Herbal Remedies ~ Peppermint

Peppermint Mentha piperita
(Mint Family)

A well-known digestive aid, this herb has also been used to treat coughs, colds, and fever as well as colic, food allergies, indigestion, nausea, gallstones, headaches and irritable bowel syndrome.

Both cooling and warming, taken internally peppermint induces heat and improves the circulation. It also disperses blood to the surface of the body which causes sweating. For this reason it is often useful in treating chills and fevers, colds and flu.

It also has an astringent and decongestant action helps relieve stuffiness and congestion.

Peppermint makes a good general tonic to recharge vital energy and dispel lethargy.

Taken internally, this herb produces a cooling and numbing effect which extends to the respiratory tract. This same effect is also apparent on the skin.

Peppermint has an analgesic effect. The essential oil is often added to lotions, creams and salves to ease inflamed joints in arthritis and gout, for headaches, neuralgia, sciatica and general aches and pains.

Internally, peppermint has a soothing effect, calming anxiety and tension and relieving pain and spasm.

It can be used for menstrual pain, asthma and insomnia.

In the digestive tract it relaxes smooth muscle and reduces inflammation, relieving the pain and spasms of colic, flatulence, heartburn, indigestion, hiccups, nausea, vomiting and motion sickness. This herb contains tannins which help protect the gut lining from irritation and infection and make it useful for treating diarrhea, constipation, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The bitters stimulate and cleanse the liver and gallbladder, helping to prevent gallstones.

The volatile oils have an antiseptic action, and are antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal and antiviral.

Peppermint is easy to grow and is available in teas, oils and menthol lozenges.

*From the editor: During times of extreme nausea when nothing can be kept down, try putting a bit of salve under the nostrils and over the salve apply a tiny drop of essential oil of peppermint on each side. (The salve keeps the oil from stinging the delicate area under the nose.) I find that inhaling the vapors stops the nausea fast so at least water can be taken to avoid dehydration.

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