Peppermint: health benefits and harms

Mint is a perennial plant that has pointed oblong leaves and small flowers. A few centuries ago, people began to make tea from this herb. This culture helps to cope with various diseases, and the presence of a pleasant smell of menthol gives the plant a refreshing and tonic effect. The product has long been the subject of study by doctors and scientists.

Types of mint

Useful and harmful properties of mint are not dependent on the variety. The difference is only in some features of the taste. There are wild varieties of plants. The field mint crop belongs to them, it grows most often in fields or in forests with rare trees. It is characterized by a delicate taste and aroma, the smell of menthol is not very pronounced.

1. Catnip grows near the road, on the slopes and also in rare forests. It tastes like lemon in taste and aroma. Especially like cats.
2. For mint, growth in humid areas is characteristic. Has a pronounced smack of menthol. The smell is specific.
3. A fragrant herb species grows in the Mediterranean. It has a menthol smell, the taste of this mint is muffled.
4. A Japanese plant grows in Japan, characterized by the presence of a large number of essential oils. Taste and aroma pronounced menthol.

There is forest mint, which is also called oregano or oregano. It grows in forest areas, has no smell and taste of menthol.

Garden varieties of mint plants are also known. These include the pepper variety. It was bred in the 16th century in England. It is characterized by the presence of a bright, slightly bitter taste.

1. Curly mint grows in northern Africa. It is cultivated in Russia, in European countries. It has a faint aroma.
2. The aroma of chocolate mint combines the scents of menthol, chocolate and lemon. The plant prefers sunny and moist areas.
3. Mexican mint is also called a lofant. It has a sharp spicy smell, but not menthol.

What is the difference between mint and lemon balm

Outwardly, mint and lemon balm are very similar, and it is very easy for a person inexperienced in this area to confuse these plants. Even if a mistake was made when choosing such a spice, do not worry, since both of these cultures will not spoil the aroma of the dish. By their useful properties, these herbs also have practically no differences. The main thing - you need to remember that each of the plants has certain limitations in use and can cause an allergic reaction in people with high sensitivity. That is why it is important to learn to distinguish between lemon balm and mint.

Mint is presented in the form of a long and straight stalk, at the top of which there are flowers collected in an inflorescence-spikelet. The color of such a plant is from pale lilac to saturated violet. Color depends on the natural conditions of growth, cultivars.An adult bush can have a height of not more than one meter.

The stem of lemon balm branches from the very bottom, from the part where the plant protrudes to the surface of the soil. Flowers are collected in rings that encircle shoots located along the entire length at a small distance from each other. In height, such grass can reach 50 centimeters, but such a height is quite rare. The leaves of the culture have an ovoid shape.

These two medicinal plants differ not only in appearance, but also in smell. For mint, a pronounced mint fragrance is characteristic. The smell of lemon balm is similar to the aromas of citrus fruits, especially lemon. Bees prefer the second culture more, therefore in the summer period this plant can be determined precisely by the presence of a large amount of these insects on them.

You can distinguish two varieties of medicinal herbs to taste. Mint has a refreshing mint flavor. If you carefully chew lemon balm, you can feel the taste of lemon. This spice is often added to lemonade. At the same time, lemon balm can easily replace the main component of this drink.

As for the beneficial properties, herbalists will say that mint is designed to invigorate and tone up, while lemon balm has a calming effect and has a beneficial effect on the functions of the nervous system. This is due to the composition of these herbs. Mint contains essential oils, saturated acids, fats and dietary fiber, as well as vitamins A, C, minerals such as Fe, Cu, P.

The composition of lemon balm is not so rich, but it also contains a number of compounds that positively affect the human body. Of the minerals found here are magnesium, manganese and iron. Of the vitamins in mint, all types of group B are present, as well as a small amount of retinol and ascorbic acid. In addition, the composition of lemon balm includes fats.

There are no dietary fibers and esters in melissa, therefore it is possible to enrich the body only with vitamins and mineral components.

Composition and calorie content

Peppermint has gained great popularity in the manufacture of medicines, in addition, it is widely used in the culinary field, as well as in the field of cosmetology. This variety is the result of the crossing of two varieties - water and garden mint culture. Currently, it is growing everywhere, so it is not difficult to get it and use it for its intended purpose.

In particular, it is worth noting the chemical composition of the product. First of all, it should be noted that mint contains a lot of essential oil. Foliage and stem are enriched with menthol - a component that provides spice with a specific flavor and aromatic properties.

In addition, a number of acids can be distinguished in the grass, such as ursolic, ascorbic, coffee, olean and others. The plant component also contains flavonoids, amino acids and tannins. Of the amino acids in the plant, arginine and rutin are present. Mint is also not deprived of vitamins, such as C, A, E, as well as group B.

Fresh and dried raw materials contain a large list of mineral elements. This list contains K, Na, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cr, etc.

It is possible to use in healing practice not only essential oil, fresh or dried leaves, but also grass seeds. They are concentrated elements that restore the work of the gastrointestinal tract. This is due to the fact that most of the pharmacological preparations used to eliminate heartburn and gastritis have a minty flavor.

The calorie content of a fresh plant is 67 kcal per 100 g of grass. However, this indicator is usually not taken into account when mint is consumed. After all, a huge list of useful characteristics can block any calorie indicators.

Useful properties of mint

General benefit

1. The most important advantage of peppermint is the ability to normalize the functions of the nervous system. A cup of tea from the leaves of this plant after a hard day will help calm down and improve well-being.In addition, a mint drink is used to eliminate insomnia and fatigue.
2. Peppermint helps strengthen memory by stimulating brain neurons, improves concentration and visual perception. Herb tea is especially useful for the elderly, who are at risk of dementia.
3. This plant is able to expand blood vessels, resulting in improved blood circulation, cholesterol deposits. This is a reliable prevention of atherosclerosis.
4. Mint is a natural product, it is often used as a substitute for synthetic elements in medicines. In addition, it is part of chewing gum. Mint is able to disinfect the oral cavity and prevent the development of caries.
5. Known benefits of mint leaves for the digestive tract. They increase appetite and stimulate the secretion of gastric juice, which provides better absorption of food and protects against fermentation.
6. Another useful property of this plant is the ability to absorb toxins, radionuclides, heavy metals and remove them from the body. In addition, the product favorably affects the functions of the gallbladder, liver and kidneys, as well as the organs of the genitourinary system.
7. Gruel made from mint foliage is used in cosmetology for acne, various skin rashes. The decoction of this plant can be used as a hair rinse, as it helps to eliminate dandruff and itching.
8. This is just a small list of diseases that can be treated with peppermint. To this list you can add inflammation of the oral mucosa and caries, inflammatory processes of the gastric mucosa, frequent headaches, discomfort during menstruation.
9. Peppermint is used to lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
10. The culture was widely used in the field of gynecology. Herb leaves are useful for respiratory diseases. In addition, tea using this plant is effective for nervousness and causeless anxiety.
11. Nutritionists often recommend using this plant for weight loss. Decoctions based on this spice are able to regulate metabolism, enrich all body cells with oxygen, while burning fatty deposits.

For women

Mint is popularly called the "female herb", as it is especially useful for the weak half of humanity. So, this medicinal plant is able to eliminate all unpleasant symptoms with menopause, relieve toxicosis. In addition, culture will help relieve inflammation associated with the female genital area. Also, the product will help alleviate the condition during menstruation. Porridge made from leaves of grass will relieve the lactating woman of milk stagnation.

Grass is widely used in the field of cosmetology. Decoction and infusion will strengthen curls, narrow pores, smooth fine wrinkles, and remove the oily sheen of the dermis.

For men

As for the strong half of humanity, they cannot fully appreciate all the healing properties of the mint plant, since it most often affects them negatively. This is due to the fact that the plant helps to reduce testosterone, lower potency and sexual desire.

You can still drink drinks based on this plant, but this should be done exclusively during the treatment of any diseases. The use of such a healing agent within a week will not harm the male body. However, it is not recommended to drink mint tea without special need.

During pregnancy

Peppermint is a plant that should be treated very carefully when included in food. In this case, it is important to consult a doctor. Like any other product, this plant is characterized by advantages and disadvantages.

May be harmed during pregnancy, as the plant enhances uterine contractions. It stimulates the synthesis of female hormones, which leads to a tonus of the genitals.

Regular inclusion of the plant in the diet helps lower blood pressure. It contains antihypertensive enzymes. This can lead to a strong drop in blood pressure, so you need to be careful.

The chemical composition of mint can lead to the development of an allergic reaction. If even before pregnancy the woman did not have an allergy to this culture, this can happen during the period of gestation.

One or two cups of mint tea per day will help a pregnant woman get rid of toxicosis. The drink normalizes the functioning of internal organs and reduces the feeling of nausea. Drinking tea improves sleep and relieves stress.

When breastfeeding

A woman during lactation without the recommendation of a specialist is allowed to use mint only as an aromatherapy. After consultation with a doctor, internal use of small doses of mint may be prescribed to increase the amount of milk. To obtain such a product, mint must be mixed with dill seeds or oregano.

For kids

Up to three years, mint tea is contraindicated in a child. If the baby is not very active, this plant should be limited to 5-6 years, as it can lead to drowsiness and lethargy.

Mint can also cause allergies in children. Before giving such tea to a child, it is necessary to consult with a children's specialist.

For small children, you can prepare soothing decoctions based on mint or add them to the bath when bathing. This will help the child relax and calm down. Such a tool can be used up to a year.

To prepare such a decoction, you should take a collection of oregano, mint and calendula flowers in equal quantities. Pour 50 g of such a collection with three liters of boiled water and insist for 30 minutes. Then strain the solution and add it to 10 l of water. Such baths should be used for bathing a child 2-3 times a week before bedtime.

When losing weight

Mint can be used in the diet, as it has many positive properties for weight loss. This product activates metabolic processes, enhances gastric motility, prevents fermentation and rot, has an antispasmodic effect on smooth muscles in the intestines. In addition, the plant provides an outflow of bile, which is involved in lipolysis, has a laxative effect. The medicinal herb also soothes, while the production of the hormone cortisone, which is the most important enemy in the process of losing weight, is reduced. Mint is characterized by low calorie content.

You can make a smoothie using such a plant and drink it before your workout. This will increase the effectiveness of exercise, as it will give vitality, increase working capacity and relieve fatigue.

At the same time, losing weight should remember that the internal use of peppermint products increases appetite and activates the digestive glands. It is for this reason that you should not eat it before the main meal, otherwise the acceptable norm will be exceeded during the meal.

You can do an unloading day using one drink - peppermint tea. You can drink one and a half liters of tea per day. Weight loss is achieved by removing excess fluid from the body and regulating the digestive process. Such fasting days can be carried out once every two weeks.

Mint wraps are possible. Menthol in its composition has an irritating effect on thermoreceptors. This causes a feeling of cooling, resulting in a narrowing of blood vessels, which improves blood circulation.

Mint tea: benefits and harms

The main active ingredient of mint is menthol. Tea with the inclusion of this medicinal plant has a calming and strengthening effect. The drink reduces pain, eliminates spasms, restores metabolic processes, regulates the functions of the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system.

Harm can be caused by excess consumption. In this case, pain in the heart, migraine, sleep disturbances, weakness may occur. The consumption of tea in large quantities (more than three cups per day) negatively affects men's health and the ability to conceive.

How to brew

To prepare peppermint tea while preserving all the beneficial qualities, you should follow some rules. You need to cook it in a porcelain bowl or in a glass. Mint must be poured with water five minutes after boiling. After the drink should be infused for 15 minutes. To get a glass of tea, take 1 tsp. leaves or 0.5 tsp dried mint. You need to drink the finished drink only in freshly prepared form, without adding sugar.

How often can I drink

The resulting mint infusion is not recommended to drink more than once a day. Also, you should not make such tea every day. It is enough to drink it 2-3 times a week. So it will be possible to get the maximum benefit for the human body and not harm it.

Daily use of such tea in the diet can cause unpleasant phenomena. First of all, it is important to remember that peppermint tea lowers blood pressure, resulting in weakness and drowsiness. Also, such an infusion can lead to exacerbation of varicose veins. An unpleasant consequence of frequent use of a mint drink will be heartburn, headache. Men may experience sexual problems.

Can I drink at night

You can consume such a drink before bedtime. Tea will have a calming effect. However, you should not drink more than one cup, since you will often have to get up in the toilet due to the diuretic properties of the product. One cup of tea will help you relax and sleep soundly. Of course, this drink will not act in the same way as pronounced sleeping pills, but it will calm the nervous system before going to bed.

What is useful water with mint

Water with the addition of peppermint helps to reduce weight, improves digestion. The drink can be used for indigestion. Mint liquid also cleanses the liver of toxic compounds. Due to the ability of mint to improve the outflow of bile, the product will help get rid of yellowness on the face and eye shell. Peppermint is a strong antioxidant.

Peppermint water strengthens the protective membrane of the body. To increase immunity, it is recommended to prepare an infusion that should be drunk regularly, especially during seasonal colds. The vitamins in the composition of such a plant will make it easier to transfer such a period dangerous to health.

It should also be noted that peppermint water is an excellent cosmetic cleanser.

To prepare such a healthy drink, you need to take a small amount of crushed mint and pour it with water heated to 60 degrees. Dishes with liquid should be stored in a dark place for a day. Next, the lighting drink needs to be filtered, after which it will be ready for use.

The benefits of dried mint

Tea made from dried peppermint leaves will help eliminate irritability while dieting. Regular use of the dried leaves of this plant for food helps to cleanse the body of toxic compounds. Dried mint in combination with olive oil restores skin after a burn. Mint in the dried state is used for gynecological pathologies, such as disorders of the hormonal system and the menstrual cycle, diseases of the gallbladder and respiratory organs, pathologies of the functioning of the digestive tract and nervous system.

How to dry

The collected raw materials can be dried in several ways. So, for example, you can collect the plant into a bunch by dragging it with an elastic band. After that, a hook should be made from the wire, for which the collected mint will be suspended on the rope. Drying in this case should be carried out in a shaded area.

You can use the oven to get dried herbs.In this case, the raw materials must be distributed evenly on the baking sheet and placed in a dry place in the shade. The oven should be switched to the minimum temperature and put mint in it for several hours. In this case, the door of the equipment should be ajar.

Drying can be done in the attic. To do this, you need to cover the floor with paper and spread the mint culture on its surface. In this case, open windows regularly.

Since mint has a pronounced aroma, it is contraindicated to dry it in residential premises. This can lead to a headache.

Peppermint essential oil: properties and applications

1. Peppermint oil is characterized by a tonic effect. The aroma of such a remedy will restore strength, eliminate stress and increase mental activity.
2. With migraine, you can rub your forehead, nape and temporal areas with this oil, and then apply a cold compress to your head.
3. It is recommended that you always have a handkerchief with several drops of the ethereal substance applied to it so that you can breathe in the aroma of such a remedy for nervous disorders.
4. With fainting, peppermint oil will help a person if you use it instead of ammonia.
5. To reduce abdominal pain, bloating or heartburn, you can use a glass of water with the addition of a few drops of an ethereal solution.
6. To restore the rhythm of the heartbeat, it is necessary to add 5-6 drops of the oil composition to the bath.
7. Inhaling peppermint oil helps relieve nausea.
8. The inclusion of 6 drops of peppermint essential oil per 10 ml of regular massage oil will make you feel better with bruises, rheumatism.

Benefits of Peppermint Jam

Tasty and healthy jam is made from mint. It is recommended for people who often experience migraines. This dessert is effective for nausea and tachycardia. The usefulness of such a dish also lies in the fact that it has an expectorant property. Tea with such a treat will help lower the temperature. Another advantage of peppermint jam is that it can be used in childhood. It will turn out to be a wonderful note of bitter tablets. However, 3-5 tablespoons per day is considered the acceptable norm.

It is necessary to use such a delicacy in a small amount in order to get only benefit from the product without harming the body. This dessert is contraindicated for people with asthma.

Consuming an unlimited amount of food can cause obesity. In some cases, peppermint jam causes heart pain.

How to cook

The main components required for making mint jam are directly mint leaves, water, granulated sugar and citric acid. The cooking process is very simple. To do this, just fill the plant with water, add lemon, sugar and cook the mass over low heat. The resulting dessert can be used in cooking, as well as used as a medicine. Due to its special taste, this delicacy began to be added as a snack to the main dishes.

Mint in medicine

This medicinal plant is used to obtain various preparations, such as lollipops, alcoholic pepper tinctures, essential oils for inhalation, etc. Means based on such a herbaceous plant are used for abdominal discomfort, toothache, migraine, gastrointestinal tract pathologies.

According to the results of recent studies, it was revealed that this product has anti-cancer properties. For this reason, products based on peppermint extract are currently being manufactured to prevent the development of cancer.

This healing herb protects the body from the effects of radioactive substances, restores the functions of the immune system, and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

In addition, peppermint oil is characterized by antispasmodic, antiseptic and vasoconstrictive properties. This allows you to include this substance in preparations intended for the heart.

With diabetes

Peppermint herb is good for people with diabetes.The plant helps lower blood glucose. However, representatives of the stronger sex, in whom hypotension or varicose veins are observed, even in case of sugar sickness, it is not recommended to use such a product.

With pancreatitis

With this pathology, mint is used for medicinal purposes. A herbaceous plant can stimulate bile synthesis, eliminate smooth muscle spasms and provide regeneration. In severe pancreatitis, herbal treatment is permissible only after completion of the usual drug treatment. Herbs are more useful for preventive purposes, rather than in the treatment of an advanced disease.

With gastritis

If this pathology is detected, peppermint should be used with caution. Compliance with acceptable standards will not harm human health. A decoction or infusion of this culture will help calm the mucous membrane of the stomach and relieve pain. The ether in the composition of the herb is able to lower the acidity in the stomach. The extracts present will help regulate your appetite.

It must be remembered that self-medication is contraindicated. The use of mint for medicinal purposes should be carried out only after consultation with a specialist.

For the intestines

According to the results of some studies, it was revealed that the peculiarity of relaxing muscles refers peppermint to the category of effective drugs that are used to alleviate symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome. This disease is accompanied by constipation, diarrhea, bloating and colic. It was also determined that in most people who took peppermint capsules every day, the manifestations of this disease decreased.

For constipation

It is known that mint is able to enhance peristalsis. From this plant, you can prepare an infusion. To do this, take four tablespoons of mint leaves and pour them with boiling water. The solution should be infused for several hours in a sealed container. The finished product should be taken 0.5 cups three times a day to get rid of such an ailment as constipation.

With gout

With this pathology, constant removal of salt from the body is necessary. Water alone will not solve this problem. Therefore, for purification, you can use medicinal plants. Regular use of decoctions and teas will help to remove urate from the body, which are salts of uric acid. It must be remembered that for such purposes it is important to use herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties. You can prepare an infusion useful for gout using several varieties of herbs. These include mint, St. John's wort, nettles, Ledum grass, strings and lingonberries, as well as flaxseeds. All ingredients must be taken in equal parts. A few tablespoons of this collection should be poured with boiling water and insisted for a day. The finished product should be drunk 0.5 liters per day.

With colitis

Colitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the colon. The disease can occur in acute and chronic form. To alleviate the symptoms of this pathology, it is recommended to pour 30 g of mint herb with 2 cups of boiled water and insist 30 minutes. After this period, the liquid must be filtered and consumed 100 ml twice a day before meals.

For the liver

As already mentioned, mint is able to increase the outflow of bile, which expresses the beneficial effect of the plant on the liver. In addition, this herbal component stimulates the breakdown of cholesterol and reduces its rate in the blood. To get the therapeutic effect from the use of mint, it is enough to drink a cup of mint tea for ten days.

With hemorrhoids

To help herbs cope with such an unpleasant problem as hemorrhoids, they must have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, have antibacterial, restorative and sedative effects.Peppermint has such qualities. Therefore, it can be used for this disease.

With cholecystitis

If a person has cholecystitis, mint will come to the rescue. To prepare a medicine based on this plant, a tablespoon of the raw material should be poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for half an hour. After this, the composition must be filtered. The resulting infusion should be drunk in small sips throughout the day. A contraindication to the use of this composition is low blood pressure.

Against cough

The cough can also be cured using peppermint. A medicine based on this plant is able to soften the mucous membrane, kill microorganisms and strengthen the immune system. For treatment, you can use mint teas, decoctions and infusions, inhalation with essential oil of herbs.

Peppermint increases or decreases pressure

Peppermint reduces blood pressure, so those who suffer from hypotension should limit the use of such a plant component. So that mint does not harm the body, it is allowed to drink tea from this herb once a day and refuse to use infusions, inhalations and baths.

In the presence of a headache that appeared due to low pressure, a plant extract of mint will only worsen the condition of the patient, cause nausea and vomiting.

Peppermint recipes

1. In order to cure diarrhea, it is necessary to brew a handful of fresh raw mint in a glass of boiling water. The mixture should be infused for a couple of hours. After this, you need to filter the liquid and divide it into two doses. The drug must be drunk at lunch and in the evening.
2. If you have an intestinal upset, it will be enough to mix a tablespoon of dried mint leaves with a glass of boiling water. The mass should be insisted for three hours. The finished infusion needs to be filtered, after which it can be drunk like regular tea.
3. In the season of colds, vitamin deficiency and reduced immunity, mint will be useful. Based on a herbaceous culture, you need to prepare a decoction, add a small amount of honey to it. Such a medicine will help strengthen the protective function of the body, remove sputum from the respiratory organs, eliminate tickling in the goal and lower the temperature.
4. With insomnia, high nervousness and excitability, it is recommended to drink mint tea a couple of times a day. As a supplement, dried fruit or honey can be included in such a drink.
5. Often, peppermint is used by people for nausea and nervous excitement. To get rid of such ailments, you should grind a tablespoon of dried mint leaves to a powder state and pour them with vodka in a ratio of 1:20. The resulting mixture should be infused for two weeks, after which it must be taken 15 drops three times a day. This tincture should be washed down with a small amount of water.
6. For problems with excess weight and cellulite, it is recommended to take a bath with the addition of mint. Such procedures should be carried out several times a week. To do this, you just need to fill the bath, as usual, and add fresh or dried mint grass. Take a bath for 30 minutes. In addition, such a process will help to cope with sweating and make the skin more even.

Mint in cosmetology

For cosmetic purposes, peppermint is used to combat acne, to cleanse and tone the skin, accelerate blood circulation and obtain an elastic and elastic dermis. You can use such a tool in case of problem skin or with a mixed type, as well as in the presence of age-related changes. Contraindication is individual intolerance, the period of gestation and lactation.

For face

To maintain the tone of the dermis, it is recommended to wipe it every day with mint ice cubes obtained from the infusion. To make such a cosmetic product, you need to fill in a tablespoon of raw materials with 0.5 l of boiling water and insist for several hours. Then the composition must be filtered and poured into ice molds.This method will help restore blood circulation and protect against the development of inflammatory processes. If you use this solution as a means of washing, you can improve the condition of the dermis in a short time, while wrinkles and age spots will become less noticeable.

You can prepare a rejuvenating mixture for the face. To do this, mix a glass of oatmeal with two tablespoons of mint infusion and three tablespoons of warmed milk. The resulting mask should be applied to the cleansed face for 15-20 minutes. Perform this procedure better before going to bed.

For hair

The healing properties of mint and hair are known. Thus, this plant can be used in the presence of dandruff, increased oily hair, as well as in the case of brittle and dull curls.

1. You can include mint oil in a shampoo in the ratio of two drops of an oily liquid per 10 g of detergent. Such a composition will help increase blood circulation, stimulate the growth of strands and reduce inflammation, relieve itching and irritation.
2. Mint is used to obtain a rinse aid. In this case, you need to pour two tablespoons of mint raw materials into a glass of hot water and boil for 15 minutes. The resulting mixture must be cooled, filtered. You can add a few drops of peppermint oil to it. After a normal shampoo, you should rinse your hair with such a tool, gently rubbing it into the roots of curls.
3. For painted and damaged curls, a mask will be useful, for the manufacture of which you need to add a couple of drops of mint substance to two tablespoons of castor oil. Apply the resulting mask to the hair. The head needs to be covered with a film. Such a composition should be kept for about 35-40 minutes. After this, the hair must be washed with shampoo.
4. For oily hair, the following recipe will be useful. You need to mix two egg yolks, a teaspoon of lemon juice and a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Keep such a mask on your head for about 20 minutes, then rinse with shampoo.

The use of peppermint in cooking

In the culinary area, curly mint or apple is most often used. During heat treatment, such varieties do not emit bitterness. However, peppermint is also in demand.

Fresh leaves of this plant are used as dressing for meat and vegetable dishes, to salads, mint is added to various cocktails, ice cream, sweets. In addition, the spice is used as a decoration. Dry grass is most often used for making medicinal tea, infusion, and also as a spice for meat, sauces and pastries.

It is recommended to use peppermint as an independent spice, without combining it with other seasonings. Mint is usually added to dishes 5-10 minutes before being cooked. For one serving, you can use 1-3 g of fresh herbs, but if the leaves of the plant are dried, the dose is 0.2-0.4 g.

Harm and contraindications

It is forbidden to use mint in the diet of children under the age of five. This is explained by the fact that in the composition of such greenery contains a large number of biologically active components. They can affect the still immature organism in different ways. This can manifest itself in the form of an increased load on the internal organs.

It has long been known that the plant has a negative effect on men's health. The product reduces potency and sex drive. This is due to the strong calming effect of the plant. However, peppermint can cope with emotional stress.

Regular use of peppermint can lead to problems associated with conceiving a child in women. If there are any diseases, this plant can only aggravate the situation.

The negative effect of mint on the body of a pregnant woman is proved. Therefore, before using it is important to consult a doctor. It is acceptable to drink mild tea with mint.

You must also remember about individual intolerance. A plant can lead to some complications if you do not adhere to certain standards. In this case, it is necessary to exclude any products containing an extract of such an herb. Otherwise, severe headache, nausea, vomiting.

Peppermint will be useful only if the daily norm is observed.If you do not adhere to these recommendations, you can harm the body. You can not self-medicate with the use of this medicinal plant.

When to pick and how to store peppermint

To preserve all the healing properties of mint and its taste, it is necessary to collect the plant at the moment when the buds are already formed. The flowering period is also valid for the collection. In this case, it is recommended to cut about 20 cm from the grass stem. During the summer, you can harvest up to 3-4 crops. You can regularly trim these bushes.

You can store greens with the so-called "wet" method. This will help keep mint fresh for a week. To do this, moisten a towel, wrap this spice in it, and in this form send it to the refrigerator. You can just put the bunch in a vase of water. This method will help preserve the freshness of the spices, and also saturate the room with a pleasant mint aroma.

To preserve the benefits of a healing culture for a long time, it is recommended to dry the mint. This method will allow you to store the plant for several years. However, it should be noted that over time, raw materials begin to lose their useful components, so it is better to replenish product stocks every year.

Is it possible to freeze

Modern refrigerators provide an opportunity to effectively and efficiently freeze greens, vegetables and fruits. You can use this method to freeze mint raw materials. Making ice cubes with spices is a good option.

Can animals give mint?

Mint leaves should be present in animal nutrition in a small amount, in the form of a dietary supplement. When composing a menu for a dog, it is important to consider that the digestive tract is not able to fully digest this type of greenery.

Peppermint will help to solve certain problems of the pet, in particular, the use of this plant will restore fresh breath, which is disturbed due to food.

The use of peppermint will lead to excessive salivation, which will normalize the acidity in the jaws of the dog. Also, the spice can have a calming effect on the nervous system, which is necessary in cases where the animal is exposed to excitability or is aggressive. In addition, mint will improve the pet's appetite, and will have a stimulating effect on intestinal activity. Another advantage of the use of this plant in the diet of dogs is that it has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is especially important in the presence of inflammation or tumor formation on the skin of the animal.

Not every dog ​​will willingly eat mint, some representatives do not like plants that have a brightly saturated aroma. In order for mint to be absorbed well, not to cause problems with the digestive tract and to benefit the animal, it is recommended that dogs be given no more than 1 tsp. in a day.

Do not give a herb in case of diseases of the urinary system, as well as during the pregnancy of the pet. Peppermint can cause individual intolerance in some dogs, which will lead to an allergic reaction. Uncontrolled use of this medicinal herb can cause disturbances in the digestive tract, which will lead to diarrhea.

As for the question of whether it is possible to give mint to cats, in this case one should focus on the intuition of the pet itself. Since everyone knows that cats that live in nature are able to independently find those plants that they need in a certain life period. That is, the animal itself finds a plant that will help it cure any disease or eliminate parasites.

Due to its chemical composition, mint is considered a valuable component of the rabbit's diet.The foliage and stem contains essential oil. It contains menthol, which gives the herb a fresh, specific smell. This plant is useful for rabbits in that it helps to improve appetite, lower acidity in the stomach, have an antimicrobial effect and eliminate cramping.

How to grow peppermint at home

Mint can be grown from an adult bush. To do this, in the fall, you should choose a small bush from the garden. It must be transferred to the pot with a small amount of land. The pot in this case should be quite large, since the plant has a large root system.

It is also necessary to add humus to the container so that the bush does not stagger. Along with this, humus will act as top dressing for the plant. Next, you just need to regularly water the bush and take care of additional lighting. For a culture to develop normally, it needs about 12 hours of daylight. Otherwise, the leaves will become pale, they will have almost no smell.

Watering mint is recommended only when the topsoil dries. A herbaceous plant does not prefer excessive moisture in the roots, so be sure to drain excess water from the pan when watering.

The optimal temperature at which mint will grow normally is considered 25 degrees. Otherwise, the plant will begin to turn yellow and eventually dry out. And even additional attempts to bring it back to life through watering will be in vain, because it will begin to rot.

Experts advise constantly breaking off young leaves. This is done so that the peppermint culture lets out new shoots.

If the garden does not have a bush that could be transplanted into a pot, it is better to purchase even and fresh twigs in the store and grow mint from the cuttings. In this case, you must first break off the lower leaves from the branch. They can be used for their intended purpose. Next, you need to pour clean water in a plastic or glass cup, which has previously settled. A grain of any substance intended to stimulate the development of the root system should be placed in this container. For such purposes, aloe juice or zircon is suitable.

In this cup, you need to put prepared twigs, in which the lower leaves were torn off. It remains to wait for the emergence of roots. In this case, it is important to observe the same temperature conditions and lighting as in the previous method.

Cuttings can be planted in dishes with soil after at least five roots appear on them. Further, the plant must be looked after in the usual way. Regular watering, timely loosening of the kidney and removal of fresh foliage is important. It is not necessary to acquire land in a store. It can be very easily prepared on your own. To do this, you need to take in equal quantities fat humus, sand and soil under a birch. To make the earth loose, you can add a small amount of peat. One handful will be enough for three kg of soil.

A drainage layer should be installed at the bottom of the pot. But do not use moss or eggshells for these purposes. They are compressed, so there will be no benefit. In this case, it is better to use fine gravel or pebbles.

When growing peppermint, it is important to prevent flowering. This will lead to the fact that she will lose all her taste and aromatic qualities.

To get tender greens without fibers, you can grow mint in the house from seeds. To do this, first you also need to prepare the soil, and then plant the seeds to a depth of not more than 5 mm. Moisten the seeds with a spray bottle. Next, the container with mint must be closed with a lid. After 10-12 days, seedlings appear. After that, the lid can be removed and the pot moved to a bright place. It is important to protect the plant from direct sunlight so as not to burn the foliage. At first, planting needs only to be slightly moistened.When the leaves appear, you can transplant the sprouts into separate cups.

Interesting facts about mint

1. In ancient Rome, most women used mint as a perfume. For this, the fair sex pinned the leaves of the plant to their clothes. It was also customary to sew such raw materials into pillows. This was done so that the aroma of the grass helped to sleep better.
2. Peppermint helps to increase the shelf life of milk. Thus, if you add a couple of branches of a mint plant to such a drink, it will not turn sour for a long time. However, in this case, the milk will get a taste characteristic of mint products.
3. Mint can be used to repel insects. In this case, it is enough to put a small bunch of this plant in a vase. It is irritating to most insects. The result is a tool that will perfectly drive away mosquitoes, bees and flies.
4. The most popular superstition using mint is that the leaves of this plant attract money. It is believed that the presence of mint in the wallet will help to ensure that it always has money. However, even if this does not happen, a pleasant menthol aroma will reign in the wallet.

Mint photo