Herbal Remedy: Mint

Most of us know of mint as it is widely used in toothpaste or in chewing gum. However, the use of mint is not limited to being a breath freshener. In fact, mint can be used as a herbal remedy
for different ailments. With thirty different varieties of mint, there can be a lot of herbal remedies that can be prepared out of them. Peppermint is the preferred mint herbal remedy in the
western world. In China, it is the field mint. Garden mint, or spearmint, is another very popular mint herbal remedy which is more commonly used for children.

The aerial parts of the mint herb are the most commonly used parts to make herbal remedies. The mint is great for healing in cases of digestive disorders, colic and fatulence. In addition,
mint is often used to treat motion sickness and nausea. If you are suffering from flu or fever, mint can be used to help promote sweating to break the illness. In Chinese herbal medicine, mint is also called bo he and is used to help relieve the symptoms of liver stagnation or other digestive upsets.

A mint herbal remedy is best used right after harvesting. You can also use the mint plant’s aerial parts to prepare an inhalation, tincture, compress, or an infusion, depending upon your needs. The easiest way to ingest mint is through consuming a herbal tea.

An essential oil is one of the most common ways to derive benefits from mint. Peppermint oil is very popular and it contains large amounts of menthol. Peppermint oil is known for its analgesic, calming, and cooling affect on your body. This is a good remedy for treating and relieving migraines, headaches, fevers, and treating skin problems. This oil is considered antibacterial and can be used on minor infections.

Inhaling peppermint oil can help relieve severe nasal congestion, but should not be used too often. It can irritate your mucous membranes if used frequently. Young children should not use peppermint oil and nursing mothers should stay away from peppermint oil, as it can decrease your milk flow.

You can also derive benefits from mint by just eating the herb. Mint is used for flavoring dishes in cooking. It is widely used as an ingredient for desserts such as in mint chocolates or ice cream. The mint that I am most familiar with is the laksa leaves used in Asian cooking. It is also a commonly used ingredient in Vietnamese salads and soups. However, what is interesting to note though that this mint ingredient does not actually belong to the mint family although its general appearance and odor are similar.