Essential oils from the mint family (technically the “Labiatae” family) are among the most popular in aromatherapy, in part from their impressive diverse therapeutic applications. The mints include peppermint, spearmint and corn mint, along with a close cousin: catnip. Recently, there’s even been solid scientific research backing the use of these oils as medicines for both the mind and body. Here’s a look at the many important benefits of these oils, and how you can make use of them in your own life.

Possibly one of the most used essential oils in aromatherapy — no doubt in the top five — is peppermint. Distilled from the leaves and tops of the same herb that gives us candy canes and mint herb tea, the essential oil is by far the most widely used stimulating aromatic. Yet its therapeutic effects reach far beyond this — the oil is used to help a range of digestive challenges, as a topical analgesic, to open the sinus passages and even alleviate headaches.

The most researched therapeutic activity of peppermint involves support of the digestive system. The oil exhibits very strong choleretic activity, meaning it stimulates the liver and gall bladder to release bile (supporting digestive activity). The oil also inhibits muscle spasms in the intestines. Combined with its antibacterial effect, peppermint essential oil becomes a genuine medicine to help all sorts of digestion-related issues. It is said to relieve dyspepsia, nausea, stomach pains, and diarrhea. It is now commonly available in enteric coated capsules specifically for support of irritable bowel syndrome. For use at home, one can ingest 1 to 3 drops in a warm cup of water, or dilute in a carrier oil and massage into the abdomen (essential oils are absorbed though the skin, and can help the targeted organs in this manner).

The mentally-stimulating action of the mint essential oils is also the result of several interactions with our body concurrently. Inhaling the aroma quickly opens the sinus passages, delivering oxygen to our gray matter. Researchers have discovered peppermint has the ability to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, the primary information-processing neurotransmitter. On an esoteric level, therapists believe the aroma enhances concentration, while enabling our ability to work with new ideas and generate creative concepts. One does need to be careful inhaling the oil directly from the bottle however, as it is easy to burn the tip of the nose where the mucous membranes are exposed.

Headache relief can come from simply inhaling the oil as well, though the more common practice is topical application. Peppermint and spearmint are safe to apply small amounts directly to the skin, but because of the proximity to the eyes and the soft skin of the face, a moderate dilution of either oil is best. To help with a headache, simply gently massage the temples with a small amount of your formula.

In many cases, the mint oils can be used interchangeably. Both spearmint and peppermint are called for to support healing digestive difficulties — though for the young ones, the softer spearmint is the better choice. Both these oils are noted by Salvatore Battaglia to cleanse the skin, though only peppermint is recommended (in a 1% concentration) to relieve itching and skin irritation.

When menthol is the ingredient providing the therapeutic action you’re needing — be it topical pain relief, or invigoration from that “minty” cooling effect, peppermint or corn mint should be used. Spearmint contains almost no menthol, where peppermint contains between 30 and 50%, and corn mint contains up to 95%. You’ll find both these mints in pain relieving blends, and in body creams and scrubs where the idea is to get a pleasant eye-opening action from the product.

From a safety point of view, the oils have very few cautions. Peppermint is to be avoided by those prone to seizures, as it can be too stimulating to the nervous system. Corn mint clearly should be avoided for the same reason. Spearmint is nearly always recommended for use with younger children anytime peppermint would be used. All the oils should be diluted prior to topical application, though are otherwise considered non-toxic and non-irritating.

There’s a brief look at the most popular stimulating essential oils. A little mint doesn’t cost much, goes a long way, and might be a fun and effective addition to your natural medicine collection!

The author is a frequent user of helichcrysum essential oil and other natural botanicals for healing.

www.mountainroseherbs.com How to make tea with loose herbs. Learn Infusions, decoctions, how to use a french press with organic bulk herbs and organic tea blends. Produced by Mountain Rose Herbs.

Herbs - Dragons And Demons

Reserves of Herbs Expanded
Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) — Spring and autumn have been fixed as “months for medicinal herb cultivation” in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to expand reserves of medical plants through a mass campaign.

Read more on Korean Central News Agency

In any recipe calling for herbs, use fresh herbs. Preparing the herbs for your dish is easy. The more tender herbs like mint, parsley, basil and cilantro can be gathered in a bowl and snipped with scissors. This is the fastest and safest way to chop the herbs. If your recipe calls for the more hardy herbs like oregano, rosemary, or thyme you should use the stripping method. Hold a branch of the herb upright in your fingers and run the fingers of your other hand down the stalk stripping the tiny leaves free. The flavor will be more intense if you have gathered the herbs from your herb gardens or container gardens because they will be absolutely the freshest herbs available.

The best way to have fresh herbs is to plant and grow them yourself. No longer is there a designated “herb garden”. They can be found in your flower beds, along walkways or in pots on your porch. Many ambitious gardeners are finding new ways to incorporate herbs into their garden beds and their container gardens.

Many gardeners are unaware of the beauty of flowering herbs and never consider planting them within their flower beds. Some herbs that have beautiful flowers are purple coneflower, catmint, bee balm, yarrow, pinks, lavender, pot marigold, borage, feverfew, and nasturtium which is particularly lovely in fresh salads.. Many other herbs, such as parsley are excellent next to flowers of all sorts because of their spectacular foliage. When planting red or blue flowers, place purple basil around them for an artful arrangement.

Another area to consider is to use herbs as ground cover. The herbs that are suitable to this are the low growing oregano, chamomile, woolly and other creeping thyme, mint, and rosemary. Not only will it look pretty but it will be absolutely fragrant. Just be careful of the mint family, they tend to take over everything.

One of the best ways I have grown herbs is in containers. In fact, I like container gardening so much I wrote my eBook “Container Gardening Secrets” (available at ContainerGardeningSecrets.com), so everyone could enjoy this type of gardening. The beauty of a container garden is that it is portable and can be changed at a moment’s whim. When there is no more room in your garden, start a container garden which you can place on your door step or patio. Use them to fill in bare spots that come up during the gardening season or put them on a sunny window sill in your home for easy harvesting. Best of all you can bring your herb containers inside over the winter months and continue to harvest for months to add to your tasty meals or to be used for medicinal purposes.

Another way to employ pots in your garden is to plant invasive herbs such as mint into a pot and then plant pot and all into the ground. This is an easy trick to keep those “creepers” from taking over your garden beds.

Plant a container garden near your door with the cherry pie scented blue flower heliotrope and other fragrant herbs such as rosemary, thyme and basil. Every time you walk by you will be greeted with there delicious scent.

Some herbs that have grown on rocky hillsides over the centuries such as thyme, oregano and lavender are perfect for cracks in flag stone paths or walls and rock gardens. They thrive in hot dry areas with good drainage. Some believe that those herbs grown in these conditions produce much better flavor.

Now is the time to plant your herbs, whether it is in a garden bed, a cracked wall or a container garden. Use your imagination. Consider color height and texture when planting your gardens. Not only will it be visually pleasing but your cooking will improve too!

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

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