Mentha piperita
Botanical Nomenclature | Mentha piperita |
Common Name | Mentha Balsamea Willd, Peppermint |
Taxonomy- Family | Lamiaceae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Mentha piperita is a perennial, herbaceous plant growing from 20 to 80cm, with wavy, fragrant, green leaves and small, pink flowers. The flowering and the harvesting take place from July to August |
Region Found | Epirus |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Flowers, leaves |
Active Substances | Flavonoids, tocopherols, carotenoids, betaine, choline, azulenes, rosmarinic acid, alcohols, aldehydes, tannins, bitter agents and essential oil, which contains 50-85% menthol, menthone, jasmonate. |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The whole plant is administered as antispasmodic, diaphoretic, antiemetic, antiseptic, analgesic and aphrodisiac in the form of infusion. It is recommended for the treatment of intestinal colic , dyspepsia, flatulence, colitis, travel sickness and vomiting during pregnancy, as it promotes relaxation of the intestinal muscles and stimulates the secretion of bile and other digestive juices. Also, it is used to treat common cold, flu, fever and migraines, as well against stress, tension and insomnia. |
Method of Administration | The plant is administered as cholagogue and gastrointestinal stimulant in the form of infusion (a spoon of dried herb in a cup of boiling water) and tincture (1-2 mL, three times a day) Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
Toxicity- Adverse Effects | No side effects have been reported. |
References | 1)Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδα 305-306 2)http://www.luontoportti.com/suomi/en/kukkakasvit/larger-bindweed 3)http://health-from-nature.net/Peppermint.html 4)http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail46.php 5)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21144345 6)http://www.herb.gr/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/715/s/menta/ |