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Mint contains
numerous plant derived chemical compounds that are known to have anti-oxidant,
disease preventing and health promoting properties.
This popular herb
contains no cholesterol; but is rich in anti-oxidants and dietary fibre, which
helps to control blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
The herb parts contain
many essential volatile oils like menthol, menthone, menthol acetate. These
compounds effect on cold-sensitive receptors in the skin, mouth and throat, the
property which is responsible for the well-known cooling sensation that it
provokes when inhaled, eaten, or applied to the skin. Mint contains numerous
plant derived chemical compounds that are known to have anti-oxidant, disease
preventing and health promoting properties.
This popular herb
contains no cholesterol; but is rich in anti-oxidants and dietary fibre, which
helps to control blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
The herb parts
contain many essential volatile oils like menthol, menthone, menthol acetate.
These compounds effect on cold-sensitive receptors in the skin, mouth and
throat, the property which is responsible for the well-known cooling sensation
that it provokes when inhaled, eaten, or applied to the skin.
The essential
oil, menthol, also has analgesic (pain-killer), local anesthetic and
counter-irritant properties.
Research studies
have also been suggested that the compounds in the peppermint relaxes
intestinal wall and sphincter smooth muscles through blocking calcium channel
at cell receptor levels. This property of mint has been applied as an
anti-spasmodic agent in the treatment of "irritable bowel syndrome"
or IBS and other colic pain disorders.
Peppermint-herb
is an excellent source of minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, manganese and
magnesium. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids that
helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and copper are important
co-factors for antioxidant enzyme superoxide-dismutase.
It is also rich
in many antioxidant vitamins including vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin-C and
vitamin E. The leaves of mint also contain many important B-complex vitamins
like folates, riboflavin and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6); and the herb is
also an excellent source of vitamin-K.
The essential
oil, menthol, also has analgesic (pain-killer), local anaesthetic and
counter-irritant properties.
Research studies
have also been suggested that the compounds in the peppermint relaxes
intestinal wall and sphincter smooth muscles through blocking calcium channel
at cell receptor levels. This property of mint has been applied as an
anti-spasmodic agent in the treatment of "irritable bowel syndrome"
or IBS and other colic pain disorders.
Peppermint-herb
is an excellent source of minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, manganese and
magnesium. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids that
helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and copper are important
co-factors for antioxidant enzyme superoxide-dismutase.
It is also rich
in many antioxidant vitamins including vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin-C and
vitamin E. The leaves of mint also contain many important B-complex vitamins
like folates, riboflavin and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6); and the herb is also an
excellent source of vitamin-K.
Digestion: Mint is a great appetizer or palate cleanser, and it promotes
digestion. It also soothes stomachs in cases of indigestion or inflammation.
When you feel sick to your stomach, drinking a cup of mint tea can give you
relief. Also, if you are someone who travels long distances via plane or boat,
the menthol oil derived from mint can be very soothing for nausea and related
motion sickness.
The aroma of the herb activates the salivary
glands in our mouth as well as glands which secrete digestive enzymes, thereby
facilitating digestion. These attributes are why mint is extensively used in
the culinary arts. Much of the western world includes mint as a part of
appetizers or as an element of palate cleansers, to be eaten before the main
course so the food will digest comfortably.
Nausea &
Headache: Mint leaves, especially freshly crushed
leaves help you deal with nausea and headache. The strong and refreshing aroma
of mint is a quick and effective remedy for nausea. Use mint oil or any other
product having mint flavour and your stomach issues will be alleviated. In
fact, many people keep menthol oil or mint-flavoured products with them at all
time to avoid nausea. Balms with a mint base or basic mint oil, when rubbed on
the forehead and nose, gives quick relief in case of headache. The herb is a
naturally soothing substance, so it can alleviate the inflammation and
temperature rise that is often associated with headaches and migraines.
Respiratory
Disorders and Coughs: The strong aroma of the herb is
very effective in clearing up congestion of the nose, throat, bronchi and
lungs, which gives relief for respiratory disorders that often result from
asthma and the common cold. As mint cools and soothes the throat, nose and
other respiratory channels, it relieves the irritation which causes chronic
coughing. This is the main reason why so many balms are based on mint. Unlike
the inhalers that are based on aerosols, those with mint as the fundamental
component tend to be more effective and eco-friendly as well.
Asthma: Regular use of mint is very beneficial for asthma patients, as
it is a good relaxant and relieves congestion. That being said, using too much
mint in this way can also irritate the nose and throat.
Breast Feeding: For many women, breastfeeding is a beautiful part of raising a
child, but it can seriously damage your breasts and nipples. Studies have shown
that mint oil can reduce the nipple cracks and nipple pain that so often
accompany breastfeeding.
Depression and
Fatigue: Mint is a natural stimulant, and the smell
alone can be enough to charge your batteries and get your brain functioning on
a high level again. If you are feeling sluggish, anxious, depressed, or simply
exhausted, mint and its derivative essential oils can help. It can be ingested,
applied topically in a salve form, or inhaled as a vapour, and all of those
techniques can give you a much-needed boost! A popular way to get good results
in an easy manner is to put a few drops of mint essential oil or menthol oil on
your pillow at night and let it work on your body and mind while you sleep.
Skin Care and
Pimples: While mint oil is a good antiseptic and anti-pruritic
material, mint juice is an excellent skin cleanser. It soothes skin, and helps
to cure infections and itchiness, as well as being a good way to reduce
pimples, and it can even relieve some of the symptoms of acne. Its
anti-pruritic properties can be used for treating insect bites like those of mosquitoes,
honeybees, hornets, wasps, and gnats. The cooling sensation will relieve you of
the irritating sensation to scratch, and the anti-inflammatory nature of mint
will bring down swelling! In that same vein, mint oil is often a basic
component of bug repellent products like citronella candles, because the strong
aroma is unappealing to most insects.
Memory Loss: A recent study explored the effects that mint has on alertness,
retention, and cognitive function. It found that people who frequently use chewing
gum, whose major active ingredient is mint, had higher levels of memory
retention and mental alertness than those who did not. The stimulant qualities
of mint, once again, have shown yet another reason to pop that stick of gum in
your mouth, or chew some leaves when you’re feeling less than brilliant!
Weight Loss: Aside from all the other health benefits of mint, it also can
help in your efforts to lose weight in a healthy way! Mint is a stimulant, as
we’ve already mentioned, but it also stimulates the digestive enzymes that
absorb nutrients from food and consume fat and turn it into usable energy.
Therefore, by adding mint to your diet, you are increasing the amount of fat
that is being consumed and put to use, rather than being stored and contributing
to your weight gain!
Female Sterility: There are mixed opinions regarding the role of mint in treating
this condition. Some argue that prolonged use of menthol may cause sterility,
reducing a woman’s ability to conceive by interfering with the production of
ova and killing these gametes. This is due to the germicidal and insecticidal
properties of the herb, which are beneficial for so many other health concerns.
Other research has claimed that men who smoke menthol cigarettes are more
likely to suffer from impotency than those who smoke normal cigarettes. It is
not certain whether this is due to the tobacco alone or if the mentholated
aspect has anything do with it. Another group or researchers suggest that mint
may actually be used to treat sterility in females. Suffice to say, a great
deal of further research must be done on the effects of mint in both male
impotency and female sterility.
Oral Care: Improving the health of a person’s mouth is a well-known
benefit of mint. Since it has germicidal qualities and quickly freshens breath,
it adds to oral health by inhibiting harmful bacterial growth inside the mouth
and by cleaning the tongue and teeth. This is why mint used to be rubbed
directly on the teeth and gums to refresh the mouth and eliminate dangerous
forms of growth. In modern times, for the same reason, mint is one of the most
common elements in toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other dental hygiene products.
Of course, the easiest way to get these results is to simply chew on the
leaves.
Allergies and Hay
Fever: Season allergies and hay fever (also known as rhinitis) affect
millions of people around the world at certain times of the year. Extracts from
mint leaves have been shown to inhibit the release of certain chemicals, which
have been known to aggravate severe nasal symptoms that are associated with hay
fever and seasonal allergies.
Cancer: Current research shows that certain enzymes that can be found
in mint may help prevent and treat cancer.
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