Since ancient times, people have been using herbs in their diet, treating diseases with them, and fields, meadows, forest edges and roadsides delight them with their lush aromas. One of the most popular and significant herbs is peppermint. Its properties and contraindications have been known for many centuries. However, not all varieties have medicinal properties and are suitable for consumption. Of all the species, peppermint stands out. It is she who is famous for her bright, enchanting aroma.
Peppermint aroma, in turn, is used in aromatherapy due to the properties that the herb has that provide physical and mental relaxation. There is also the possibility that the mint leaves are immersed in warm water in the bath, which helps relieve stress from day to day. Peppermint oil is used in several medications to treat depression and headaches.
Knowing the advantages of the mint
The mint benefits seen earlier are just part of the wide range that this herb brings to those who use its properties. The benefits of mint not only promote the health of our body but also help maintain good shape. The plant is known, for example, as a natural agent that purifies the blood, helping the body eliminate toxins, in addition to being a diuretic.
What is it, mint?
There is probably no person who does not know the aroma of this plant. We buy mint chewing gum and toothpastes, elixirs, candies, and often their smell is our favorite mint. Medicinal properties and its contraindications have been studied for a long time. Our distant ancestors used mint to overcome various ailments. Even the ancient Romans used it. The Arabs grew mint in their gardens, the Chinese dedicated treatises to it, and the Greeks washed their hands with it and freshened their faces. In the Middle Ages, mint with milk and wine was used to treat various diseases, including headaches.
Benefits of Mint for Digestion
The fact that mint is refreshing makes it used in the production of various oral hygiene products. It fights germs and bacteria present in the mouth, eliminating bad smell from the mouth and also protects gums and teeth. Mint makes a significant contribution to improving the digestive process, which helps strengthen our digestive organs, allowing for more efficient and healthy digestion. The result of this is to reduce stomach discomfort, prevent inflammation and prevent illness caused by them.
Today this plant is used as remedy and in for cosmetic purposes. The aromatic herb is grown on farms and supplied to pharmacology. What is the secret that mint contains? The medicinal properties and contraindications, features of the preparation and use of the plant are revealed in this article.
Description
This plant is perennial, from twenty-five to sixty-five centimeters in height, has a branched rhizome and thin roots. The flowers are whitish-pink, light purple or reddish-pink. They are located on the tips of the shoots in the form of oblique inflorescences. The plant blooms throughout the summer. The stem, like the whole plant, is smooth. Mint leaves have an ovoid shape with a heart-shaped base and sharp serrated edges. Beneficial features are mainly found in them and flowers, although sometimes other parts of it are also used. Mint is bred specifically in gardens and vegetable gardens or grows wild in the fields. It exudes a strong and very pleasant refreshing scent.
This is because mint is full of phytonutrients and antioxidants in its composition, in addition to its taste, it activates the action of the salivary glands, which causes the stomach muscles to relax, relieving the digestive tracts. Mint also reduces intestinal problems and reduces flatulence and acidity in the body.
Feeling the benefits of the skin
The recommended intake of mint is one cup after each meal. As seen earlier, mint is an herb whose medicinal properties are widely used in various treatments, including for the skin. The plant has properties that are anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic and can be applied to areas of the skin that experience itching.
Compound
This aroma is a consequence of the content of a whole set of essential oils and menthol that mint has. The medicinal properties and contraindications can be understood by studying the composition of the plant, which includes a large number of useful vitamins, substances and microelements, namely:
The properties present in mint such as antioxidants and rosmarinic acid have a significant impact on removing and clearing dead skin, fighting free radicals and even protecting our skin from the development of cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of the herb also reduce the appearance of blackheads and pimples.
Medicinal properties of mint and contraindications for women
Because mint has a aroma that brings relief, many products, such as scented soaps and perfumes, are made with the herb, helping a person relax and sleep better. Just by smelling the mint leaves, we have already awakened the brain, a process that reduces feelings of fatigue, sadness and anxiety.
- vitamins - C, B1, PP, A, B5, B9, B2, B6;
- microelements - phosphorus, manganese, iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium;
- amino acids such as betaine and arginine;
- fatty acid;
- organic acids, including chlorogenic, ursulic, oleonolic, ascorbic, acetic, caffeic and valeric;
- piperitonin pinene;
- essential oils;
- menthofuran;
- from flavodinodes - hesperidin;
- from tannins - rutin;
- phytosterols and phytosterols;
- saponins;
- alimentary fiber;
- resins;
- alcohols;
- Terpenes: citral, geraniol, limonene, terpinene, carvacrol.
It consists of seventy-eight percent water and two and a half percent essential oils.
Benefits of Mint for Reducing Nausea and Headaches
You can sleep with the leaves of the plant under your pillow or buy peppermint oils, which when applied to the body or even the pillow provide pleasant hours of sleep. Consuming mint leaves reduces nausea and headaches, even reducing the effects of nausea in those suffering from travel or pregnancy. Several products made using the plant, such as tablets, help reduce nausea.
Fighting respiratory diseases
Mint can also be rubbed on the forehead, helping to reduce various inflammations and even headaches, providing a calming effect for the individual. Among the many benefits of mint is that consumption of the plant helps prevent various respiratory diseases as the strong smell of mint helps clear the trachea, combats nasal congestion and congestion. respiratory tract and relief of the bronchi and lungs, acting as a natural expectorant. You can also make juice and mint tea to get the same results.
Dietary fiber per hundred grams of leaves contains:
- fat - 1 g;
- carbohydrates - about 7 g;
- proteins - about 4 g.
The energy value for the indicated weight is seventy-one kilocalories. This plant is a storehouse of useful qualities.
Collection and preparation
The herb's aroma also helps fight asthma, which makes mint a great ally for people suffering from runny noses and allergies during cold, dry seasons. The smell of mint also has a calming effect on the body, reduces headaches and stress and improves sleep quality.
Benefits of Mint in Preventing Alzheimer's Disease
According to some studies, among the benefits of mint is also the power to contribute to improving cognitive function. Promotes mental agility and concentration of the individual. Mint also stimulates and enhances memory when consumed regularly.
It can be purchased at the pharmacy in finished form, in bags or as dry raw materials that are brewed. But it’s even better if you collect mint with your own hands and prepare it for the winter. For those who decide to do this, the following tips will help:
- The grass should be collected in the first half of the day, in dry weather, preferably when the plant is just beginning to bloom. Then mint contains the highest concentration of its useful substances. In this case, mainly its leaves and flowers are used.
- Although the plant blooms throughout the summer, this period varies in different regions and may be somewhat shorter.
- Mint can be collected by plucking the stems for greater speed, and at home you can tear off its leaves and flowers, which are suitable for use.
- The mint is dried outdoors in the shade. To do this, the plant is laid out in a thin layer on paper or fabric. It is advisable to stir it from time to time.
- After the raw materials are ready, they are wrapped in paper bags or glass containers, which are tightly covered.
- It is stored in a dry and dark place for up to two years.
- In order for the herb to retain more of its properties, it is better to chop it only before use, and not in advance.
Because Alzheimer's disease is a disease whose effects impair the ability to remember events, in addition to interfering with intellectual functions, personality, learning ability and even language understanding, regular consumption of mint is excellent for disease prevention.
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial powers, mint prevents these conditions that affect many people's lives. Essential oil peppermint is good addition to the diet. Indeed, the essential oil of pepper water depletes the elimination organs and helps digestion.
Application
Peppermint is best known for its essential oil content, called menthol. It imbues the plant with a characteristic refreshing aroma that everyone loves so much.
There is an opinion that it is better to harvest peppermint in the spring, even before flowering.
Its properties are used in herbal medicine, mint is added to culinary dishes. It is also used to get rid of nausea, flatulence, nervous disorder, poor digestion, asthma, bronchial or pulmonary inflammation, cardiovascular and gynecological diseases, colds, migraines, spasms, cholelithiasis and many other problems. The plant complements diaphoretic herbal preparations.
What is peppermint essential oil?
You can massage 2 drops of peppermint on the chest to clear the bronchi due to the effect of menthol in the oil. In case of headaches, it is enough to apply 2 pointers on the index finger and massage the temples, and the entire forehead, be careful not to put yourself in the eyes, because it causes burns. It is generally not beneficial to dilute peppermint essential oil, but some particularly sensitive people may experience burns. In this case, mix peppermint with vegetable oil St. John's wort or olive oil, which will be easier for you.
Indications
Mint has a beneficial effect on the entire body. First of all, it is restored nervous system. Tea with mint helps you relax after a hard day or improve your mood in the morning. Useful properties contribute to better concentration and improved brain function.
For digestive system it also plays a positive role. Appetite, the process of digesting food improves, and the secretion of gastric juice and saliva is stimulated. In addition, mint is choleretic agent and wonderfully freshens breath. The intestines are cleansed, the work of the liver and gallbladder is stimulated.
This massage has a vasodilator effect: your blood circulation slows down, causing a calming effect. After a few minutes you will feel the first sensations of cold, which will calm you down. When unpleasant odor from the mouth, nausea and digestive problems of all kinds, put 1-2 drops on the whole bread and eat it all. The effect is almost immediate and you will enjoy fresh breath for hours, something that a “lozenge” or other “drug” cannot do. You can even spend interesting test: Massage your arch by applying some peppermint essential oil.
Vasodilation occurs, heart rate stabilizes and blood circulation improves. In some cases, it can completely replace medications or at least supplement treatment for cardiovascular diseases.
The beneficial properties of mint for women are perfectly revealed. In cosmetology it is used for masks, baths, saunas. It is able to suppress bacteria on the skin and mucous membranes. Procedures are especially suitable for fatty type covers with acne. The skin then becomes elastic and velvety.
This will show you the diffusion power of the peppermint essential oil in the body. According to the professional journal, Profession Kine The mechanism of action of menthol, which causes a sensation of cold, leads to significant local analgesia. It is also appreciated by all sports kinesis who are forced to remove sports competitors suffering from a benign injury.
How much peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil is contraindicated in pregnant women during 9 months of pregnancy, as well as breastfeeding. The price of peppermint essential oil is slightly lower than the average 10 ml bottle costs between 5 and 6 euros, approximately 13 euros if you choose the biological formula. This amount is sufficient for a year of use.
What does it cure?
Mint has plenty of beneficial properties and contraindications. It is useful to take for the following diseases:
- nervous disorders, anxiety, anxiety;
- insomnia;
- gastritis, diarrhea, other digestive tract disorders;
- nausea;
- increased acidity of gastric juice;
- migraine;
- respiratory diseases (in this case, mint essential oil is used);
- arterial hypertension;
- gynecological diseases;
- caries, gum disease;
- bacterial and fungal skin lesions.
Contraindications
What is it, mint?
Source: Healthcare Innovation Effects of peppermint and eucalyptus on neurophysiological and experimental algesimetric headache. Peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome: a multicenter trial. Menthol has been an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine. Currently, it finds many applications in Everyday life and especially in modern medicine. Indeed, mint, from which this compound comes, contains many medicinal virtues.
Some men are afraid that their potency may worsen if they use mint. The medicinal properties and contraindications with moderate use of the plant will not appear so noticeably. It's another matter if you overuse mint. Then problems with potency may actually occur, because the production of female hormones, which peppermint contains in considerable quantities, will be produced.
Menthol is an organic compound derived from mint. The most widely used in medicine and food are peppermint and wild mint. More precisely, menthol is extracted from the synthesis or extraction of essential peppermint oil. It is in the form of a whitish waxy powder when room temperature, when melting at a higher temperature. In chemistry, menthol is characterized by an architectural molecular structure with a single enantiomer. In addition to medicine, menthol is used as a flavor for drinks.
Medicinal properties of menthol
In addition, menthol is also used in cosmetology. For example, floral notes of a perfume can be produced using the essence of mint. This compound is also used in the preparation cosmetics to name only shampoos. Most known property menthol is the freshness effect it generates. To do this, it contains components that can stimulate cold reactive chemical receptors that are located under the skin. This feeling of cold brings many benefits to the body, including decongestants.
Properties and contraindications can be expressed in sleep disturbances and headaches, especially with excessive consumption.
You should also refrain from using this plant for the following conditions and diseases:
- allergies;
- hypotension;
- varicose veins;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- kidney and liver disease;
- problems with conception;
- children under five years old.
In addition, doctors are inclined to believe that the active use of mint leads to a loss of sensitivity of the body to its components.
In addition, the cooling effect created by menthol helps improve muscle contraction. This compound is also highly regarded for its anti-inflammatory properties. In the context of surgery, the anesthetic property of menthol is very useful for the development of various narcotic substances. Additionally, menthol contains highly effective antibacterial and antiviral properties against germs. Its antioxidant properties as well as its antispasmodic effects facilitate digestion. Finally, menthol is characterized by relaxing properties, and, paradoxically, some preparations of this compound are intended to stimulate and tone the body.
Individual intolerance to the plant may also occur, in which case it is necessary to immediately stop using it.
Mint has different effects during lactation. The beneficial properties and contraindications for women in this case will directly depend on its variety. After all, according to some, it stimulates the production of milk, while others say, on the contrary, that it reduces it. In this case, spearmint is suitable, which contains the least menthol, but contains carvone, which stimulates lactation.
Menthol helps prevent and treat many diseases. For example, this compound is effective against coughs, arthritis, asthma and various digestive disorders. Menthol is a recommended supplement for people suffering from iron and manganese deficiency. At the muscle level, menthol reduces the feeling of heavy legs, and its anti-inflammatory virtues are undeniable for strains and muscle tears. Bitter Gentleman relieves mouth irritation while providing fresh breath. In addition, menthol reduces arterial hypertension and improves the quality of the circulatory system.
Nutrition
Since mint normalizes metabolism, removes toxins from the body and regulates gastric juice, it is often used in diets. It also helps with constipation, eliminating putrefactive processes in the intestines and reducing acidity.
Mint leaves are added to:
- first and second courses;
- baking pastries, pies, cakes and cookies;
- fruit and berry desserts;
- sauces and marinades;
- milkshakes.
Peppermint is a spice, a flavor enhancer for dishes, a natural flavoring agent, and an element that improves appetite.
The tonic properties are used in different drinks, the most widespread of which is the non-alcoholic “Mojito”. Teas and infusions will wonderfully quench your thirst and at the same time suppress the feeling of hunger.
Mint is good to combine with products such as:
- meat;
- bird;
- fish;
- vegetables;
- fruits;
- berries;
- greenery;
- cottage cheese;
- spices;
- spices.
Mint teas
Very popular green tea with mint, chamomile, thyme and lemon leaves. If you drink several cups of this drink a day, then within a few months a person will feel light and comfortable.
If tea is prepared from fresh leaves, then you must first pour boiling water over them, and then add water and brew.
Not all dishes are suitable for infusion. For example, plastic and metal are not recommended. It is best to brew mint tea in a porcelain or glass container. The beneficial properties are most preserved in a freshly brewed drink. Therefore, you should not cook a lot of it at once. Honey or lemon is often added to tea. It is better to avoid sugar, as it will neutralize the beneficial properties of mint.
As a cold remedy, take a tablespoon of inflorescences or leaves and pour a glass of boiling water. After just ten minutes, the drink can be taken orally.
In case of intoxication, take two tablespoons per glass of water and infuse for two hours. Drink one tablespoon during meals.
If you feel nauseous, drink one tablespoon of brewed tea per glass of water, half a glass twice a day.
For pain in the head or muscles, add a teaspoon of honey and two teaspoons to a glass with a pinch of dry leaves. lemon zest. The resulting drink should be drunk three times a day, half a glass.
Infusions and mint
The beneficial properties and contraindications of the plant must be carefully studied before starting its regular use and treatment. If no side effects and mint are recommended; in addition to tea, infusions can also be prepared.
For this purpose washed fresh leaves Place in a half-liter jar and fill to the top with vodka or alcohol. You can add a little cinnamon there. The lid should be tightly closed and infused in a dark place at room temperature for two weeks.
You can prepare this simple version of the tincture: two teaspoons of the herb are poured into a thermos with a quarter liter of boiling water. After an hour, you can start drinking the strained tincture, one tablespoon six to seven times a day.
Essential oil
Many representatives of the fair sex prefer to use essential oils. Mint, whose beneficial properties and contraindications for women have been fully studied, is one of our favorite products. It is added to various face masks, massaged, and simply applied to the skin for certain problems.
It has a tonic, expectorant, absorbent and antiseptic effect, dilates blood vessels.
Mint in cosmetology
The properties of mint for women are widely used in skin care.
For example, to improve your complexion, you can prepare a lotion. To do this, mix mint infusion, cucumber juice and parsley decoction in equal amount. They need to wipe their face morning and evening.
To relieve fatigue and tone the eyelids, apply cotton pads soaked in a chilled infusion to them.
The beneficial properties of mint for women will be expressed in a beneficial effect, especially on oily skin, even with simple use infusion. It will acquire a matte shade, and enlarged pores will narrow.
The ancient Russians called “dragolub,” which translated means “dear, beloved, kind,” such a healing herb as mint, the properties and uses of which were very well known to them. Today, many centuries later, we no longer call it so affectionately. But until now, mint remains a universal medicine and a favorite drink for many people.
Date of publication: 01/24/2013
Peppermint is a unique plant with a strong aroma thanks to high content menthol. The younger generation may not remember mint tea, but they know the smell of menthol very well from... chewing gum.
Its smell is really strong and overpowers others, but the beneficial properties of mint are not limited to this. The plant has medicinal properties, which have been known to man since ancient times. For many centuries, mint was considered a herb that prolongs life. Not a single bathhouse in Rus' could do without mint steam, which kills bacteria and harmful substances. People attributed to her the ability to “drive out evil spirits.”
Application in modern times
There are up to 30 varieties of mint. In our area, field, peppermint and swamp mint are widely used. It is in demand in medicine, cosmetology, cooking and the liquor industry.
In Europe, mint is used to season various dishes, marinades, sauces, cocktails, decorate cakes and pastries with leaves, just as we decorate meat and salads with herbs. This gives them not only unique and fresh aroma, but also aesthetic appearance. In our country, mint is added to the famous mint gingerbread.
Compound
The benefits of mint are determined by its rich composition. Not only menthol is part of the plant. It is rich in tannins, essential oils, esters, flavonoids. Mint contains organic acids: oleonolic, ascorbic, chlorogenic, caffeic, ursulic. Other important components: glucose, rutin, betaine, arginine, phytosterol. The calorie content of mint is 50 kcal per 100 g of product.
Medicinal properties of mint tea
Mint tea has antibacterial, soothing, antiseptic, analgesic, tonic properties. Therefore, it helps with colds, with nervous disorders, insomnia, depression, headaches.
Also, mint tea has a vasodilating property, therefore it is useful for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Its choleretic effect helps remove stones and improve appetite.
The only “disadvantage” of tea is that it is a “female” drink. By suppressing male hormones, it prevents hair growth on the face, belly and chest. In addition, it suppresses male desire.
But is mint bad for men? From what point of view? If a man wants to survive separation from his beloved, or relieve feelings of anxiety and restlessness, tea will be useful. In addition, libido is suppressed, fortunately, not forever. Just take this feature of the drink into account.
