What is Peppermint ?
Scientific Name: Mentha piperita
Peppermint is used for adding flavor or fragrance to several foods, cosmetics, soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other products - it is also popular for medicinal purposes.
Peppermint leaves can be used dried or fresh in teas.
Peppermint is popular as a traditional or folk remedy for several conditions and illnesses because of its calming effects, including flatulence, menstrual pains, diarrhea, nausea, depression-related anxiety, muscle and nerve pain, the common cold, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Peppermint is used for adding flavor or fragrance to several foods, cosmetics, soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other products - it is also popular for medicinal purposes.
Peppermint leaves can be used dried or fresh in teas.
Peppermint is popular as a traditional or folk remedy for several conditions and illnesses because of its calming effects, including flatulence, menstrual pains, diarrhea, nausea, depression-related anxiety, muscle and nerve pain, the common cold, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Health Benefits :
Peppermint for irritable bowel syndrome:
A growing number of scientific studies have demonstrated that peppermint, in various forms, can help treat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including:
Nausea & Headache: Again, the strong and refreshing aroma of mint is an excellent and quick remedy for nausea. Whenever you feel it, just smell the oil of mint or crushed fresh mint leaves or use any product with mint flavor, whichever is available near you, and it will be gone. In fact, many people keep mentha oil or mint flavored products with them to avoid nausea, particularly when they are traveling. Balms based on mint or simply mint oil, when rubbed on forehead and nose, gives quick relief in headache.
Respiratory Disorders, Cough etc.: The strong aroma of mint is very effective in opening up congestion of nose, throat, bronchi and lungs, giving relief in respiratory disorders resulting from asthma, cold etc. As it cools and soothes throat, nose and other respiratory channels, it gives relief in cough too. Many balms are based on this property of mint. It is recommended in cases of asthma, bronchitis and the flu because of its antispasmodic and sedative properties.
Anti-bacteria and fungus: Inhibits the growth of many different types of bacteria and fungus.
Asthma: It is recommended in cases of asthma, bronchitis and the flu because of its antispasmodic and sedative properties, and is a good relaxant and gives relief in congestion, due to its anti-fungal effects.
Skin Care, pimples etc.: While mint oil is a good anti septic and anti pruritic, mint juice is an excellent skin cleanser. It soothes skin, cures infections, itching etc., and is also good for pimples/acne. Its anti pruritic properties can be used for treating bites of insects like mosquitoes, honey-bees, hornets, wasps, gnats and more. Just take a single leaf, crush it a bit between your fingers and rub on the affected area, for almost instant relief.
Female Sterility: Now, there is a mixed opinion about this. Some say that prolonged use of menthol may cause sterility and induce inability to conceive, by interfering with the production of ova and also killing these gametes, because of its germicidal and insecticidal properties. It is also heard that men who smoke menthol cigarettes are more likely to suffer from impotency than those who smoke normal cigarettes. It is not certain whether it is due the tobacco alone or mint has anything do with it. But menthol certainly has insecticidal properties. While another group suggests that mint may be used to treat sterility in females.
Oral Care: This is a well known property of mint. Being a germicidal and breathe freshener, it takes care of oral health by inhibiting harmful bacterial growth inside mouth and by cleaning tongue and whitening teeth.
Cancer: Current researches show that certain enzymes present in mint may help cure cancer, as it acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting the body against the formation of cancerous cells.
Mental fatigue: stress, depressive states and headaches can be ameliorated if mint oil is applied over the temples and backhead. Mint oil is a powerful stimulant and tonic.
Other Benefits: Drinks and food-stuffs containing mint cools you off in summer. It is a good relaxant. One more peculiar property which is very much in contrary to its cooling and soothing effects is that it induces sweating if consumed in fever, thereby curing it. Mint juice can be applied on burns to heal and soothe them. It is also beneficial in rheumatism. It is also said to improve activity of the brain, although there are no sufficient proofs.
A growing number of scientific studies have demonstrated that peppermint, in various forms, can help treat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including:
- pain
- bloating
- diarrhea
- gas
Nausea & Headache: Again, the strong and refreshing aroma of mint is an excellent and quick remedy for nausea. Whenever you feel it, just smell the oil of mint or crushed fresh mint leaves or use any product with mint flavor, whichever is available near you, and it will be gone. In fact, many people keep mentha oil or mint flavored products with them to avoid nausea, particularly when they are traveling. Balms based on mint or simply mint oil, when rubbed on forehead and nose, gives quick relief in headache.
Respiratory Disorders, Cough etc.: The strong aroma of mint is very effective in opening up congestion of nose, throat, bronchi and lungs, giving relief in respiratory disorders resulting from asthma, cold etc. As it cools and soothes throat, nose and other respiratory channels, it gives relief in cough too. Many balms are based on this property of mint. It is recommended in cases of asthma, bronchitis and the flu because of its antispasmodic and sedative properties.
Anti-bacteria and fungus: Inhibits the growth of many different types of bacteria and fungus.
Asthma: It is recommended in cases of asthma, bronchitis and the flu because of its antispasmodic and sedative properties, and is a good relaxant and gives relief in congestion, due to its anti-fungal effects.
Skin Care, pimples etc.: While mint oil is a good anti septic and anti pruritic, mint juice is an excellent skin cleanser. It soothes skin, cures infections, itching etc., and is also good for pimples/acne. Its anti pruritic properties can be used for treating bites of insects like mosquitoes, honey-bees, hornets, wasps, gnats and more. Just take a single leaf, crush it a bit between your fingers and rub on the affected area, for almost instant relief.
Female Sterility: Now, there is a mixed opinion about this. Some say that prolonged use of menthol may cause sterility and induce inability to conceive, by interfering with the production of ova and also killing these gametes, because of its germicidal and insecticidal properties. It is also heard that men who smoke menthol cigarettes are more likely to suffer from impotency than those who smoke normal cigarettes. It is not certain whether it is due the tobacco alone or mint has anything do with it. But menthol certainly has insecticidal properties. While another group suggests that mint may be used to treat sterility in females.
Oral Care: This is a well known property of mint. Being a germicidal and breathe freshener, it takes care of oral health by inhibiting harmful bacterial growth inside mouth and by cleaning tongue and whitening teeth.
Cancer: Current researches show that certain enzymes present in mint may help cure cancer, as it acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting the body against the formation of cancerous cells.
Mental fatigue: stress, depressive states and headaches can be ameliorated if mint oil is applied over the temples and backhead. Mint oil is a powerful stimulant and tonic.
Other Benefits: Drinks and food-stuffs containing mint cools you off in summer. It is a good relaxant. One more peculiar property which is very much in contrary to its cooling and soothing effects is that it induces sweating if consumed in fever, thereby curing it. Mint juice can be applied on burns to heal and soothe them. It is also beneficial in rheumatism. It is also said to improve activity of the brain, although there are no sufficient proofs.