Peppermint beneficial properties and contraindications
Family Gubotic( Lunar) - Lamiaceae
The generic name is given by the name of a mythical nymph, which the wizard Proserpine has turned into a plant.
Mint types
Mentha crispa: mint curly
Mentha xpiperita: peppermint with purple and pink or white flowers. Species definition "peppery" comes from the Latin piper - pepper and is given because of the burning taste of the leaves.
Mentha X piperita citrata: peppermint
Mentha spicata: mint green
Mentha suaveolens: mint apple
Mentha suaveolens "Bowels": mint pineapple
botanical description. Perennial herbaceous plant with a creeping horizontal rhizome and thin subordinate roots. Stems erect, tetrahedral, opposite branching, up to 100 cm tall. Leaves cross opposite, short-petioled, elongate-ovate with serrate margin. The flowers are small, red-violet, collected at the apex of the stem by half-hammers, which are brought together and form a spicate inflorescence. Unlike other labo-color, they are not bipedal, but almost regular. Calyx is five-toothed, corolla with blunt four- or five-bladed limb. The blades are rounded. Stamens four, two of which are shorter than the others. Pistil one with a two-split stigma, ovary anterior, four-lobed.
Blossoms from the end of June to September. Flowers are almost sterile and therefore usually do not give fruits. Very rarely a fruit is formed, consisting of four unripe nuts. The whole plant has a strong, distinctive odor.
Geographical spread. Peppermint pepper does not grow anywhere in the wild. It is a hybrid, derived in the XVII century in England, probably from the crossing of mint water - Mentha aquatica L. with mint spike - Mentha spicata Huds.or green - Mentha viridis L. Like all hybrids, it reproduces vegetatively - by segments of rhizomes, less often by cuttings. If seeds are formed( which is rare), they give plants that are very different from the parent and almost do not contain menthol.
Mint culture is conducted in specialized state farms of medicinal plants.
Occasionally bred in the garden as a spicy plant.
In our country a number of new varieties of mint have been introduced, resistant to frost and almost not prone to fungal diseases. This is a highly recommended hybrid No. 541, 323 and 324 with high resistance to rust, No. 6-29 and 6-30, which have high cold resistance and resistance to rust. They often grow varieties of "Perpet" and "Multiforma".Leaves with stems are collected in dry weather in the afternoon from June to August.
Collection and drying. In mint, as in other essential oil plants, the accumulation of essential oil occurs together with the growth of leaves. When their growth stops, oxidation( osmolenie) and evaporation of the oil begins, causing its content to decrease. The optimal time for harvesting is the moment when half the flowers in the inflorescences dissolved, while others are still in the bud stage.
Plants mow down with mowers or combines and often dry directly on the field. The harvest is produced after dew drying, in good weather. After drying, the grass is threshed and the stems are discarded( earlier only the leaves that separated were separated, shaking the dry plants with pitchforks).
For the production of essential oil use both dry and fresh grass. In the latter case, the content of menthol is greater, but the yield of oil is somewhat less.
Essential mint oil is produced by hydrodistillation( steam distillation).To increase the content of menthol and other oxygen-bearing terpenoids, it is subjected to rectification( "upgrading"), removing easily boiling fractions of hydrocarbons.
At home, raw materials are collected during flowering, dried in the air in the shade, in attics or under a canopy. It is stored in a dry place. Store in a closed glass container for 2 years.
Mint in dry form contains up to 2% essential oil and almost 40 elements, as well as tannins, magnesium compounds, flavonoids. The therapeutic effect is mainly the essential oil. Beneficial effect on the secretion of bile, causes appetite, improves and breathes, moderately helps with diarrhea and spasms. Used and antiseptic effect of mint, improve it and taste of tea. Peppermint is an integral part of tea blends( "Alvisan", "Betulan", "Children's Tea", etc.).Peppermint is used in the kitchen with other spices for filling, minced meat, marinating meat and shish kebabs, served to cheese, pates, it is added to liqueur and confectionery, into tomato juice, it is often served together with sage to lamb. Mint is used in cosmetics, for the production of toothpaste, cream for massage, creams for rashes.
A peppermint is a part of various fees.
With gastritis with increased secretory function: crushed leaves of mint 15 g, bean 2 g, flower baskets of yarrow 15 g, herbs of St. John's Wort 30 g;2 tbsp.l.mix 2 cups of boiling water, hover for 2 hours, filter and take during the day the whole portion of 1-2 tbsp.l.appointment.
For gastritis with a decreased secretory function: mint leaves 20 grams, marsh drainage marsh and sponges 15 g, yarrow flowers 15 g, chamomile flowers, dill seeds, caraway seeds, valerian root 10 grams, hops 5 g. The mixture is stirred and 4 st.l.pour 1 liter of boiling water, insist in the oven 10:00 In the morning on an empty stomach drink 1 glass, then 1 glass after 2 hours during the day.
The therapeutic activity of peppermint is due to a complex of biologically active substances, among which menthol, belonging to the group of terpenes, is of primary importance and has irritating, antiseptic and anesthetic properties characteristic of this group of substances.
The irritant effect of menthol is selective. First of all, the thermoreceptors of the mucous membranes and skin become irritated, and this causes a sensation of cooling, which is accompanied by a reflex narrowing of the vessels, and then a burning sensation develops, followed by mild anesthesia.
As an external agent, peppermint infusion is used to rinse the oral cavity, with bad breath odor, for baths, washings and compresses with itching neurodermatitis and eczema. In these cases, the therapeutic effect can be significantly enhanced by simultaneous oral administration of the infusion( half a glass 4 times a day).
With a bad smell from the mouth, Bulgarian doctors recommend rinsing the oral cavity with mint infusion on red wine, I simultaneously take this infusion inside 1 tablespoon 2-3 times a day.
Fresh mint leaves are applied to the forehead with severe headache, and the juice of fresh leaves is used to lubricate skin areas affected by superficial uncomplicated mycoses.
Mint is widely used for oral use. When ingested, peppermint preparations intensify the secretion of digestive glands, stimulate appetite, accelerate the evacuation of gastric and intestinal contents( intensify peristalsis), inhibit the processes of putrefaction and fermentation in the digestive canal( act as a carminative), reduce the tone of the smooth muscles of the intestine, bile- and urinary tract(act spasmolytically), increase the bile-forming function of the liver and the secretion of bile in the duodenum( it is interesting that the cholagogue properties of menthol are significantly inferior to similar propertiesare equivalent amount of mint leaves), show sedative and mild hypotensive effect.
Oral treatment with peppermint preparations is recommended for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract( nausea of various origins, vomiting in pregnant women, intestinal colic, flatulence, catarrhal conditions of the digestive tract, non-digestion of fats and other diseases accompanied by spasms) and liver( cholecystitis, hepatitis, cholangitis of variousorigin, cholelithiasis and jaundice), with nervous excitement, insomnia and various neurotic states.
Menthol is used as a light reflex vasodilator for angina pectoris and diseases associated with spasms of the brain vessels. Mint leaves are part of carminative, diaphoretic, choleretic, soothing and gastric tea, mint oil and menthol use perse or as part of phytopreparations and complex remedies.
Leaves, inflorescences and derived from them essential oil are of great economic importance. So, mint oil is used in medicine, in the food industry( in liquor and confectionery production), in perfumery( in the manufacture of tooth powders, pastes, toilet soaps, elixirs, etc.).Essential oil and mint leaves with a peculiar spicy taste and strong pleasant aroma are used in cooking for flavoring sauces, drinks. Menthol and mint oil are exported.
M yata pepper is known as an old remedy. Particularly widespread use in medicine is menthol. It is taken on a piece of sugar with pain in the region of the heart. Assign for impaired function of the gastrointestinal tract. Mint oil is used for diseases of the liver and gallbladder.
Leaves and stems of peppermint contain an essential oil consisting of menthol, menthone, pinene, dipentene, fellandrene, cineole, piplegone, jasmone and menthol esters of valerian and acetic acids. The leaves also contain carotene( up to 40 mg%), gesperedin, betaine, rheumose, glucose, ursolic and mellicic, lenol and oleanolic acids.
Mint oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, causes local narrowing of the vessels, reduces itching of the skin, reflexively dilates the vessels of the heart, brain, lungs.
When ingested increases appetite, reduces nausea, vomiting, hiccups, increases salivation, intestinal motility, has carminative, disinfectant, deodorizing and refreshing action. Menthol removes spasm of the bile ducts, contributing to the separation of bile.
Peppermint leaves are used to make ethereal, peppermint oil and menthol, as well as in pure form as part of the collection and for making infusions and tinctures.
Peppermint preparations are part of Validol, Corvalol, Valocordin, Zelenin drops, which are used for diseases accompanied by spasms of coronary vessels, smooth muscles( hepatic, renal, intestinal colic, nausea, indomitable vomiting, seasickness).
Menthol in a mixture with vaseline( vaseline oil) is used for rhinitis, meningitis, pharyngitis;in a mixture with paraffin - in the form of pencils for rubbing with migraine.
In Chinese medicine, mint preparation is used as a choleretic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, deodorant, sweating and local anesthetic;mint grass is referred to as "eye grass";its oil is recommended for washing eyes.
In folk medicine, peppermint is used to treat cardiac, pulmonary diseases, especially after bleeding from the lungs, as a sedative for nervous( hypochondria, hysteria), as it strengthens with the decline of strength. Decoction of herbs is drunk with pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, coughing, heart pains, nausea, heartburn, chronic nephritis in combination with other medicines, with cholera, rheumatism, as a diuretic, diaphoretic, anti-cold and quenching toothache. In the form of a hot water infusion is used as a soothing, anticonvulsant and appetite-improving agent.
Peppermint is used for gastritis, with increased gastric acidity. In such cases, a collection of peppermint leaves is used: 15 grams, beans -2 tons, yarrow flowers 15 grams, dill seeds 15 grams, St. John's Wort 30 grams. Spoons of the mixture are poured with 2 cups of boiling water, hover for 2 hours, filtered and taken during the day by sips.
Mint leaves are consumed in case of heavy menstruation, diarrhea, with hemorrhoids, and also as a quick-acting external remedy with severe headache( fresh leaves must be applied to the forehead), with burns green leaves are applied through a linen cloth.
The same medical application has people and water mint, not unlike peppery, except that its height is lower and it grows in wet places.
In people, both peppermint and water mint are used internally and externally for rickets and scrofula( in children), or as drops of tincture or juice inside( dripping on sugar), or broths( for baths).
Mint oil is a part of tooth powder, toothpaste, and also used in distillery and confectionery.
With bleeding from the lungs, a simple decoction of mint is used with success, and with bloody vomiting - a decoction on the vinegar.
Broth: 5 to 20 g per 200 ml;1 tbsp.spoon 3-4 times a day for 30 minutes before eating.
Decoction on the vinegar: 20 g per 200 ml;1-2 tablespoons 1-2 times a day.
Infusion: 20 g of leaves per 500 ml of boiling water, insist for 2 hours and allow to drink to the patient.
Tincture of 15 or 30%: for 15-40 drops 3 times a day.
Decoction for baths and enemas: 50 grams per bucket of water or 1- 2 st.spoons of tincture on a bucket of water.
Tea carminative and cholagogue: 1 teaspoon of herb brew as tea, take 1/2 cup 2 times a day.
Gastric tea: 1 teaspoon per cup of boiling water, brew like tea, take 2-3 tablespoons.spoons 30 minutes before meals.
Powder: 3-4 pinches 1-2 times a day, with water.
Peppermint tea:
1. Leaves of mint and sea-buckthorn 1: 1.For 1 handful of leaves for 3-5 boiling water, insist 5-6 hours, strain, add 0.5 cups of honey, chill. Healing properties: fortifying drink.
2. Mint leaves and cowberry, green tea - 1: 1: 3.Brew and drink like regular tea. Healing properties: the same.
3. Casting mint, black currant, raspberry -1: 1: 1.Brew and drink like regular tea. Healing properties: the same.
4.1 h. Crushed leaves in 200 ml boiling water, infuse for 5 minutes. Drink with honey or sugar. Healing properties: a soothing drink.
5. Mint leaves, black tea - 1: 3.Brew and drink like tea. Drink with a pleasant smell. Relieves headache. Healing properties: the same.
6. Mint leaves, herb oregano and St. John's wort - 1: 1: 1.1 hour. Dry mixture at 1 tbsp.boiling water, insist 5-8 minutes. Drink with sugar, xylitol, honey, jam. Healing properties: too.
Tea balsam: dried mint leaves, dried chamomile flowers, Georgian tea 5 g per 1 tbsp.boiling water. Blend in a porcelain teapot with boiling water, insist 5-8 minutes. Healing properties: the same.
Essential peppermint oil and menthol contained in it, when applied topically, irritate the skin and mucous membranes, a feeling of cold, light burning and tingling, and then warmth. This is due to irritation of sensitive skin receptors and local hyperemia. With internal application, peppermint preparations increase intestinal peristalsis and cause hyperemia of internal organs, have spasmolytic, choleretic, carminative, deodorant and antiemetic effects. As a choleretic and anti-nausea remedy use the infusion of mint leaves at the rate of 5 g. Of raw material per 200 ml of water. Assign 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
Mint tincture, used as an analgesic for neuralgic pains and antiemetic, is an alcoholic solution of peppermint oil( 1:20), colored with chlorophyll. Assigned by 10-15 drops at the reception.
Mint water - Aqua Menthae is used to improve the taste of medicines, to rinse your mouth as a deodorant.
Menthol is a part of various medicines, tooth drops, pastes, powder, etc.
Collection
Required:
2 tbsp.spoons of leaves of mother-and-stepmother, 1 tbsp.a spoonful of roots of elecampane and licorice naked, herbs of peppermint and marshweed, Sweet 250 ml of water.
Method of preparation.
Vegetable components are dried and ground.1 tbsp. Spoon the mixture with pour boiling water, infuse for 1 hour, strain. .
Method of use.
Take 1/2 cup 3 times a day.
Lotion with peppermint from lichen
Required:
3 tbsp.spoons of herb peppermint, 250 ml of water.
Method of preparation.
Pour boiling water on mint grass, insist 1 hour, drain.
How to use.
Wet the gauze cloth in the infusion and attach to the affected areas.
Mint tincture when drunk
Required:
1 teaspoon peppermint leaves, 1 glass of vodka.
Method of preparation.
For preparation of tincture pour the dried leaves of mint with vodka, insist for 1 week, then strain.
How to use.
For sobering, dilute 20 drops of tincture of mint in 1 glass of cold water and drink.
Tincture
Requires: 1 tbsp.l.dried crushed peppermint leaves, 1 liter of beer.
Method of preparation. Pour mint with hot beer, insist 3 hours, strain.
How to use. Take 1/2 cup 3 times a day, regardless of food intake.
Treatment with Mint Bath
Bath with mint affects the body in much the same way as a bath with lemon juice. For her, you need to take 5 tablespoons chopped mint leaves, pour 1 liter of boiling water and insist under the lid for half an hour. Mint infusion strain and pour into a bath with water temperature of 36-37 ° C.This bath can be prepared in another way. To do this, dry mint leaves should be placed in a gauze pouch and fastened under the faucet in such a way that hot water flows into the bath through it. Then dilute the hot water cold to the desired temperature. Mint baths are taken once in 7 days. The duration of each procedure is 15-20 minutes, the course of treatment is no more than 7 procedures.
Contraindications
It should be remembered that an overdose of menthol or other mint preparations can cause a harmful side effect of local and general obscurant nature. Contraindicated smearing menthol mucous membranes of the nose and nasopharynx in children, as possible reflex inhibition and stopping breathing. With age, the threat of poisoning with menthol decreases( decreases).