Mint, the popular herb has several benefits which
include proper digestion and weight loss, relief from nausea, depression,
fatigue and headache, treatment of asthma, memory loss, and skin care problems.
Mint, the well-known mouth and breath freshener that is scientifically known as
Mentha, has more than two dozen species and hundreds of varieties. It is an
herb that has been used for hundreds of years for its remarkable medicinal
properties.
The market is full of products like tooth paste,
chewing gum, breath fresheners, candy and inhalers which have mint as their
base element. Most of us are familiar with the refreshing application of mint,
but it has far more to offer than that.
Health Benefits of Mint Leaves
The health benefits of mint include the
following:
Digestion: Mint is a great appetizer or
palate cleanser, and it promotes digestion. It also soothes stomachs in cases
of indigestion or inflammation. When your stomach feels sick, drinking a cup of
mint tea can give you relief. Also, if you are someone who travels long
distances via plane or boat, the menthol oil derived from mint can be very soothing
for nausea and related motion sickness.
The aroma of the herb activates the salivary
glands in our mouth as well as glands which secrete digestive enzymes, thereby
facilitating digestion. These attributes are why mint is extensively used in
the culinary arts. Much of the western world includes mint as a part of
appetizers or as an element of palate cleansers, to be eaten before the main
course so the food will digest comfortably.
Nausea & Headache: Mint leaves,
especially freshly crushed leaves help you deal with nausea and headache. The
strong and refreshing aroma of mint is a quick and effective remedy for nausea.
Use mint oil or any other product having mint flavor and your stomach issues
will be alleviated. In fact, many people keep menthol oil or mint-flavored
products with them at all times to avoid nausea. Balms with a mint base or
basic mint oil, when rubbed on the forehead and nose, gives quick relief in
case of a headache. The herb is a naturally soothing substance, so it can
alleviate the inflammation and temperature rise that is often associated with
headaches and migraines.
Respiratory Disorders and Coughs: The
strong aroma of the herb is very effective in clearing up congestion of the
nose, throat, bronchi and lungs, which gives relief from respiratory disorders
that often result from asthma and the common cold. As mint cools and soothes
the throat, nose and other respiratory channels, it relieves the irritation
which causes chronic coughing. This is the main reason why so many balms are
based on mint. Unlike the inhalers that are based on aerosols, those with mint
as the fundamental component tend to be more effective and eco-friendly as
well.
Asthma: Regular use of mint is very
beneficial for asthma patients, as it is a good relaxant and relieves
congestion. That being said, using too much mint in this way can also irritate
the nose and throat.
Breast Feeding: For many women, breastfeeding
is a beautiful part of raising a child, but it can seriously damage your
breasts and nipples. Studies have shown that mint oil can reduce the
nipple cracks and nipple pain that so often accompany breastfeeding.
Depression and Fatigue: Mint is
a natural stimulant, and the smell alone can be enough to charge your
batteries and get your brain functioning on a high level again. If you are
feeling sluggish, anxious, depressed, or simply exhausted, mint and its
derivative essential oils can help. It can be ingested, applied topically in a
salve form, or inhaled as a vapor, and all of those techniques can give you a
much-needed boost! A popular way to get good results in an easy manner is to
put a few drops of mint essential oil or menthol oil on your pillow at night
and let it work on your body and mind while you sleep.
Skin Care and Pimples: While mint oil is a
good antiseptic and anti-pruritic material, mint juice is an excellent skin
cleanser. It soothes skin, and helps to cure infections and itchiness. In
addition to being a good way to reduce pimples, it can even relieve some of the
symptoms of acne. Its anti-pruritic properties can be used for treating insect bites
like those of mosquitoes, honeybees, hornets, wasps, and gnats. The cooling
sensation will relieve you of the irritating sensation and the constant urge to
scratch, and the anti-inflammatory nature of mint will bring down swelling! In
that same vein, mint oil is often a basic component of bug repellent products
like citronella candles, because the strong aroma is unappealing to most
insects.
Memory Loss: A recent study explored the
effects that mint has on alertness, retention, and cognitive function. It found
that people who frequently use chewing gum, whose major active ingredient is
mint, had higher levels of memory retention and mental alertness than those who
did not. The stimulant qualities of mint, once again, have shown yet another
reason to pop that stick of gum in your mouth, or chew some leaves when you’re
feeling less than brilliant!
Weight Loss: Aside from all the other
health benefits of mint, it also can help in your efforts to lose weight in a
healthy way! Mint is a stimulant, as we’ve already mentioned, but it also stimulates
the digestive enzymes that absorb nutrients from food and consume
fat, and turns it into usable energy. Therefore, by adding mint to your diet,
you are increasing the amount of fat that is being consumed and put to use,
rather than being stored and contributing to your weight gain!
Female Sterility: There are mixed
opinions regarding the role of mint in treating this condition. Some argue that
prolonged use of menthol may cause sterility, reducing a woman’s ability to
conceive by interfering with the production of ova and killing these gametes.
This is due to the germicidal and insecticidal properties of the herb, which
are beneficial for so many other health concerns. Other research has claimed
that men who smoke menthol cigarettes are more likely to suffer from impotency
than those who smoke normal cigarettes. It is not certain whether this is due
to the tobacco alone or if the mentholated aspect has anything do with it.
Another group or researchers suggest that mint may actually be used to treat sterility
in females. Suffice to say, a great deal of further research must be done on
the effects of mint in both male impotency and female sterility.
