentha suaveolens, unless this is impossible, such as when written by hand, when they should be underlined, eg Mentha suaveolens. Any other words in the name but not strictly part of the name should not be in italic or not underlined, eg Mentha suaveolens var. timija or eg Mentha suaveolens var. timija. The Genus (plural Genera) name, eg Mentha, should begin with a capital letter. The species (plural species) (sometimes described as the specific epithet) names, eg suaveolens, should always begin with a small letter. Sometimes growing species vary slightly, due to isolation or situation and these differences are stable enough in the wild population for botanists to describe them as subspecies, varietas (in English, variety) or forma (in English, form), in decreasing degrees or differences.

These names are to be written the same way as the species name above, except the abbreviation of what sub-category it is given, in normal type, if known! For example, Mentha longifolia subsp. schimperi, Mentha arvensis var. piperascens & Mentha x piperita f. citrata. The last name contains an "x" which indicates a natural hybrid between two species, and this should not be in italics either. In type the specific symbol used for multiplication should be used, if this isn't available then a small letter x can be used but not in italic. (Sometimes there is an additional letter, abbreviation or full name after the species name and/or the full name. It should not be in italic and it should really be in a different font or slightly smaller. This is to identify the botanist that applied the name to the plant. In many cases this additional information is of no particular help in identification, but occasionally with mints it could be. There is an annoying amount of duplicate naming with mints because so many botanists have described the species and hybrids, before the days of mass information.

This doesn't usually intrude into the average mint collectors life, but with a larger collection and deeper study, botanist abbreviations may need to be noted. You will see this to a very limited extent in the RHS Plant Finder, notably with Mentha angustifolia. Botanist names are rarely given on plant labels.) o0o That's the easiest bit! Plants that have been specifically breed or that breed naturally but are discovered in cultivation come under a different Code for the naming of plants. The person who breed the plant, or discovered it, can name this plant, providing this has not ever been done before. They must publish in some way a description of the plant, that would enable it to be distinguished from similar forms already named. The code on naming of plants says for it to be given a valid name, it must be distinct from other forms already named. There are some limits as to what is now acceptable, such as no latinised names, a name of only three words; see the latest Code for these. However just because the owner hasn't seen this particular form before, doesn't mean it has not appeared before and quite possibly been named before!

The first name again has priority, but because of the nature of the horticultural trade an invalid name can end up being used to sell the same plant to an unsuspecting public. Communication is the best way to avoid this, and with present day technology this is easier. However the disadvantage of the masses of wonderful small nurseries we have in the UK, keeping a greater variety of plants going, is that the owners are very busy growing the plants with little time for researching every genera. Plant arising only in cultivation, or wild plants maintained solely in cultivation, are named as a Cultivar. This description came from joining the two words Cultivated variety. It should always be written in normal type and enclosed by single quotation marks, e.g. Mentha suaveolens 'Mobillei' or Mentha x smithiana 'Capel Ulo'. In the Garden Centre you may well see names written without the single quotation marks. This could easily be sloppiness or ignorance of the label makers or label writers. But it could also be that the name is a Trade Mark name, used for marketing purposes.

These plants do have a cultivar name as well and it's often there on the label somewhere, although it could (but not always) be just letters and numbers. So far I have not found any mints that come into this category. A third possibility is that this is a common name someone has mixed in with the Botanical/Horticultural name, e.g. Mentha x piperita citrata Eau de Cologne mint, or, Mentha x villosa alopecuroides Bowles' mint (as appears incorrectly in the RHS Plant Finder!). This is understandable where there appears to be no known species or cultivar name e.g. Mentha lavender mint. o0o Common names, e.g. peppermint, corn mint or water mint, are often, but not always, very old and helpful. But they are by their nature unregulated and "new" common names are often pushed by wholesalers or nurseries to help marketing irrespective of any need for it or any complications that the use of their specific idea may cause.

Recently the very well known name and plant, Bowles' mint (Mentha x villosa alopecuriodes) appeared under a "new" common name "Epicure mint". In 2099 the labels from this wholesaler went back to Bowles' mint. I notice that North American sources, even more than British sources, find it essential to give a "common name" alternative to the botanical/horticultural name. In the UK the use of the Cultivar name alone is often used - to my mind this is far more helpful, if an alternative is felt to be essential, but would be helped with the retention of the single quotation marks. But it is not without it's own problems - Japanese mint is a mint, but Korean mint and Oregan mint are not, they are Korean mint and Oregan mint! Common names should be written in normal type with a small first letter, unless it is a Place name or Person's name, e.g. spearmint, Japanese mint & Bowles' mint, or the word begins a sentence of course.

o0o The last naming variation you may see on this website, and in lists of the National Mentha Collection, in Wales, is the use of double quotation marks. I use these in conjunction with a name that is in common usage, if I have any doubt as to whether this is a valid name (under the relevant Code) - true identification of the plant may not have been validated or the name may not be valid under the International Naming Codes. It is me quoting the name from the original source, e.g. Mentha "angustifolia", Mentha "lavender" & Mentha "Welsh Green Heart Mint". It doesn't necessarily mean that it is not correct. (NB. If you then want to quote that name from my website, lists or book, remember to still use the double quotation marks! ) o0o The Codes on naming plants say that when writing only about one genus, like mint plants there is no need to write Mentha every time you write a name, if you don't want to. But if there are other genera within the book, article or website, Mentha must be written each time, unless there are no other genera starting with an "M", in which case M.

can be used after the first time when Mentha should be written in full. You will find that I always do include Mentha when writing anything to be published. It helps in web searches, but more importantly if any names are copied in isolation there is no chance of misunderstanding which Genus is meant. o0o Pronounciation A last word on how to say the names correctly. Plant naming originated and continues as a written system of identification. The botanical part is based on a language that is not used by any nation today (except maybe the Vatican City), and Botanical Latin is unique and so international. Being a "Dead" language, primarily written, but spoken by all peoples any country, it would be difficult to say what is the correct pronunciation of any word. There are recommendations in some books, and there is probably a preferred (botanical) pronunciation. Most people in the UK will say species names more or less the same way, but when it comes to the practicalities of speaking to people from other countries there will be always be differences to work around.

Common Name: Peppermint | Scientific Name: Mentha Piperita - DoctorSchar.com Common Name: Peppermint | Scientific Name: Mentha Piperita Family Name: Labiatae Introduction Though stomach abuse is currently at an all-time high, poor eating habits have been a problem throughout human history. Since day one mint as been used to improve digestion and settle an upset stomach. If poor digestion is a problem, a cup of mint tea following meals may be the answer. Resources Chapter from “Backyard Medicine Chest” by Dr. Douglas Schar Chapter from “Gardening Book” Parts Used: Leaves Remember This: Digestive Aid Reasonable Uses: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sluggish digestion, digestive insufficiency, slow digestion of the elderly and the infirmed, discomfort of over eating. History and Traditional Uses With its sharply aromatic scent and handsome, dark green leaves, peppermint’s specific stomach-soothing and gas-suppressing powers have a long history. In medieval Europe, mint jellies aided diners ingesting heavy meats at banquets. In the Arab world, mint tea is favored as an after-dinner drink.

One seventeenth-century English herbalist praised peppermint as a remedy for “nausea, retchings, and looseness.” In North America, the Cherokee took it for vomiting, colic, and gas. At the turn of the century, doctors prescribed peppermint to stop nausea and vomiting, ease stomach cramps and indigestion. Scientific Back Up Peppermint leaves carry menthol-rich volatile oils as well as tannins and bitters. Research has revealed this triad of compounds form a digestion improving cocktail that only nature could devise. Its oils sedate unhappy digestive tract nerves and reduce the shipment of nausea impulses to the brain. The tannins reduce any inflammation that might be present in the gut. The bitters increase the production of the digestive juices necessary to process food thoroughly and efficiently. In a nutshell, peppermint is a one stop shopping digestive tonic. Herbalists Use It To… Speed digestion after a pig out The problem with over eating is the body has a hard time producing enough digestive juice to process all of the food we dump into the gut. The result, food sits there forever waiting to be processed. This Improve weak digestion People who over produce digestive acid get all the attention.

Commercials on television, one after the next, selling products to the human acid factories. But what about the under achievers, the people who do not produce enough digestive juices? Are there any products for them? Herbalists would say yes, there are products for those who do not produce enough digestive juice and one such product is peppermint. Peppermint can be used by those who suffer from chronically sluggish digestion caused by poor digestive enzyme production! Treat childhood queaziness What do you do when a child feels slightly naseous? Herbalists recommend a cup of sweetened mint tea. Most children who enjoy the taste and it is often just the medicine a child needs when his or her “tummy is feeling funny”. Shopping Tips Peppermint is readily available at the grocery store tea section and health food shops. If you are unable to make tea, think about using a ncture. It is equally effective and can be carried in a brief case. Avoid products containing other herbs. Warnings • Considered very safe. • If a food upsets your stomach, stop eating it. Using peppermint to cover up the fact your stomach does not like a certain food is asking for trouble. • Bad eating ruins health.

Do not use peppermint to enable your bad eating habits. Alternatives Chapter from “Backyard Medicine Chest” by Dr. Douglas Schar Great balls of Fire in my gut Indigestion….Acid Burps……Heartburn…� �Stomach pain….. Mentha piperita Its really hard to be pleasant when your stomach feels like its got red hot coals floating around in it. Invariably when find yourself bent over in stomach pain caused by indigestion, someone calls you with a stupid question and all you want to do is scream, ” I cant talk to you now, I am dying at the moment.” Indigestion is truly a horrible thing to have and nobody likes to stay in that state for very long. Our next set of snappy figures emphasizing how much of a problem digestive upset is are truly shocking. In America people shopping for over the counter drugs spent 752 million dollars on digestives and 825 million dollars on antacids. In Britain people spent 79 million pounds on the same preparations. On the prescription side of things it’s even grimmer.

Have a gander at some of the top selling drugs prescribed for people who’s upset stomachs have gotten to the point that the over the counter no longer works. Xantac 1.89 billion dollars axid 330 million dollars carafate 160 million dollars As I said, the figures are staggering and in fact most indigestion drugs are considered to be quite hot in future prospects, each year more and more people suffer from indigestion, and purchase more drugs to resolve their acid burps. The figures continue to rise and before long the whole world will have to take pills to eat food. There is something radically wrong with this picture. In reality there are three sorts of indigestion a person can have. The first form is caused by to a digestive system doesn’t work that well. Some people simply dont digest food that well and every time they put food into their mouths they end up with indigestion. This tends to run in families. The second form is caused by over eating or accidentally eating something that disagrees with your system. Say you are on holiday and you eat a local dish and your stomach and the local cuisine get into a head on collision.

The third form is one that you cause yourself by eating foods you know full and well will upset your stomach. Not all foods agree with all people, some can eat mexican food and others cant. The amazing bit is the fact that many people continue to eat foods that are a guaranteed to give them indigestion. Lets start with indigestion that people cause themselves as this is one of my pet peeves. I know an endless list of people that knowingly eat food that upsets their stomachs. They know it upsets their stomach, every time they eat it they end up with heartburn or cramps. There is nothing wrong with their stomach, the problem is with their heads or lack thereof. They are fools, and if you eat food that you know is going to upset your stomach, you can consider yourself a candidate for admission into this club of morons. Pat yourself on the back and tell yourself you dont use the sense god gave you. Eating food that is guaranteed to give you gut rot is beyond dumb and you deserve whatever pain it causes. If you indigestion is caused by eating foods that dont “sit well” with you, you don’t need a drug, you need a brain transplant.

The second category of folks are those that just suffer from poor digestion and this tends to run in families. There are different theories as to why this happens, its likely to be an insufficient production of some sort of digestive juice responsible for breaking down the food. When the food isn’t broken down efficiently it hangs out in and around the guts a little too long and this causes indigestion. As well people that have had some surgeries like a gall bladder removal have chronic upset stomachs for the same reason, lack of the necessary digestive juices. The third category is what I call Thanksgiving syndrome. There are occasions when we over eat or eat something new and it just doesn’t sit well. In these two cases you have my sympathy and there is a great herb that will help you out with the problem. The plant will also help people that lack common sense and eat foods that always upsets their stomach. The plant we will use to treat indigestion is most unlike the medication we purchase over the counter and indeed get from prescription medicines. Antacids and stomach tranquilizers alike merely mask the problem and in fact they create new ones. When you take an antacid it neutralizes the acids found in the stomach meant to be there to digest the food.

Acid is not a bad thing in the least, its there for a reason. If you are already having a digestive disturbance the last thing you want to do is disturb the balance a little more by introducing chemicals into it that would never normally be there. Similarly with stomach tranquilizers, all you are doing is covering up the problem with drugs. The problem that caused the pain is still down in your belly, you just cant feel it. With both treatments of indigestion the reason the stomach was upset in the first place is never touched. This is great for doctors and drug companies, if they solved the problem you wouldn’t be coming back for another prescription. With mint we will depart from this symptom treating business and go on the attack to the real problems that result in indigestion. You may have noticed that almost all acid stomach preparations available over the counter are mint flavored. You may have thought this was due to the fact that mint is a nice flavor. Wrong. Mint is one of the oldest treatments for indigestion going and its inclusion to this day in pharmaceutical formulas is due to the plants ability to settle a problem stomach.

In the Lewis Materia Medica published in 1799 the following is said of Peppermint, ” For flatulent colics, languor, hysterical affections, retchings and other dyspeptic symptoms, acting as a cordial and often producing immediate relief, from its stomachic, antispasmodic and carminative qualities. It seems to act as soon as taken , and extend its effect through the whole system, instantly communicating a glowing warmth. Water extracts of the whole pungency of this herb by infusion.” You will note the plant is said to have an immediate impact on the stomach, much like a tranquilizer or antacid. The difference is that mint takes care of the problem at hand and as well works to improve the over all functioning of the stomach. It doesn’t hurt in the process of helping and in the case of chronic indigestion it will strengthen the stomach so it can digest food properly in the future. What we call mint is really any number of plants belonging to the labiatae family- all of which produce the characteristic mint scent when the leaves are crushed.

The common scent is the product of scent glands located on the leaves of the plant, some types of mint produce more oils than others and some an oil of a higher quality. The most medicinal of the mints is mentha piperita, peppermint, and when you are looking to use mint for the stomach make sure you specify that you want peppermint . The plant can be found growing on every continent on the planet, though originally native to the mediterranean region it has spread world wide due to its voracious growing habit and its ability to settle the stomach. Though stomach abuse is at an all time high, at various moments in human history poor eating habits have been a problem. The Romans, the original pleasure pigs carried mint with them where ever they colonized as the relief it offered was much needed at the end of a dinner party/orgy. The Arabians drink its tea and chop it into salads, the Asian Indians include it in chutney recipes, the British make jellies of its juice to be served along with heavy meat dishes, and the Germans, famous for their light cuisine concoct schnapps as an after dinner drink. Please note that all these cultures include mint into the diet to improve digestion and avoid indigestion.

Universally mint is used to settle the stomach a use that predates the bible. If you look at the actions peppermint has to offer you will see that it is truly the all purpose indigestion treatment. The list of ways in which it improves the functioning of the stomach is so long it could be a book in its own right. I think a ninth century monk put it best when he said the following, ” If you wish to enumerate completely all the virtues, kinds, and names of mint, you would be capable of saying how many fish swim in the Red Sea.” What more can an herbalist say. Its actions include carminative(anti-gas), anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-emetic(anti-vomiting ), nervine(sooths the nerves), anti-microbial, and last but not least analgesic, or pain killing. When you have all these actions working together the end result is an end to your misery. Chemicals contained in the plant have the ability to relax the muscles of the digestive system, upset stomach is often caused by the muscle spasms in the tract which causes discomfort and pain.

Oils contained in the plant act as a anesthetic to the lining of the stomach walls, thus deadening sensitivity to the acids present. This anaesthetic quality helps to relieve the urge to vomit, which is caused by nerves in the stomach! The anti-microbial elements will knock out bacteria if that is indeed the source of our discomfort. As we have already learned the digestive tract is wildly impacted by the nervous system as it is so cleverly hooked into it. In some cases this close association that makes us stay alive can turn around and bite us in the ass. A disturbance in our emotional life can equally disturb our digestive life. An emotional upset can fry our nerves and suddenly the stomach is over producing acid-and then we have heart burn. Chemicals contained in the plant sooth the nerves and with the nerves soothed the stomach relaxes and the pain and discomfort we feel goes away. Most importantly peppermint facilitates digestion and it does this by stimulating the secretion of bile and digestive juices. Many times indigestion is caused by food sitting in the gut for too long. The food swallowed has to be broken down into smaller bits and this is done by chemicals released by the stomach itself and related organs.

If there is insufficient production of such juices or an abnormally large intake of food, food sits in the stomach and begins to decay, which causes indigestion. A cup of mint tea will get the digestive juices flowing and digesting the food so it can move on down along the line. When you have indigestion the last thing you want to do is neutralize the stomach acids-without them the food cant be properly processed. With the plant growing in the garden you will have all the upset stomach medicine you could ever use or need right on hand. The ideal way of using the drug is in the fresh state and all one has to do is run out into the garden and grab a handful, that is as long as the plant is above ground. The plant disappears back into the ground in the winter and due to this you will need to put some mint up for winter use. The active constituents in mint are delicate and they will actually disappear if not stored properly. As such my manner of preserving the herb for winter use is as follows. Get a coffee can and keep it in the freezer. Every so often, when the mood hit, go out and cut all your mint down to the ground and take the plants to the kitchen table and sit down.

Strip the leaves off the stems and place them in the freezer in the coffee can. When you have indigestion you simply take a few teaspoons of frozen leaves out of the freezer and make some tea. As we have already established nerves can cause indigestion and if you know you are heading into a stressful situation, make you a thermos full of mint tea and start drinking before the scene starts and keep on drinking all the way through. This tip comes from my sister who always brings her antacids to visits to her in laws house. She starts half an hour before the visit starts and keeps at until she is driving home. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, Isn’t that how that goes? When it comes to indigestion and all the millions of people that suffer from it we again see the extent to which we have departed from natural living. There is nothing more natural than eating , it simply shouldn’t hurt There has been a steady rise in indigestion that corresponds to the hastening pace at which we now live, the faster we move the more indigestion we have. “The most common cause of acute gastritis are errors in diet or method of eating.

We live in an age where competition is strong and travel at a pace incompatible with health. The business man hurries through his meal, only partially masticating his food, and washing it down with large quantities of fluid. Children catch the infection , and hurry through meals in order to reach school or resume play, and this continued rush of American life is productive in a high degree of stomach disorders. ” Rollo Thomas, Md. 1920 Rollo noticed 75 years ago that life pace was taking its toll on the digestive process and things moving a lot faster as we approach the year 2,000 than they were when this physician was writing. People with chronic indigestion need to examine the pace at which they live and slow things down. They might want to try a slower lifestyle on before resorting to taking drugs to cover up faulty living. Remember a healthy digestive process mean you will live- a poorly functioning one may have serious consequences later on down the road. As in you might not live to spend all that money you are working to retire on. Getting your herb: 1. Buy it at the health food store. 2. Grow it yourself.

If you have any gardening space what so ever there is no reason not to produce your own mint. It is such a voracious grower that some people plant it in pots and then submerge the pots in the garden to keep the runners from running all over the place. If you plan to use mint for stomach problems the object is to produce as much as possible so you can harvest as much as is possible. There are hundreds of varieties of mint and because you want to use peppermint, mentha piperita, you need to purchase the plants from a reliable source, such as a mail order nursery that specializes in medicinal herbs. You can get a cutting from a friend as long as you are reasonable sure the plant you are getting is peppermint. With you cutting in hand you can plant your mint just about any where in any soil, there could be no more forgiving a plant. It will take full sun and will even grow in a shady location. When it comes to harvesting mint the oils are at their highest amounts just before the plant blooms, bear this in mind. Chapter from “Gardening Book” Mint is mostly associated in this country with the sophisticated mint julep of the old south.

Ironiclly its primary use two hundred years ago was to mask the nasty odors of public places and to repel odors. Gerard says of it ” the smelle rejoiceth the heart of man, for which casue they used to strew it in chambers and places of recreation, pleasure and repose, where feasts and banquets are made. ” many of the most common herbs were first used as strewing herbs. This class of herbs doesnt exist in todays world but it had great significance in years past. A mofor section of the herb garden was dedicated to the herbs of “strewing”. Sweet scented herbs were spred on the floor in the home, church, and court. Its really no differnt than the odour reducing sprays we see in most homes, just a little more quaint. Many things we do today on a thoughtless ceremonial basis have roots in something real. Back to the everything comes from someting. As you probaly have noticed most resturants, from big boy to family style itlian, have a bowel of mints sitting right next to the cash register. Did you ever wonder why, or where this idea comes from? Why do we serve mint jelly with lamb?

Are these things just so, or is there something more to? With all the flavors one would put in the company of lamb, would mint be one of them. Yes, id like a little toothpaste with my meat thanks. Im sure this one has kept you up at night, and atlast the question that has been killing you will be answered. Long ago people discovered that following a greasy meat dinner, mint would break up the fat, and relax a stomach put into knots by a meal that just doesnt sit well. Thus entters the mint into the history of man. I always thought people used mint to hide bad breath, which is also true. But they first appeared mostly to sooth sore stomaches and to assist in the digestion of traditonally hard to digest foods, like lamb. So that glob of green stuff at the left of the lamb is actual going to help your digestion. Mint tea, called poleo is still a after dinner favorite of the spanish. Orignally a native of the mediteranean, mint was carried to the far reaches of europe with the movement of the romans. The romans were quite fond of mint and carried it with them where ever they went.

In those days labor was cheap and the household help would rub the serving platters and plates with ground mint to give them a fresh smell and to create an apetite. Gerard says:” the smell of mint does stir up the minde adn the taste to a greedy desire of meat.” The minty dental paste is also an old usage of mint. From the 14th century forward mint was recongized as beneficail to the gums and teeth. In this century distilled mint oil was used to whiten teeth. Gargles of mint were made to treat sore gums. In time it has held its position as friend of the mouth and we still see it in toothpastes. One use that has fallen out of use is in treating chapped hands. If my hands get sore, i take several mint leaves and rub them on my hands until the leaves crumble and my hands are stained green. I leave the residue on my hands until i have to deal with the public, at which point i wash my hands. Big green hands only look good on the jolly green giant.

One other little fact ive read on numerous occasions, but having cats have never had the opoortunhity to try, it appears that mice cannot stomach mint and avoid it at all costs. People used to plant mint around crops traditonally eaten by mice and kept quantities of it in the pantry to keep mice out of the food store. Mints latin name, mentha, has its roots in legend. Menthe was a beautiful nymph much adaored by pluto. Prosperine, a female goddess had her eyes on pluto and in jealousie turned menthe into a plant. So mint was born out of the jealousie of a woman. It wasnt enough that prosperine turned her into a plant, but she turned her into a common way side plant. There is much confusion as to what mint is what. In the states we generically say mint, some say spearmint, peppermint, and usually nobody knows the differnce. The general term mint really isnt accurate, you are either growing spearmint or peppermint. The problem starts in that some spearmints look like peppermint, and vice versa.

They grow about the same , and can be used interchangeably, but lets clear this little matter up once oand for all. Spearmint tends to have jagged edged leaves and has pink blossoms. Pepper mint, in general, has rounded leaves and blooms white. As i said these are generalities. It doesnt make a big nevermind, and it seems hopelessly confused at this ppoint. I see peppermint being sold as spearmint all the time. Its interesting to note that it takes 350 pounds of mint to produce 1 pound of mint oil, thats a lot of mint for a litle oil. Pepper mint is used for oil as it is considered the most medicinally effective. The best is said to come from england , though it is cultivated in france , spain , and the united states. This oil finds its way into mints and toothpastes, and a variety of commercial uses. France is reported to fertilize her mint fields with sewage, an interesting thought one might want to forget right before using toothpaste. In the past each city had a department of rat control and an occupation was made of rat exterminating.

Peppermint was the friend of the rat catcher, they used it to stuff up the rat hole and get the rat to come out the other end running. Today the rat erradicator, the proper term have discontinued the use of pepermint in their strategy. To quote our friend gerard, who was quoting discorides, “(mint) being applied to the secret part of a woman before the act, it hindreth conception” so it would seem that cookie old mint had use above and beyond mouth and room freshening. What do you suppose” “the act” was? Mint is a great herb to grow , there are numerous uses, and it grows in such abundance, you have all the mint you could ever want. Its also one of hte easiest to get going. Its such a common plant it really doesnt pay to purchase it, just ask a friend for a cutting. Anyone that has mint in the garden has enough to share. The best time to get started on your mint operation is in the dormant monthes, late fall being the best moment. Mint seems to grow under the soil all winter spreading its suckers and planting it in the fall takes advantage of this fact.

If you want to order it from a mail order house you can specify peppermint or spearmint. They are actually quite similar in the kitchen, but peppermint is particularly good for people that suffer stomach problems, so id you have stomach aches, order some pepermint. It can be started very easily from cuttings obtained at the supermarket, in fact its one of the easiest to get started. If you want to grow a plant in a pot, mint is one that will serve you well. One added plus of mint for the gardener is that it does not mind being in a shady location. Most herbs really love the hot sun, mint being the exception to the generality. It will happily turn an unproductive corner into a veritable herb shop. Unlike its hot sun loving herb associates, mint like its soil moist and will do just fine in an area that does not drain well.they are not waterplants and don’t like sitting in water, but poor drainage wont do them any harm. Like lemon balm, this plant is a spreader and remember this. I have let my mint spread where ever its wanted to go, i use a lot of it , and the more the merrier.

The anal gardener will want to pick a spot that will be easy to control it in. It will spread all on its own. There are no real special planting instructions for mint, just take your plant, from what ever source, and stick it in the selected position. Mint seems to have taken over my compost pile, little piece of root have ended up in the pile and taken root. This is typical mint behavior. All the other weeded plants die and root nicely, not the mint. It just sets in some roots and starts life over. If you have some compost put a few shovels in with your mint start, ive found they love it. If you dont have any, dont worry about it. Like with most transplants , keep the plant well watered for the first year. This is the rooting in period and the better the mint roots in the bigger the plant will be. Disclaimer: The author makes no guarantees as to the the curative effect of any herb or tonic on this website, and no visitor should attempt to use any of the information herein provided as treatment for any illness, weakness, or disease without first consulting a physician or health care provider.

Pregnant women should always consult first with a health care professional before taking any treatment. Mentha × piperita f. citrata 'Chocolate' - Plant Finder Plant Finder Tried and Trouble-free Recommended by 13 Professionals Common Name: chocolate mint Height: 1.00 to 2.00 feet Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet Bloom Time: July to August Bloom Description: Lavender Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Suggested Use: Annual, Ground Cover, Herb, Naturalize, Rain Garden Flower: Showy Garden locations Culture Best grown in rich, moist soils in full sun to part shade. Adapts to a wide range of soils except dry ones. Large plantings may be sheared after bloom to remove flower spikes and stimulate new vegetative growth. Soil barriers may be used to restrain rhizomatous spread if plants are grown in borders or other areas where spread is unwanted. Noteworthy Characteristics Mentha × piperita is a rhizomatous, upright perennial which is most commonly grown as a culinary herb and/or ground cover. It typically grows to 2' tall and spreads by rhizomes to form an attractive ground cover.

Features rounded to lance-shaped dark green leaves (1-2" long) and terminal spikes of small lavender flowers in summer. Leaves have a minty orange fragrance and taste and may be used to flavor teas or as a garnish or in potpourris. The x piperita hybrids are crosses between Mentha aquatica (watermint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint). Forma citrata has a fragrance of citrus and is often called orange mint. Genus name comes from Minthe or Menthe, a water nymph in Greek mythology, who was transformed by Persephone into a mint plant in revenge for Minthe's ongoing affair with Hades (husband of Persephone). 'Chocolate' has a fragrance of chocolate and is often called chocolate mint. Problems No serious insect or disease problems. Can be an aggressive spreader. Garden Uses Herb gardens. Naturalize as a ground cover in moist informal areas such as pond/water garden margins or low open woodland areas. Peppermint plant - Dutch: Pepermunt Scientific name: Mentha piperita L. Mentha X piperita L. It .

The species name "piperita" comes from the Latin "piper" meaning "pepper" and refers to the particularly spicy flavor of this herb. The name of the genus "Mentha" comes from the name of the Greek nymph "Mintha", which loved Pluto. Proserpina, Pluto lover, became jealous and turned on the plant which bears his name. Family. Labiatae Habitat: It is a hybrid between Mentha aquatica and Mentha spicata. Only known as a cultivated plant in orchards or gardens, but sometimes it escapes into the fields and grows wild in deep soil, rich in humus and quite humid. It can be easily found all over the world, preferring temperate climates to hot or cold. In Europe, although missing in Scandinavia, is quite abundant, especially the variant Mentha x pipertita var. rubescens. Description of peppermint Perennial herb of the Labiatae family up to 90 cm. Stems erect, quadrangular, with reddish tones, especially in the variant Mentha x pipertita var. rubescens; lighter in Mentha x piperita var. palescens.

Fairly narrow and elongated leaves , petiolated, ovate or lanceolate, glabrous or slightly pubescent, acute, toothed, patent venation on the underside, shining through the beam. Flowers purple or reddish purple stamens inserted in the calyx. Inflorescences in spikes as long as wide, with quite separate whorls. Chalices tubular, glabrous except in the teeth. Fruits in achene . It blooms from mid to late summer. History of peppermint Peppermint is a plant of European origin. This plant has always had a high regard in the European tradition among the Greeks and Romans. The Greeks scented home with peppermint flavor and water. It was also used in baths to strengthen and perfume their body. . In the Middle Ages, mint was considered a kind magic that was used in potions. The origin of this plant has been attributed to England, which is not true at all because it is known that it existed and was used in ancient times. Probably the first specimens from the breeding of wild species of Mentha spicata and Mentha aquatica were produced spontaneously or causally.

The English have to be attributed with improving this species because, in their gardens , the plants were able to produce more refined and appreciated aromas. Today the best quality peppermint it is still considered to be that one produced by the English people. A drawing of peppermint( Mentha piperita) From the British Isles it was exported to America where the U.S. became the world's largest producer. In Europe the main producers are France ( in Provence there are the biggest fields) , Germany and Italy.

Components of peppermint - Acids: Acetic, ascorbic, isovaleric, rosmarinic (plant) benzoic, citronellic, geranic, isobutyric (leaves) caffeic, chlorogenic , p-coumaric (shoots) - Terpenes: pinene, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpinene, beta-pinene, camphene, cineol (6%), phellandrene, gamma-terpinene, limonene, linalol, menthol, neomenthol, neomentone, myrcene, pulegone, terpinolene (leaves) alpha-cadinene, alpha-copaene, alpha-terpineol, beta-thujone, bisabolene, cadinene, citronellol, dipentene, menthol (45%), menthofuran (7%) ocimene, pulegone, sabinene, thymol (essential oil) menthone (Plant) Peppermint Oil | NCCIH Peppermint Oil This fact sheet provides basic information about peppermint and peppermint oil—common names, usefulness and safety, and resources for more information.

Common Names: peppermint, peppermint oil Latin Name: Mentha x piperita Background The herb peppermint, a natural cross between two types of mint (water mint and spearmint), grows throughout Europe and North America. Both peppermint leaves and the essential oil from peppermint have been used for health purposes. (Essential oils are very concentrated oils containing substances that give a plant its characteristic odor or flavor.) Peppermint is a common flavoring agent in foods, and peppermint oil is used to create a pleasant fragrance in soaps and cosmetics. Mint has been used for health purposes for several thousand years. It is mentioned in records from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. However, peppermint was not recognized as a distinct kind of mint until the 1700s. Today, peppermint is used as a dietary supplement for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), other digestive problems, the common cold, headaches, and other conditions. Peppermint oil is also used topically (applied to the skin) for headache, muscle aches, itching, and other problems. Peppermint leaf is available in teas, capsules, and as a liquid extract.

Peppermint oil is available as liquid solutions and in capsules, including enteric-coated capsules. How Much Do We Know? A small amount of research has been conducted on peppermint oil, primarily focusing on IBS. Very little research has been done on peppermint leaf. What Have We Learned? Peppermint oil has been studied most extensively for IBS. Results from several studies indicate that peppermint oil in enteric-coated capsules may improve IBS symptoms. A few studies have indicated that peppermint oil, in combination with caraway oil, may help relieve indigestion, but this evidence is preliminary and the product that was tested is not available in the United States. Peppermint oil has been used topically for tension headaches and a limited amount of evidence suggests that it might be helpful for this purpose. There’s not enough evidence to allow any conclusions to be reached about whether peppermint oil is helpful for nausea, the common cold, or other conditions. There’s not enough evidence to show whether peppermint leaf is helpful for any condition. What Do We Know About Safety? Peppermint oil appears to be safe when taken orally (by mouth) in the doses commonly used. Excessive doses of peppermint oil can be toxic.

Possible side effects of peppermint oil include allergic reactions and heartburn. Capsules containing peppermint oil are often enteric-coated to reduce the likelihood of heartburn. If enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules are taken at the same time as antacids, the coating can break down too quickly. Like other essential oils, peppermint oil is highly concentrated. When the undiluted essential oil is used for health purposes, only a few drops are used. Side effects of applying peppermint oil to the skin can include skin rashes and irritation. Peppermint oil should not be applied to the face or chest of infants or young children because serious side effects may occur if they inhale the menthol in the oil. No harmful effects of peppermint leaf tea have been reported. However, the long-term safety of consuming large amounts of peppermint leaf is unknown. Keep in Mind Tell all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care. For More Information Peppermint. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs.

Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:297-303. Peppermint. Natural Medicines Web site. Accessed at naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com on April 20, 2015. [Database subscription]. Ruepert L, Quartero AO, de Wit NJ, et al. Bulking agents, antispasmodics and antidepressants for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2011;(8):CD003460 [edited 2013]. Accessed at on April 20, 2015. This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged. NCCIH has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCIH. NCCIH Publication No.:

Question: What is the common name for the herb Mentha piperita?
Answer: PEPPERMINT