Pepper mint

Summary

Medicinal plant with digestive and aromatic properties, it can be used mainly in infusion.

names

Name in Portuguese: mint peppermint
Latin name: Mentha x piperita
Note: the term x refers to a hybridization, in fact peppermint comes from 2 species of mint: water mint ( Mentha aquatic a) and mint ( Mentha spicata ). The term Mentha comes from the Greek Minthe (a nymph), piperita means pepper as a reference to the power of this species of mint.
French name: Menthe poivrée , menthe
English name: Mint
German name: Pfefferminze
Italian name: Menta

Family

Lamiaceae (Lamiáceas)

Constituents

– Essential oil (menthol, is the main active principle of peppermint essential oil, methyl acetate and menthone are also found), tannins, flavonoids, bitter principles, triterpenes.

parts used

Dry leaves (dry aerial parts)

Effects

Spasmolytic (against spasms), antiflatulent, cholagogue (helps the liver), aromatic, digestive, carminative (helps digestion), analgesic.

Indications

Internal use (tea, capsule, decoction)
Colitis/ digestive spasms and colic (spasm, including constipation, read more below in Observations), bad breath , sore throat , pain in the gastrointestinal tract, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, muscle aches, gas accumulation (flatulence) , cough , cold , travel sickness (in the form of mint alcohol, folk medicine).

External use (tincture, essential oil)
Neuralgia, muscle pain,  sinusitis (e.g. in compress), headache (e.g. in compress)

Secundary effects

Never apply peppermint essential oil or a derivative to the face of an infant or child under 5 years old, as this essential oil can cause spasms that inhibit breathing.1 .
Read the contraindications below.

Contraindications

In external use, peppermint essential oil is contraindicated for children under 5 years of age, due to the risk for the respiratory system (possible provocation of spasms). Peppermint should be avoided in cases of gastroesophageal reflux or in cases of hiatal hernia, as this variety of mint can worsen these 2 diseases.

Interactions

We don’t know.

Mint-based preparations

– Peppermint tea (mint infusion)

– Essential oil . Essential oil generally contraindicated for young children.

– Candies, gum (against bad breath )

– Peppermint capsules

– Peppermint tincture

– Mint alcohol (against travel sickness, put a few drops in a glass of water or a little sugar)

– Menthol talc (as noted by Swiss pharmacist Claude Roggen in his 2018 book, see references below, to use menthol talc during itching, apply especially to chickenpox or measles pimples).

Where does peppermint grow?

It grows in Europe, North America and Asia.
As with all mint species, this plant is easy to grow.
However, as peppermint is an invasive species, pot cultivation is preferable. Peppermint reaches a height of between 30 and 90 cm. The plant is perennial, that is, it can live for several years.

When to Harvest Peppermint?

Mint is usually harvested in summer (before flowering).

Plant it yourself!

Mint is an invasive plant that must be contained. A good solution is to plant a mint plant in a 30 cm diameter pot, then bury the pot ¾ in the ground and the plant will be confined in this environment. In a vase, on a terrace or balcony, never plant another species in the company of mint, because it will suffocate them in a few weeks.

Comments

– This pleasant-tasting plant is widely used all over the world, and can be very useful against certain everyday ailments, such as digestion problems and bad breath (it can be administered in the form of tablets or chewing gum). It is also widely used in various dental, food and cosmetic products, as it has a universal appeal that allows it to accompany or mask numerous chemical products. It is found especially in bubble gum or chocolates.

– Mint is on the list of medicines offered by the SUS (Unified Health System) in Brazil. The list had 810 items (drugs, vaccines, herbal remedies) as of March 2012.

– Chewing a fresh mint leaf after a meal is a good idea, both to promote good digestion and to prevent bad breath .

– Peppermint ( Mentha x piperita ) is a mixture (hybrid) of water mint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint. It appeared in English gardens in the 17th century.

– It is estimated that there are more than 600 varieties of mint. In Europe, it is estimated that there are about twenty species of mint. Peppermint is the most used species in phytotherapy.

During muscle spasms, for example in case of constipation
The essential oil (oe) of peppermint ( Mentha x piperita ) taken in capsule form (200mg oe of peppermint) 15 to 30 minutes before a meal, helps to prevent muscle spasms in the gastrointestinal tract. Peppermint does not act directly against constipation, but it does help reduce associated symptoms such as abdominal pain. Choose capsules with gastric protection, to prevent the contents of the capsule from being released into the stomach and causing heartburn .

Jeanne Kenney
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I’m a stylist trainer, a content creator, and an entrepreneur passion. Virgo sign and Pisces ascendant, I move easily between my dreams, the crazy world I want, and my feet on the ground to carry out my projects.

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