Peppermint

(Mentha piperita)

Mentha piperita is a hybrid mint. It is a cross between Mentha aquatica, water mint, and Mentha spicata, spearmint.

The cooling properties of the peppermint herb make it an amazing way to beat the summer heat. In fact, the cooling properties are so potent that not too long after drinking a peppermint preparation your body feels much cooler. The funny thing is, that preparation can be hot tea, and it will still cool your body.

Throughout the year my wife and I drink a lot of iced tea. We always have a jug of it in our refrigerator. A couple of years ago I began adding peppermint to this tea. It adds a lovely complimentary flavor to the otherwise boring tea. I hate the heat of summer. Winter is by far my favorite season. I love the cold hard beauty of a Michigan winter. This past winter I went through a couple of days where I could not get warm. I thought I might have picked up a bug. Imagine how foolish I felt when my wife asked me "have you been drinking iced tea?" I answered, “you know I have.” She just looked at me with that “bless your little heart” look, her face saying, "come on; put it together; you will get it." I felt like a true dolt. I smiled sheepishly and said I had become so fixated on beating what I thought was an invading microbe that I forgot to look for other simple causes.

In my defense, I do learn from my mistakes. I now add peppermint tea to my daily summertime regimen. The taste is wonderful, and there is a noticeable difference in the way my body perceives the muggy heat of a Michigan summer.

Other Names:
None known

Range:


Family:
Lamiaceae - Mint Family

Growth Type:
Herbaceous perennial

Height:
Can grow up to 3 feet tall

Leaves:
The slightly pubescent (hairy) leaves can grow to 3½ inches long and 1½ inches wide. They are typically dark green with reddish veins an acute apex and coarsely toothed margins.

Stem/Trunk:
Like most mints, the stems are square in cross section. They are slightly pubescent (hairy).

Root:
Rhizome with spreading fibrous roots.

Flower Season:
M. piperita flowers from mid to late summer

Flower Appearance:
The tiny purple flowers are just over 1/8 inch long and 1/8 inch in diameter. They grow in tight whorls around the stem.

Miscellaneous characteristics:
All parts of the plant have a distinctly minty smell.

Habitat:
Mints love moist places in temperate climates. Therefore you will find them along streams, rivers, and lakes,

Parts Used:
Aerial Parts

Culinary Uses:
Mints make wonderfully aromatic and healthy teas. Mints can be used as a seasoning in cooking, they lend themselves particularly well to lamb, goat, and pork. When used sparingly they are also wonderful on fish.

The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.

Energetics
Taste: Pungent
Thermal: Cooling
Humidity: Drying

Medicinal Indications:
Works to slow peristalsis which in turn treats dyspepsia, flatulence, intestinal colic, and IBS. As an emmenagogue, vermifuge, lactation enhancer and sedative.

Medicinal Conditions Treated:
Amenorrhea, Bronchitis, Constipation, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Bacillary Dysentery, Dysmenorrhea, Dyspepsia, Fevers, Flatulence, Gastritis, Intestinal Colic, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Hypertension, Jaundice, Nausea, Pain, Respiratory tract infections (RTI).

Medicinal Actions:
Analgesic, Antidiarrheal, Antihypertensive, Antimicrobial, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Choleretic, Emmenagogue, Febrifuge, Vermifuge