Mint? I thought it was just a flavor for toothpaste and chewing gum.

It is amazing to discover and rediscover certain half-baked truths which linger in our minds until one day, we let go of such fallacies; just like that. Today is one of such days I can assure you.

So, let me make this public service announcement: Mint is a herbal plant! Now, lets begin to unlearn what we have held unto all these years that mint is an extract which makes our brushing and gum chewing experiences quite pleasant and refreshing.To make this unlearning and relearning process less-cumbersome for us, let's take a closer look at a comprehensive profile of this invigorating herbal plant. Let's call this an amateur guide to mint, shall we?

 

Unlearn and Relearn

Ever since I discovered this plant a couple of years ago, I have become a huge fan and daily user of its leaves for different purposes. Automatically, I have also become a herbal plant gardener with spearmint and peppermint as my flagship varieties since this aromatic plant is easily found all over the world.


Mint leaves are popularly called Pudina in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi & Marathi, Pudhina ilai in Tamil, Pudina Akulu in Telugu, Pudina Elegalu in Kannada, Putina Ila in Malayalam and Phodina in Gujarati.It has anti allergic, anti inflammatory, antioxidant, anti ulcer, anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti depressant, anti cancer, radio protective, analgesic and anti allergic properties. Nutritional Value:100 grams of mint contains around 48 calories, 200 mg of calcium, 15. 6 mg of iron, 27 mg of vitamin c and .26 gm of riboflavin. Mint leaves contains around 4.8 % protein, very tiny amount of fat, 2% fiber and 5.8 % carbohydrates. In addition to the vitamins mentioned, they also contain vitamin D and E.

Medicinal Purposes

• Digestive Health: Fresh mint leaves are full of antioxidants and has a soothing effect on the stomach and can be used as a remedy for stomach cramps, indigestion, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. Mint tea is one of the best remedies for indigestion, drink a cup of mint tea whenever you suffer from indigestion. 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. Mint tea is considered a carminative, meaning that it helps to move gas through the body as it accumulates, rather than causing bloating, cramping, and stomach discomfort. The tea also stimulates bile flow to increase the rate and efficiency of digestion and promote healthy bowel movements.

• Oral Health: Mint extract is the number one ingredient used in toothpastes and mouth washes for it's wonderful refreshing taste and also due its anti bacterial properties. At home, I boil mint leaves with sea salt and use it as a mouthwash, works really well as a mouth wash.

• Glowing Skin: Mint is one the best herbs to use for skin care. It bleaches the skin naturally resulting in brighter skin instantly. It also fights off acne causing bacteria but when we apply fresh mint paste it causes burning sensation so if you have sensitive skin, please do patch test before applying it on the skin. 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, as well as being a good way to reduce pimples, and 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 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.

• For Immunity: Mint leaves are packed full of nutrients and vitamins and also is rich in antioxidants. Regular intake of mint leaves will improve immunity greatly.

• 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.

• Cough & Cold: Menthol found in the mint leaves helps open up nasal passages and it is also greatly comforting to drink mint tea when we have a cold or cough.

• Aches & Pain: Mint tea is also a good remedy for treating body ache, headache and since it has anti spasmodic properties, it also reduces menstrual pain.

• 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! It stimulates the digestive enzymes that absorb nutrients from food and consume fat and turn 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!

• Allergies and Hay Fever: Season allergies and hay fever (also known as rhinitis) affect millions of people around the world at certain times of the year. Extracts from mint leaves have been shown to inhibit the release of certain chemicals, which have been known to aggravate severe nasal symptoms that are associated with hay fever and seasonal allergies.

Fruit Salad garnished with spearmint and parsely

Consuming mint also fights off fatigue and depression and improves our mood, prevents nausea, allergies and asthma. The best way to use mint is in it's fresh form, plucked fresh from the plant. But if you don't get fresh leaves, you can also try the dried leaves or the mint powder we get in the shops. You can also powder your own by shade drying the leaves and powdering in a dry mixer. In addition to the recipes given below, you can also chew on fresh mint leaves to prevent nausea and freshen up the breath. 

Peppermint Plant

                                      
Some Useful Recipes

Ramya from Wild Tumeric shares some great home recipes for common problems.

• Mint & Salt Tooth Powder: This homemade salt and mint tooth powder recipe is excellent in preventing tooth decay and helps fight mouth odor very effectively. Mint has natural antibacterial properties and used as a tooth powder like this without any chemical additives, it is very effective. To make this homemade tooth powder, first collect fresh mint that are not sprayed with pesticides. Spread it on a plate and sun dry it still crisp. Take the common crystal salt that we use for cooking and powder it finely in a mortar and pestle. Once it is pounded well, add the dried mint leaves and pound every thing together till it becomes a fine powder. This powder can be stored for weeks in a glass bottle. To use, take the required amount of powder in a small cup. Wet your tooth brush in water and dip it in the powder and brush your mouth and rinse off. This powder whitens the teeth naturally and freshens your breath.

• Mint Tea For Cough, Cold & Acidity: Mint tea is so refreshing and it also a wonderful remedy for so many ailments. It aids digestion, soothes irritated stomach and sore throat, reduces acidity, bloating, gas and menstrual pain and is also a good remedy for allergies and acne. To make the tea, take either fresh or dried leaves in a cup and pour boiling water on top and steep. You can sweeten with honey, if you prefer. This is the basic tea recipe, but you can modify it by including green tea, lemon, etc.

• Mint Juice For Weight Loss & Glowing Skin: Mint juice is one of the best refreshing juices we can have during hot summer months. It is packed with vitamins and minerals; certainly a healthier alternative to juices on the market. To make the juice, take half a cup of fresh mint in the mixer along with a tsp of fresh lemon juice, 1/4'th tsp of black salt along with a cup of chilled water and blend. Strain and add honey to taste. This drink can be included in a weight loss diet.

• Mint & lemon Hair Pack For Dandruff: Mint and lemon make a wonderful combination in getting rid of dandruff naturally. For the remedy, extract fresh mint juice by grinding fresh mint leaves along with little water. Strain and add equal quantities of lemon juice to it. Apply this mixture all over the scalp, wait for 10 minutes before washing it off.

• Mint Mouth Wash: This mouth wash helps get rid of mouth odor very effectively. It can also be used as a gargle for treating sore throat. To make it, boil a cup of water along with a handful of mint leaves and 1/2 tsp of sea salt. Once the color of the water changes, switch off, let cool and strain.

One peculiar property of mint that seems quite contrary to its traditional cooling and soothing effects is that it induces sweating if consumed during fever, thereby breaking the fever and speeding the rate of recovery. Mint juice can also be applied to heal and soothe burns. It is also beneficial in the treatment of rheumatism. Furthermore, the herb is also said to improve the activity of the brain, although legitimate and consistent research on its neurological impact has yet to be completed.

Are you feeling tired or bored after unlearning to relearn all these about mint? Why don’t you have a stick of mint chewing gum or chew on the leaves? That may be just the refreshing boost you need!

A post to the wise is more than enough!

You are welcome to join our WhatsApp Group (+233205763300). The raison d’être of this support group is to build a community of healthy life enthusiasts, gardeners and clean/organic eaters. We believe that, by journeying this least-traveled path here in Ghana, we can begin to champion preventive health habits in our daily nutritional choices.


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