Peppermint

Mentha piperita

 

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Lamiaceae, or mint family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Peppermint is thought to have originated in Northern Africa and the Mediterranean, and may be a hybrid between M. spicata and M. aquatica. Peppermint was eventually introduced to Europe where it also became a popular culinary and medicinal herb. In North America, peppermint was brought over around the 1800s. Michigan has the most acres under cultivation in the US, and altogether the US produces about half the world's peppermint. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Aerial parts ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Carminative
• Diaphoretic
• Febrifuge (reduces fever)
• Expectorant
• Stimulant
• Nervine
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antispasmodic
• Aromatic
• Antiemetic
• Antimicrobial
• Analgesic ^{[1, 2]}
5. Indications:
• GI upset
• Nausea/vomiting
• Motion sickness
• Flatulence
• Stimulates bile flow
• Hiccups
• Ulcers
• Fevers/colds/influenza
• Stuffy nose
• Headaches
• Anxiety/tension
• Dysmenorrhea
• Skin inflammation/itching ^[2]

6. Plant Constituents:
• Phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, rosmarinic), essential oil (menthol), flavonoids, tannins ^[2]
7. System Affinities:
• Digestive, respiratory, nervous, circulatory, lymphatic, integumentary, immune ^{[2, 3]}  
8. Energetics:
• Light, slow, cooling ^[3]
9. Safety:
• No contraindications known. ^[2]
10. Interactions:
• None known. ^[2]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• We were given dried mint leaves. They are a beautiful dark green and purple color. They smell minty and surprisingly sweet.
2. Preparation Method:
• Hot Infusion: 1 cup boiling water over a heaping tsp of dried herb and infuse, covered, for 10 mins. Drink freely. ^[2]
• Tincture: (1:5 in 40%) 1-2 mL 3x/day.
3. Usage Notes:
• First, I made a hot infusion. As a warm tea, I felt this infusion was soothing to my mouth and throat, but it also made me feel a bit like I had heartburn. I suspect the “light” qualities are exacerbated by a heated preparation.
• The cold version felt more mucilaginous to me. It didn’t give me the same kind of feeling in my stomach; it felt more heavy.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 4 Study Questions. Bastyr University: SP-18_MW5123-A Botanicals 3: Pregnancy.
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.