Benefits of Mint plant

Known from antiquity, mint is a herb with curative properties. It is also used in the specific Arabian cuisine as a spice.

Description of Mint plant

Perennial herb, that spreads itself quickly, mint (Mentha piperita, Mentha spicata) has small violet or purple-white flowers that bloom all over its growing period. Depending on the type, the herb can grow up to 60 or 90cm tall. A particularity of this herb is represented by the "orange mint" that spreads a subtle orange perfume.

Mint can be cultivated in any area with a temperate-continental climate. It can multiply by dividing its roots and can be planted anytime during its growing period. It tolerates sandy soil but needs to be planted in a sunny place. It needs high quantities of water, especially if the soil is argillaceous.

mint plant

Properties and benefits of Mint

Because of its active compounds contained, mint has sedative, disinfectant and cicatrizing properties. It can be successfully used in gastro-intestinal disorders; it helps the liver and calms indigestion. It contains menthol, menthone, menthofuran, a-pinene, limonene, cardinene, acetic aldehide, isovaleriana, vitamin C and antibiotic substances.

Treatments

Because of its menthol, mint has a very good action over the digestive system, causing a small anesthesia of the gastric mucous membrane. It also stimulates digestion.

Mint can treat diarrhea, gastric fever or toxic infections. It stimulates the biliary secretion and helps the digestion of fats.

mint

It is recommended in cases of asthma, bronchitis and the flu because of its antispasmodic and sedative properties. Sinusitis can be treated with mint also, because menthol is a vasodilatator of the nasal mucous membrane. It can be used as an inhalation in small amounts as well as for chest massages.

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. Mint is recommended for the treatment of rheumatism, for disinfection of the oral pocket and in cases of ear inflammation. Due to the fact that it has an antibacterial action it can cure acne and blackheads.

Mixtures

Mint can be used to make tea, mouth rinse or mint oil.

Mint tea

To make tea, you must boil one mint spoon of leaves in 200ml of water. The tea must be drunk cold, three times a day.

Mouth rinse is made out of 5g of mint oil dissolved in 95g of concentrate alcohol. This drink is refreshing, antiseptic and it can remove the unwanted smell or taste. Mint oil mixed with hot water is used to treat the flu, laryngitis and hoarseness. The product obtained from 5g of mint oil and 95g of alcohol can be used to treat rheumatic pains and itches.

mint herb

Rheumatism can be treated also with mint baths, obtained by boiling 200g of leaves in 3 liters of water and mixing the result with water at 37 degrees Celsius.

Mint is also used as spice in the Arab cuisine. For example, a Lebanese recipe - lebneh (mint yoghurt) - is prepared by adding 2 or 3 green hashed mint leaves, 2 pieces of garlic and lemon juice in a cup of yoghurt. Mint leaves can be used also in summer drinks. Boiled vegetables will look better if they are decorated with mint leaves.

Caution

There are a few cautions regarding the use of mint oil: it is not recommended to use mint oil during pregnancy and lactation or to apply it on babies' skin. For external use, the mint oil must be diluted, no more then 30 drops of oil should be used in a skin cream.

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