Peppermint — also known as green mint or holy grass — is a plant regularly used to prepare some dishes, mainly to flavor them. It is one of the most used plants in phytotherapy and in cocktails and drinks. Today we teach you the medicinal properties of mint that you should know.
It is known that one of its most important active ingredients is menthol. It also has an essential concentration of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes, responsible for mint’s health benefits. Let’s see how to use it as an infusion or through its essential oil.
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Seven medicinal properties of mint
Peppermint is a very easily accessible plant. Its price is generally affordable, so it is a practical option when taking advantage of its health benefits. We leave you with seven medicinal properties of mint.
1. It helps treat gastrointestinal conditions
Peppermint oil has positively affected esophageal, gastric, small intestinal, gallbladder, and colonic physiology. Among many other things, it has been used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with safe and effective results, and evidence indicates that it is a safe therapy for dyspepsia.
2. It can improve episodes of bad breath
Various studies and research have found that chewing or gargling with mint effectively controls and even eliminates bad breath. Not only is its strong odor blocking that of halitosis, but its antimicrobial properties inhibit the bacterial population that is often responsible for this condition.
3. It can relieve menstrual cramps
Menstrual cramps are a common symptom many women have to deal with monthly. There is evidence that both aromatherapy and focal massage may help address the symptoms of dysmenorrhea, including menstrual cramps. Its effect is such that some experts recommend mint instead of drugs for mild and moderate cases.
4. It can soothe headaches and migraines
Indeed you have been able to corroborate on more than one occasion the soothing effect of a mint infusion. It has been used to treat tension headaches with great effectiveness, and recent systematic reviews indicate that it is also helpful in treating migraine episodes. Given that the latter can negatively alter the quality of life and often presents resistance to treatment, it is an option to consider.
5. It is helpful to address cough and cold episodes
Experts point out that peppermint oil can counteract some cough and cold symptoms. For example, it can improve airway congestion and irritation. Its oil cannot be used in children under six because the risks outweigh the benefits. You can also take advantage of this benefit through an infusion.
6. Improves the quality of night sleep
Peppermint has improved night’s rest in patients with chronic diseases. It has also been tested on healthy subjects, so you can take advantage of it if you suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia. The mint oil and its infusion will work for you in this case.
7. It can help you with your cognitive functions
There is evidence that peppermint oil can improve performance on cognitively demanding tasks while reducing the mental fatigue associated with these activities. It is thus helpful in contexts where memory and attention are essential, such as in the study.
Preparation of the mint infusion
The preparation of the mint infusion is quite simple. It should be considered that the leaves that will be used have to be tender. This is because the most tender leaves have a more significant amount of menthol.
Subsequently, half a liter of water is boiled. Separately, a few buds or leaves of mint are left in a jar. When the water is boiling, we add it to the pot containing the leaves and cover it for about twenty minutes. After this, we pass it through a filter and have a cup to take advantage of its benefits.
Peppermint: a plant with many medicinal properties
As it is possible to observe, there are many benefits that we can obtain from mint. It is an easily accessible herb whose impact on health goes far beyond relieving stomach discomfort.
We must be interested in discovering all the great benefits of medicinal plants. Also, it is good to know that plants have no side effects problems if used under the indicated recommendations and without exceeding their consumption.