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Mint for relief from body heat

 

Mint (Pudina) is a leafy plant belongs to Lamiaceae family. Its scientific name is Mentha. Mint is a calming herb that people have used for thousands of years to help soothe an upset stomach or indigestion. It is distributed wildly and can be seen in almost all environmental conditions especially wet and moist soil. In traditional medicine, it is reported that Mentha species have cooling sensation properties, strengthen the stomach and are effective to relieve digestive symptoms, respiratory tract problems and hemorrhoids. Besides the traditional use of mint for culinary purposes and home remedies; it has the promising potential as a medicinal herb for treating complex medical ailments due to the presence of plethora of heath-enhancing phytochemicals.

Phytochemical Composition and health benefits of Mentha

  • Mentha species are characterized by a great chemical diversity and were reported to contain a number of chemical compounds which are responsible for various pharmacological properties.
  • Major chemical compounds present in leaves of Mentha are menthol (35-60%) followed by menthone (2-44%), methyl acetate (0.7-23%), 1,8-cineole (1-13%), menthofuran (0.3-14%), isomenthone (2-5%), neomenthol (3-4%), limonene (0.1-6%) and beta-caryophyllene (1.6-1.8%).
  • Mint works against harmful microbes, regulates muscle relaxation, and helps control inflammation.
  • It may also be effective at relieving other digestive problems such as upset stomach and indigestion.
  • Mint is an effective treatment for nausea that often occurs in morning sickness. Eating a few mint leaves or smelling it every morning can help pregnant women prevent the nauseous feeling.
  • People use mint-flavored chewing gum and breath mints to get rid of bad breath.
  • Drinking peppermint tea and chewing on fresh leaves may be able to both mask bad breath and kill bacteria.

  • Regularly taking mint can ease chest congestion.
  • The methanol in mint acts as a decongestant, it helps loosen mucus collected in the lung and also shrinks swollen membranes in the nose to allow you to breathe easier.
  • Smelling peppermint oil while driving, increased alertness and decreased levels of frustration, anxiety and fatigue.
  • Applying mint juice on your forehead and temples can give you relief from headache.
  • Balms of mint base or mint oil are effective in curing headaches.
  • Mint has a strong, refreshing smell that can ease stress and refresh the body and mind.
  • The apoptogenic activity of mint helps regulate the cortisol levels in the blood that triggers the body's natural response to ease the stress.
  • Inhaling mint essential oil can instantly release serotonin in the blood which is a neurotransmitter that is well known for easing symptoms of stress and depression.
  • Mint contains perillyl alcohol, which has been shown in lab studies to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  • Peppermint oil acts as a natural painkiller and muscle relaxer.
  • Mint has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help treat acne and pimple on the skin due to the presence of high amount of salicylic acid which acts as anti-acne.
  • Mint also makes skin healthy as it retains the moisture in the skin, clear off dead skin cells, and dirt from the skin pores, and makes the skin look radiant and toned.

    Note: While using mint, make sure that, don't overdose it, otherwise, air passage will become irritated.

    References

    Irum Naureen, Aisha Saleem, Fabiha Sagheer, Sadia Liaqat, Sabiha Gull, Muqadas Fatima, Zainab Arshad (2022). Chemical Composition and Therapeutic Effect of Mentha Species on Human Physiology. Sch Bull, 8(1): 25-32.

    Brahmi, F., Khodir, M., Mohamed, C., & Pierre, D. (2017). Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Mentha Species. In (Ed.), Aromatic and Medicinal Plants - Back to Nature. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/67291


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