Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. It is also known as Mentha balsamea. The plant, which is indigenous to Europe and Middle East, is now widespread in cultivation in many regions of the world. It is ocassionaly found wild occasionally with its parent species. The herb has been used medicinally for thousands of years. It has a very pleasant taste and is a popular flavoring for both foods and drinks. It is als oused as a fragrance in many occasions. Peppermint has a wide variety of health and medicinal uses. It is used to help treat common cold, to calm inflammations and to soothe digestive problems.

The Ancient Egyptians, one of the most medically-advanced ancient cultures, cultivated and used peppermint leaves for indigestion. The ancient Romans and Greeks also took peppermint to soothe their aching stomachs. The plant was used by Europeans in the 18th Century, especially in Western Europe and gained popularity for stomach ailments and menstrual disorders.

The most active ingredient in peppermint is menthol, which is an organic compound that produces a cooling sensation when applied to the mouth or skin. It also acts as a mild anesthetic. Peppermint is also rich in vitamins A and C as well as a number of minerals, such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc.

Peppermint has had extensive culinary usage throughout the ages. Peppermint has been used in the preparation of herbal tea, especially in the Middle-Eastern countries, as a flavoring base in ice cream and other confectionery, combined with parsley and coriander leaves as a garnish, added in chutneys, soups and sauces and lastly either fresh or dried inside salads.

Peppermint oil is very usually extracted from the herb and is used topically to the skin, offering a soothing, cooling and mildly anesthetic effect.

Medicinal Application:

Mint composes numerous plant derived compounds that are known to have antioxidant, disease-preventing and health promoting properties.

The plant contains no cholesterol whatsoever, but is rich essential oils, vitamins and dietary fiber, which helps control blood cholesterol and blood pressure inside the human body.

The herb contains many essential volatile oils like menthol, menthone and others. These compounds effect on cold-sensitive receptors on the skin, mouth and throat, the property which is responsible for the natural cooling-sensation that it initiates when inhaled, eaten or applied on the skin.

Menthol, which is present in the herb has analgesic, local anesthetic and counter-irritant properties.

The active compounds inside peppermint relax intestinal walls and sphincter smooth muscles through blocking calcium channels at cell receptor levels. This property of peppermint has been exploited as an anti-spasmodic agent in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and other colic pain disorders.

Peppermint is an excellent source of potassium, calcium, iron, manganese and magnesium.

It is also rich in antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E. The leaves of mint also contain many important B-complex vitamins like folates, riboflavin and pyridoxine. Finally, the herb is very rich in vitamin K.

Peppermint can be employed in the preparation of cough or cold relieving remedies like syrups, lozanges and nasal inhalers.

Peppermint oil has been extensively used in the preparation of topical muscle relaxants and analgesics.

It is also being used in oral hygiene products and bad-breath remedies like mouthwash, toothpaste etc.

Peppermint, as a muscle relaxer, can help in painful cramps and nausea caused by a woman's natural cycle.

This is to inform you that we are not doctors. What is written above has a simple character and in no way replaces medical application. Always consult your doctor about your health issues.