Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Peppermint is one of the most widely used and cultivated herbs around the world. Peppermint contains volatile oils and flavonoids which have anti-inflammatory actions, anti-microbial properties, and mild anti-depressant actions, amongst a few others. Lets see how the science holds up and how we can incorporate mint into our wellness.
Where science meets wellness
Contains Nutrients: We can find Vitamin A, Iron, Manganese and even Folate in Mint
Potent source of Antioxidants: Helps to protect your body from damage caused by free radicals
Use in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): The volatile oils in peppermint block calcium channels in intestinal smooth muscle cells, proving an antispasmodic effect —peppermint oil capsules and improve symptoms of IBS
May help your upset stomach: when food sits in your stomach for too long, you may have an upset stomach or indigestion - a number of studies have show that peppermint oil taken with foods could relieve this type of indigestion - considering drinking a peppermint tea after your meal
Consider for Tension Headaches: If you are looking for alternative to taking an acetaminophen consider a 10% peppermint essential oil - one study found that there was no difference in efficacy between 1,000 mg of acetaminophen versus a topical application of 10% peppermint oil - additionally there were no reported adverse events
Improves Brain Function - some studies have found that smelling peppermint oils increases alertness, decreases frustration, anxiety and fatigue and may also improve memory - more research is still needed in this field
May decrease pain from Breastfeeding - one study found that applying peppermint water after breastfeed was effective in preventing nipple and areolar cracks and resulted in less nipple pain. Another study shows that both pain and severity of nipple cracks decreased with application of a menthol essential oil.
May address Bad Breath - chewing on mint leaves or drinking peppermint tea can address bad breath as peppermint antibacterial effects that kill bacteria.
Burnout Relief - one small randomized study showed a reduction in feelings of burnout and mental exhaustion with use of peppermint aromatherapy in a personal inhaler.
Mint Tea Recipe
2 cups boiling filtered water
20 firmly packed fresh mint leaves
1 bag black or green tea
2 heat proof drinking glasses
Place boiled water in heat proof glass with tea bag and let seep for 4 minutes. Place firmly packed mint leaves into second glass. After seeping is complete, pour shaped tea over the mint leaves. Slowly drink and while also enjoying the aroma of the fresh mint.
Mint Chutney Recipe
2 cups packed fresh mint leaves
1 clove garlic
1 piece of ginger (2 inches)
2 teaspoons of sugar
1 green chili
1 small red onion
1 small tomato
1/2 fresh lemon
Chop the onion, chili and tomato into small pieces. In a food processor add all ingredients and blend to a thick paste like consistency (if needed add a little water to thin out). Enjoy on overtop vegetables or a condiment over freshly baked bread.
“The scope of herbal medicine ranges from mild-acting plant medicines such as chamomile and peppermint, to very potent ones such as foxglove (from which the drug digitalis is derived). In between these two poles lies a wide spectrum of plant medicine with significant medical applications. One need only go to the United States Pharacopoeia to see the central role that plant medicine has played in American medicine.”
References:
McKay DL, Blumberg JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.). Phytother Res 20(8):619-33 Aug, 2006
Hawthorn M, Ferrante J, Luchowski E, Rutledge A, Wei XY, Triggle DJ. The actions of peppermint oil and menthol on calcium channel dependent processes in intestinal, neuronal and cardiac preparations. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2(2):101-18 Apr, 1988.
Cash BD, Epstein MS, Shah SM. A Novel Delivery System of Peppermint Oil Is an Effective Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms. Dig. Dis. Sci. 61(2):560-71 Feb, 2016.
Inamori M1, Akiyama T, Akimoto K, Fujita K, Takahashi H, Yoneda M, Abe Y, Kubota K, Saito S, Ueno N, Nakajima A. Early effects of peppermint oil on gastric emptying: a crossover study using a continuous real-time 13C breath test (BreathID system). J Gastroenterol. 2007 Jul;42(7):539-42. Epub 2007 Jul 25.
Göbel H, Fresenius J, Heinze A, Dworschak M, Soyka D. [Effectiveness of Oleum menthae piperitae and paracetamol in therapy of headache of the tension type]. Nervenarzt 67(8):672-81 Aug, 1996
Moss M1, Hewitt S, Moss L, Wesnes K. Modulation of cognitive performance and mood by aromas of peppermint and ylang-ylang. Int J Neurosci. 2008 Jan;118(1):59-77.
Raudenbush B, Grayhem R, Sears T, Et Al. Effects of Peppermint and Cinnamon Odor Administration on Simulated Driving Alertness, Mood and Workload. N Am J Psychol. 2009;11(2):245-256.
Sayyah Melli M1, Rashidi MR, Delazar A, Madarek E, Kargar Maher MH, Ghasemzadeh A, Sadaghat K, Tahmasebi Z. Effect of peppermint water on prevention of nipple cracks in lactating primiparous women: a randomized controlled trial. Int Breastfeed J. 2007 Apr 19;2:7.
Sedigheh Amir Ali Akbari, Seideh Hanieh Alamolhoda, Alireza Akbarzadeh Baghban,1 and Parvaneh Mirabi2. Effects of menthol essence and breast milk on the improvement of nipple fissures in breastfeeding women. J Res Med Sci. 2014 Jul; 19(7): 629–633.
McKay DL1, Blumberg JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.). Phytother Res. 2006 Aug;20(8):619-33.
Varney E, Buckle J. Effect of inhaled essential oils on mental exhaustion and moderate burnout: a small pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 19(1):69-71 Jan, 2013
Medical Disclaimer
The information on this article is for personal educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified health care professional about any condition or treatment.