Peppermint

 

Peppermint

Peppermint: warmth of
feeling; cordiality; wisdom.

Mint Family


Mentha x piperita
Cross between spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica)

Names:

• lamb mint, 
• mentha Montana, 
• Lammint, 
• Brandy Mint; 
• Pfefferminze (German); 
• menthe poivree (French); 
• pepermunt (Dutch); 
• menta piperita, 
• menta inglese, 
• menta pepe, 
• menta piperita, 
• menta peperina (Italian); 
• Mieta pieprzowa (Polish); 
• menta, 
• hortela (Spanish); 
• nespereira da Europa, 
• hortela (Portuguese); 
• myata (Russian); 
• yang-po-ho (Chinese); 
• seiyo-hakka (Japanese); 
• na’na, 
• nannaul-habagul hindi (Arabic)

Constituents- cool/drying

Taste- Pungent
essential oil, mentol menthone,
fasmone, tannic (labiatic acid), bitter principle

Where from-
The ancient Egyptians cultivated peppermint and a 13th century Icelandic pharmacopoea includes it. Recognized as a separate species in England. It was added to the England pharmacopeia in 1721.

Roots:

Stems: Square, 12-35 inches tall, thinly hairy

Leaves- opposite, toothed,  shortly but distinctly stalked, 2 inches or more in length, and 3/4-1 1/2 inches broad.
underside has fine hairs and oil glands. Coarsely serrated, green or green/red

Flowers: purple, pink, white, whorled in spikes at the top of the plant, arranged in whorls around the stem. Each individual flower has the characteristic lip shape of the mint family.

Fruits:generally, none

Properties: aromatic, carminative, anodyne, stimulating nervine, anti-spasmodic, stimulating diaphoretic, anti-emetic
high in menthol

Grows

herbaceous perennial
Propagate by root cuttings , runners

Soil-wet

Where-pretty much everywhere, takes over like a weed.

Full sun-partial shade
Good house plant


What to Collect-Leaves
When to collect-

Buy- Anywhere that sells herbs

Planted-In the fridge, under the apple tree

Ease of obtaining- very easy


Preserve-(which parts do you use and how do you keep them) use the leaves. Preserve by drying, tincture, essential oil

(Above ground parts, bind at cut, dried in shade, chop, store in jars)

Use (highlight the correct answers for this herb)
· Short/ Long term use

· Activator Builder Cleanser

Stimulant (oil)
Soothing (tea)
drying, pungent


Form-

• infusion/tea (1oz:1cup water, covered), 
• decoction, 
• tincture, 
• powder, 
• Fomentation, 
• Poultice, 
• ointment. 
• baths, 
• Salad, 
• sprouts, 
• stir fry, 
• pot herb, 
• aromatic, 
• tincture, 
• wash, 
• essential oil (internally with caution), 
• culinary, 
• infused oil (for sore muscles, cramping, pain, etc,) stem

Nutrients

Vitamins-

Minerals- One ounce of dried peppermint contains 540mg of calcium, 220mg of magnesium and 753 mg of potassium.

Other-

Systems Affected- digestion, nerves


Uses-

• aids digestion, carminitive,
• Relieves over-full feeling
• calms stomach upset, GERD
• gas, nausea, spasms, 
• diarrhea
• Main chemical, Menthol, also inhibits the nerves that react to painful stimuli, giving relief to muscle spasms, coughs, intestinal cramping, nerve pain and more. 
•  dyspepsia, being mostly used for flatulence and colic. It may also be employed for other sudden pains and for cramp in the abdomen; wide use is made of Peppermint in cholera and diarrhea. 
• IBS (irritable bowel syndrome- coated caps of eo) and ulcerative colitis although, for these complaints, peppermint oil is taken in an enteric coated capsule. This special capsule coating is strong enough to pass through the stomach and then dissolves in the intestines where the medicine is needed most.
• reduces fever, sinuses
• colds, flu, congestion
• steam to break up congestion in the lungs or sinuses. The essential oil can also be inhaled with similar effects.
• headaches (fomentation), 
• toothache
• relieves the itching and inflammation of sunburns, poison oak/ivy and hives. You can use the tea as a wash or add a strong brew to bath water.
• Reduces pain of shingles
• burns and scalds
• external pain (poultice, fomentation) 
• sore back (poultice) 
• mastitis
• laryngytis
• motion sickness
• cavities
• local anesthetic and antiseptic, analgesic
• cures hiccups, 
• cures bad breath,
• make other herbs taste good. 
• Scrub wooden tables to make them clean and smell good, increase appetite
•  
• Smelling increases memory and alertness
•    "   decreases exhaustion and burnout
• Refreshes and energizes
•  
• For cleaning, inhibits microorganisms, kill/repel insects, 
• Mice? maybe but probably not.
•   
• Foot soak increases circulation

Cautions- can cause heartburn in sensitive individuals (those with reflux [GERD]).
Can dry up breast milk if used in excess Notes:

References - Herb Mentor, Alchemy of Herbs,