Botanical name: Mentha Piperita
Mint – Summary
Mentha piperita is a plant that is widely used for the treatment of indigestion, joint pain, diarrhea, cough, fever, and dysmenorrhea. It is known by the name of Pudina in Sanskrit. The herb has a soothing effect on the mind and helps to reduce your stress and mental pressure. It also acts as a rejuvenating herb.There are more than 25 species of peppermint and it mainly grows throughout North America, Asia, and Europe.
About Mint
- The main chemical ingredients of peppermint are menthol, menthone, pule-gone, menthofuran, 1,8-cineole, isomenthone, menthyl acetate.
- The most common and popular mints for commercial cultivation are peppermint (Mentha piperita), native spearmint (Mentha spicata), Scotch spearmint (Mentha gracilise), and corn mint (Mentha arvensis) also (more recently) apple mint (Mentha suaveolens).
Mint and Doshas
- Mint has a balancing effect on all three types of dosha, it is a cooling herb, with a katu (heating) vipaka (post-digestive taste).
Mint- Health Benefits
- Mint leaves are used as carminative and help in the digestion of the food.
- The juice of the leaf of Pudina, in a dose of 5 to 10 ml combined with honey is found to relieve cough and sore throat.
- Gargling is performed by adding fresh juice of the leaf of Pudina with water to ease bad odor from the mouth and treat gum inflammation.
- The Pudina leaf paste is given with the first crumb of food to treat intestinal worms.
- Cold infusion of the plant is used to relieve dysmenorrhea and fever.
- The paste of Mentha piperata is used over the joints to get relief from the joint pain and inflammation.
Scientific Studies About Mint
According to scientific study peppermint tea is sometimes used to soothe the stomach and promote digestion, and may help in the treatment of stomach diseases and digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and constipation.
Dharmsala Teas with Mint