Peppermint is a perennial plant, which doesn’t produce seeds. This hybrid mint plant is something between spearmint and watermint. Peppermint grows up to 30-90 cm tall and has purple flowers. The plant is native to Europe, but now is cultivated throughout the world. It is the oldest flavour usually used in tea, chewing gum, toothpaste, sweets and ice cream. Sometimes it is also used in skin care products. Peppermint flowers attract bees, so even honey can be produced. Peppermint oil is extremely useful. There is a great number of benefits of peppermint oil.
Perhaps you’ve heard about a wide range of peppermint essential oil uses. It can be used internally in capsules as dietary supplements and externally for skin care. Here is the list of medicinal uses for peppermint oil:
- indigestion;
- irritable bowel syndrome;
- heartburn;
- vomiting;
- morning sickness;
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- gases;
- coughs;
- colds;
- mouth and throat inflammation;
- respiratory and sinus infections;
- menstrual problems;
- gallbladder and liver problems;
- muscle pain;
- toothache;
- nerve pain;
- headache;
- joints problems;
- allergic rash;
- repelling mosquitoes;
- viral and bacterial infections;
- itching.
Almost everyone knows about peppermint tea benefits. You can add essential peppermint oil to your herbal tea or easily cook very useful and aromatic tea using fresh mint leves yourself. Just add some fresh or dried leaves to the boiled water, cover and steep for about 10 minutes. You can add lemon and honey to the mint tea to make it more useful and delicious. Enjoy drinking peppermint tea whenever you want and grow mint yourself!
HOW TO GROW MINT:
- Peppermint grows almost everywhere.
- The location should be partially shaded.
- It is better to use semi-fertile soil.
- Try container gardening and you will be satisfied with the results.
- Frosty weather is not the best variant for starting growing mint, you should remember it.
- Transplant the rooted sprig into a container.
- Water it frequently for the first year.
- Trim the top and prevent it from growing too tall.
- Every two-three years split the plant.
- Harvest fresh leaves from the late spring till the early autumn.
- You should harvest it before the frost as much as possible each year.
- And finally use it!
Possibly there can be the following side effects of using peppermint: hearburn, allergic reaction (headache, flushing, mouth sores). Using peppernint is safe in food and madicinal amounts even for children, breast-feeding and pregnant women.