Popular medicinal plant-Peppermint

Medicinal plants have long been used in folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Some of them are better known, only phytotherapists know about others. But there are plants whose medicinal qualities are known to everyone. It is this plant is peppermint.

Peppermint belongs to the family of labial flowers, which includes many medicinal and fragrant herbs - lavender, basil, hyssop, rosemary, thyme, sage and others. The plant was named after the heroine of the ancient Greek myths of the nymph Minta, who was the patroness of plants of forests and meadows. There are more than three hundred kinds of mint. Each species has its own characteristics, but they all have a pleasant specific flavor that can not be forgotten or confused with another smell. The most pronounced therapeutic qualities of peppermint, called still cold or English. This plant was obtained artificially in England by crossing the aquatic and spike wild mint. There are black and white peppermint. The difference between them is the coloring of leaves and stems. Black pepper has a bluish-violet hue, white is devoid of pigment, coloring parts of the plant in blue, and has green leaves and stems.

The medicinal properties of mint have been known for a long time. Leaves of peppermint were used by the most famous healers of antiquity Hippocrates and Avicenna. This plant is successfully used in folk medicine of many peoples of Europe and Asia. Peppermint has pronounced anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, sedative qualities, which are used in the treatment of various diseases. It is a part of various medicinal collections intended for the removal of spasms, treatment of diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver and bile ducts. Peppermint stimulates the work of the myocardium, it acts soothingly, relieves frequent heartbeats and disturbs the heart rhythm in the form of extrasystoles, helps to lower blood pressure.

When using mint as a phytotherapeutic agent for various diseases, medicines containing mint, it should be remembered that this plant is more recommended for women, because with prolonged use of mint and preparations with mint, men develop a decrease in sexual activity.

Essential oil of peppermint is used in pharmaceutics, perfumery and cosmetology, food industry and cooking. The pleasant aroma and cooling taste of mint is well combined with dishes from meat, fresh vegetables. In the pharmaceutical industry, menthol is widely used, which is obtained from peppermint. Menthol is a part of various sedative drugs, drugs that reduce the symptoms of motion sickness and nausea, heart means.

Contraindications to mint application

Each medicine has its own indications and contraindications. This applies to mint. This plant is not recommended for use in the treatment of children under three years of age due to the fact that the plant has a pronounced antispasmodic effect, it is impossible to use mint in the presence of varicose veins, in which the tone of venous vessels is reduced. Neurocirculatory dystonia of the hypotonic type, a tendency to lowered arterial pressure are also contraindications to the use of this plant. After consuming mint, it is not recommended to drive vehicles, since a relaxing effect can provoke the appearance of drowsiness. In the early stages of pregnancy, peppermint helps to cope with the symptoms of pregnancy toxemia in the form of nausea and vomiting, but later it can adversely affect the development of the fetus and it is not recommended to apply it starting from the twelfth week.