For most of us, it is the taste of peppermint that first comes to mind when we hear of it. Peppermint, however, has more to offer us that just a pretty taste. Peppermint is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint that produces a light shade of purple flowers during the summer. What sets peppermint apart is menthol, along with a host of lesser active ingredients, an oil that is taken from the stems and leaves of peppermint.
1) Peppermint oil is known to act as a muscle relaxant.
2) Fans of peppermint tea find it pleasing to drink and soothing in its effects.
3) Peppermint is used to treat inflammation of the nasal passages.
4) Irritable bowel syndrome is treated with peppermint.
5) Vomiting and nausea is reduced by peppermint.
6) Peppermint tea is drunk to combat flatulence.
7) Outbreaks of herpes can be treated and reduced with peppermint oil.
8) Peppermint is very popular as a breath freshener.
9) When peppermint oil is rubbed into the skin it has an effect on nerve transmission that causes the experience of muscle pain to be reduced.
10) Mild asthma attacks have been successfully treated with peppermint.
In addition to all the features listed above, peppermint does a lot more. For example, allergy sufferers report experiencing relief if they drink approximately four cups of peppermint tea per day. For gallstones, peppermint tablets consumed between meals are an aid. A particularly popular application of peppermint involves mixing peppermint oil with water and producing steam, then inhaling the vaporized peppermint to get relief from coughing.
Another popular use of peppermint is to fill up a tub with hot water, add a few drops of peppermint oil, and soak away one’s aches, pains, and stress in the water while enjoying the pleasant peppermint aroma.
Peppermint is not known for having side effects or there being toxic levels of peppermint to avoid. One warning, however, is that peppermint may increase the effectiveness of medications taken for high blood pressure. As such, people taking these drugs should consult their physician before adding peppermint to the mix.
Copyright © Dennis Becker, 2004.
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