Peppermint

Botanical Name:                   Mentha piperita
Synonym:                              Nil
Botanical Family:                  Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Country of Origin:                 USA, Tasmania
Plant Part:                             Leaves and flowers
Extraction Method:               Steam distillation
Characteristics:                    fresh, crisp, sweet, menthol
Properties:                             
Analgesic, anaesthetic, antigalactagogue, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cephalic, cholagogue, cordial, decongestant, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, hepatic, nervine, stimulant, stomachic, sudorific, vasoconstrictor, vermifuge
Chemical constituents:        
menthol, menthone, 1,8-cineol, methyl acetate, methofuran, isomenthone, limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, germacrene-d, trans-sabinene hydrate, pulegone
 
Indications:
 
Mind & Spirit:                                   
 
Refreshing
Clears the mind
Assists concentration
Relieves mental fatigue
 
Body:             
           
Excellent for headaches, muscular pain, nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, colic flatulence and diarrhoea. 
Relieves motion sickness, sunburn and insect bites
Effective for sinus congestion, bruising and muscle pain
Has a cooling effect and is useful as an insect repellent
 
Contraindications:                Nil.   Use in moderation, could irritate sensitive skins.
Note:                                     Top
Odour Intensity:                    7
Blends well with:                  
Basil, bergamot, cajeput, cedarwood, cypress, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, lime, mandarin, marjoram, pine, rosemary, thyme
 
Traditions:                 
Mint was prized in Japan and China for centuries and has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 1000BC.  Traditionally people drank it as a tea or chewed the leaves to cure ‘complaints of the stomach or nerves’.  The Romans crowned themselves with peppermint at their feasts and used it as an ingredient in wine.  The Hebrews used it as a perfume component due to its aphrodisiac properties.