The
mints are carminative, stimulant and antispasmodic herbs. Peppermint is the most powerful and well-known species for
medicinal use, as it contains menthol. Its
hybrid, bergamot mint, also contains menthol, though it is less well known.
Peppermint is also somewhat stronger in flavor and medicinal constituents than
most of the others. Mints are renowned for their ability to simultaneously sooth
stomach upsets with their antispasmodic properties, while stimulating digestion
by increasing the flow of bile. The menthol containing species may be too strong for
children, though the other species are perfectly safe for treating digestive
upsets in children. Mints can be
used to relieve flatulence, abdominal pain and cramping (including menstrual
cramps), to ease sore throat, relieve mucosal inflammation and help relieve some
of the symptoms of colds and flu.
The
German Commission E recognizes the value of Mints as a carminative,
a cholagogue, an antibacterial, a refrigerant and a secretory stimulant.
They acknowledge the antispasmodic effect of the tea or tincture on the
smooth muscle of the digestive tract.
