Constituents : Up to 2% volatile oil (mainly menthol), tannins, bitter principle, flavonoids, choline, tocopherols
Indications : There are thought to be at least 30 species of mint; until the 17th century all were used in much the same way with little attempt to differentiate between them. Today, peppermint is preferred medicinally in the West; garden mint is usually spearmint and although not as strong as peppermint, it can be used in similar ways and is good for children.
Peppermint is used for intestinal colic, flatulent dyspepsia, indigestion, to stimulate bile and digestive secretion, to allay feelings of nausea and the desire to vomit so is good in pregnancy and travel sickness; to help relieve ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease; fevers, colds, influenza; anxiety, tension, hysteria; painful periods and associated tension; soak a pad in the infusion to cool inflamed joints, rheumatism or neuralgia; put a few fresh leaves in boiling water and inhale to ease nasal congestion; use 2-3 drop of essential oil in 10ml water as a wash for skin irritants, itching, burns, inflammations, scabies, ringworm, to repel mosquitos; use 2-3 drops oil in a saucer of water by the bedside at night to reduce nasal congestion; dilute 5-10 drops oil in 25ml almond oil as a massage oil for headaches, fever or menstrual pain or to relieve milk congestion when breastfeeding.
!!Cautions : Do not give any form of mint to young babies. Can reduce milk flow so take internally with caution if breastfeeding.
