FAMILY
Labiatae

SPECIES
Mentha species

DESCRIPTION
Most mints, including the best known Spearmint and Peppermint, are creeping plants that hybridize easiliy, producing infinite variations. they have erect, square, branching stems, aromatic foliage, and flowers in leaf-axils.

USES
Spearmint, Peppermint, and Applemint flavour sauces, vinegar, vegetables, desserts, and julep, and are crystallized. their teas are popular in the alcohol free Arab world. Spearmint and Peppermint oils have a mild anaesthetic action, and a cool, refreshing taste. They flavour confectionary, drinks, cigarettes, toothpastes, and medicines. Mints are stimulant, aid digestion, and reduce flatulence. Peppermint has additional antiseptic, antiparasitic, anti-viral, and sweet inducing properties. ýt is included in ointments, cold remedies, and is given for headaches and other aches and pains. In an inhalation the essential oil traets shock and nausea, and improves concentration.

PARTS USED
Aerial parts:
These relax the muscles of the digestive tract and stimulate bile flow, so are useful for indigestion, flatuþence, colic and similar conditions. Thay reduce nausea and can be helpful for travel sickness; they aslo promote sweating in fevers and influenza. Harvest just before flowering.

Essential Oils:
Peppermint oil comtains large amounts of menthol. In fairly high doses, it is analgesic and calming. It is also cooling, so is good for skin complaints, fevers, or headaches and migraines linked to over-heating. Antibacterial, it can help combat infections. Used as an inhalant, it clears nasal congestion.

APPLICATIONS

Aerial parts:
Infusion: Take for nausea, travel sickness, indigestion, flatulence, colic, feverish conditions and migraines.

Tincture: Use for the same conditions as the infusion.

Compress: Soak a pad in the infusion to cool infþamed joints or for rheumatism or neurelgia.

Inhalation: Put a few fresh leaves in boiling water, and inhale to ease nasal congestion.

Essential Oils:
Wash: Use 2*3 drops of oil in 10 ml water for skin irritations, itching, burns, inflamamtions, scabies and ringworm, or to repel mosquitos.

Inhalation: 2-3 drops of oil in a saucer of water left in the room at night will reduce nasal congestions.

Massage Oil: Dilute 5-10 drops peppermint oil for headaches, fever or period pain, or to relieve milk congestion when breastfeeding.

CAUTIONS
Avoid prolonged use of the essential oil as an inhalant.

Mint can irritate the mucous membranes and should not be given to children formore than a week without a break. Do not give any form of mint directly to young babies.

Peppermint can reduce milk flow, so take with caution internally while breastfeeding, or use spearmint instead.