Health Benefits Of "Medicinal Mint"
Health Benefits Of "Medicinal Mint”
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| Genus: Mentha Species: M. longifolia Also known as: Hundreds of different kinds of mints Parts used: Leaves, flower tops |
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| Now Foods Peppermint Oil - 1 Fluid Ounces Liquid |
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| Nature's Way Peppermint Leaves 400 MG - 100 Capsules |
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| Alvita Peppermint Leaf (Caffeine Free) - 30 Bag(S) |
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| Now's Spearmint Oil 1oz |
During the middle ages powdered mint leaves were used to whiten teeth. Medicinal mint tea also aids in digestion and is a strong diuretic.
Contemporary herbalist recommend that medicinal mint be used externally for itching and inflammation, and internally as a digestive aid and treatment for menstrual cramps, motion sickness, morning sickness, colds, cough, flu, congestion, headache, heartburn, fever and insomnia. Herbalist also recommend these herbs for relaxing herbal baths.
Peppermint and spearmint are both used in herbal healing and have similar effects. Although peppermint is the tastier and more potent, spearmint was the original medicinal mint.
Chemist distilled menthol from peppermint oil in the early 1880’s. Both spearmint and peppermint owe their value in healing to their aromatic oils. Peppermint oil is mostly menthol, spearmint oil contains a similar chemical carvone. Although these chemicals are similar, herbalist of age believe menthol is the more potent.
There are about 25 species of medicinal mint plants. They are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial, rarely an annual herb. The medicinal mint family’s characteristics are square stems with wrinkled, serrated, two inch leaves and flower spikes with whorls of small, pink, white, or lilac flowerers that bloom in summer.
Any piece of medicinal mint root with a joint or node can produce a plant. Contain your medicinal mint bed in rich, moist, well drained soil under full sun or partial shade. It makes a perfect container plant. Growing herbs indoors is no more difficult than growing them in the garden and adds refreshing flavor to many recipes.
Frequent cutting encourages bushiness. Medicinal mint leaves maybe harvested as they mature. Cut the entire plant within a few inches of the ground when the first flowers appear. Most species of medicinal mint become woody after a few years, just dig them out and replace them with new root cuttings.
SUGGESTIONS:
Other herbs containing carminative actions include alfalfa, angelica, balm, basil, chamomile, cinnamon, comfrey, dandelion, fennel, meadowsweet, passion flower, rosemary, and thyme.
