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Peppermint has always been a very popular flavoring for chewing gum, tea and toothpaste, it is also been a very popular remedy for soothing an upset stomach and calming the indigestive system.... |
Peppermint has always been a very popular flavoring for chewing gum, tea and toothpaste, it is also been a very popular remedy for soothing an upset stomach and calming the indigestive system. Peppermint has been used to successfully treat skin irritations, headaches, depression and anxiety, nausea, diarrhea, problems with periods and the flatulence. It is one of the most versatile of all plants and herbs.
Digestive aid
Peppermint is particularly useful when it comes to soothing and calming indigestion, this is due to its properties calming the muscles of the stomach and improving the flow of the bile. This action enables food that we eat to pass through the body in a natural way, however while peppermint is useful for a wide variety of conditions it shouldn’t be used if the indigestion could be due to gastoesophageal reflux disease.
There have been a number of studies made into the effectiveness of peppermint when used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Certain symptoms of this illness can cause pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea.
Menstrual cramps
Because peppermint is well known in its ability to relax muscles it is effective when used to relieve painful cramps associated with menstrual periods. Peppermint oil is also known to be particular effective for treating and breaking down gallstones. Peppermint oil is also known to have antiviral properties that can help to provide protection and deal with a large number of infectious agents, including the virus herpes.
Skin Uses
Peppermint can also be used topically and applied to the skin and is often used to soothe a wide variety of skin irritations. Peppermint can help to soothe the skin and relive itching from such as poison ivy, poison oak and hives.
Cold and Flu remedy
Peppermint is one of the main ingredients in many of the popular flu and cold remedies; it has been included in many remedies for the relief of stuffiness of the nasal passages due to peppermint thinning out mucus. It has also been used widely in many cough remedies sold over-the-counter as peppermint is well known for its suppressant properties. It is especially soothing for coughs both dry and chesty as it soothes the passages and also helps the sufferer to get rid of excess phlegm.
Headaches
Peppermint has also been used in the relief of tension headaches and is now one of the main ingredients in a popular over the counter remedies for applying to the forehead.
The majority of products that contain peppermint are made from the leaves and the flowering top part of the peppermint; these are the parts that contain the plants volatile oil and the plants primary active compound, menthol. It is available in a huge range of forms, in the form of a tea to be drunk, a topical cream, a tincture or in capsule form.
While peppermint is considered to be one of the relatively safer forms of herbal remedies it can occasionally cause some adverse effects in certain people. Certain considerations should always be taken and common sense applied, for instance nursing mothers and pregnant women should use preparations of peppermint only very occasionally.
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