Growing for Health
The Benefits of Growing
Your Own
Peppermint
by Matt LeBannister
Of all the medicinal herbs in the world, peppermint (Mentha
piperita) has probably been in use the longest. Archaeological
evidence suggests peppermint was used in medicine as early
as 10,000 years ago. It is used as a tea and for flavoring in ice
cream. Peppermint is also a common ingredient in cold vapor
rubs, cosmetics and many other products.
This medicinal herb is easy to grow and has many health
benefits. The active ingredient menthol can help stomach and
digestive problems when consumed, and can help with skin
problems when applied topically. Mint leaves can be dried
and stored for future use, making it an ideal plant for the
indoor garden.
The main medicinal use of peppermint is to treat mild to
moderate digestive probl ems. Drinking peppermint tea is an
effective and delicious way to deliver the medicinal ingredient
to your stomach and digestive track. The menthol has been
known to calm stomach problems and improve the flow of bile.
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This will help alleviate gas and bloating and improve digestion.
It is also known to reduce symptoms of nausea and diarrhea.
Peppermint can also be helpful to people who suffer from
I.B.S. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). In this instance peppermint
oil is in enteric-coated capsules so that they dissolve in
the small intestine and not in the stomach, ensuring its
effectiveness to the area in need.
According to university research, “One study comparing
enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules to placebo in children
with I.B.S. found that after two weeks, 75 per cent of those
treated had reduced symptoms. A similar study of adults found
that 79 per cent of those receiving peppermint had less severe
pain than those who had received the placebo.”
Peppermint can also be used as a topical medicine to relieve
various skin problems. The leaves of the plant can be rubbed
on the affected area to provide some comfort from the
itchiness of hives, poison ivy and poison oak. The menthol in