Using
Peppermint as a herbal medicine
For
centuries, peppermint has been used to provide relief for indigestion,
headaches and colds. Today, this powerful medicinal herb is
used to soothe digestive complaints and ease indigestion and nausea.
Peppermint is cultivated world wide for use as a natural flavouring
agent and also as an herbal medicine. This hybrid of
spearmint has oval, pointed leaves that are either dark green or purple
and lilac-coloured flowers. The leaves and stems are
harvested for medicinal purposes just before the flowers bloom.
What gives this herb its healing qualities is its volatile
oil, which are made up of several compounds namely menthol, menthone
and menthyl acetate. Peppermint oil is made into an herbal
medicine by steam-distilling the parts of the plant that grow above the
ground.
Some of the common uses of peppermint include relieving heartburn,
nausea and indigestion, easing the symptoms of diverticular disorder
and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dissolving gallstones, soothing
muscle aches, sweetening the breath and easing coughs.
Peppermint oil appears in more commercial products than any
other herb. It is included in antacids, mouthwashes and
toothpastes.
The oil obtained from this herbal remedy relaxes the muscles of the
digestive tract which helps to relieve intestinal cramping and also
flatulence. Peppermint has antispasmodic properties that are
beneficial to people suffering from IBS, which is a disorder
characterized by abdominal cramps, diarrhea alternating with
constipation and indigestion. In a study conducted at the
Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan, patients who used
peppermint oil capsules reported significant relief from the symptoms
of IBS. Abdominal pain disappeared completely or was greatly reduced
and patients reported less bloating and flatulence.
The menthol contained in peppermint herbal
medicines stimulates the flow of digestive juices and bile, thereby
aiding digestion. This has made peppermint a popular
ingredient in over-the-counter antacids. Several studies have
also indicated that menthol aids in dissolving gallstones.
It is important though to find out how serious your condition
is before using peppermint as an herbal alternative to gallstone
surgery.
Drinking peppermint tea will relieve nausea and motion sickness.
Peppermint tea is a safe, natural herbal remedy for pregnant
women suffering from morning sickness. Flatulence and bloating is also
eased when drinking this herbal tea.
Rubbing peppermint oil on the skin relieves pain by stimulating the
nerves that perceive cold and dulling the nerves that sense pain.
This makes it a valuable herbal medicine for aching muscles.
Commission E, which is a German health board that is an authority on
the research of herbs, found that peppermint was an effective
decongestant that also reduced inflammation of the nasal passages.
Inhaling peppermint oil when you have a cold will ease your
breathing and drinking peppermint tea is effective to relieve bronchial
spasms.
Research conducted at the University of Kiel in Germany showed that
when applying a mixture of peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil to the
forehead and temples, the pain of headaches and migraines were
significantly reduced.
What are the side effects
of Peppermint?
Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal
medications should you be under their care.
Used in the recommended doses, peppermint generally has no side
effects, even if used for prolonged periods. One of the rare
side effects is a skin rash when applying peppermint oil directly to
the skin, simply discontinue use if this occurs.
How do I use Peppermint?
Take enteric-coated capsules between meals. Enteric-coated
capsules are capsules that are coated with a material that permits
transit through the stomach to the small intestine without the medicine
contained being absorbed by the stomach.
Drink peppermint tea after or between meals. To take a
peppermint tincture, put 10 to 20 drops in a glass of water.
To treat IBS, nausea and gallstones, try enteric-coated capsules
containing at least 0,2 ml peppermint oil per capsule. These
capsules will release the oil where it is needed most - in the small
and large intestine instead of in the stomach. Take 1 or 2
capsules three times a day between meals.
To freshen your breath, place a few drops of peppermint oil on your
tongue.
To soothe indigestion and relieve flatulence, make peppermint tea by
using one or two teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves in a cup of
boiled water. Allow to steep for 5-10 minutes. Take
care to cover the cup to make sure that volatile oils that make
peppermint a beneficial herbal medicine do not evaporate.
To ease congestion and coughs, drink up to four cups of peppermint tea
brewed as above.
To relieve muscles aches and pain, add a few drops of peppermint oil to
15 ml of a neutral oil and apply to the affected areas up to four times
daily. You can also add a few drops of oil to aqueous cream.
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