Mint has been used for its health benefits since ancient times, including freshening breath and aiding digestion. The most commonly used species, mentha x piperita, contains high levels of menthol, making it effective in skin treatments, toothpaste, and essential oils. Peppermint essential oil is commonly used in aromatherapy for its cooling and soothing properties, and can also be used to treat nausea, headaches, and toothaches. It is often used in mouthwashes and as a tea to relieve heartburn, vomiting, and indigestion.
Reference to the health-promoting properties of mint dates back to the time of the ancient Romans and Greeks, and even appears in the Bible. In this ancient context, it was often worn in wreaths and bouquets in an attempt to prevent drunkenness. While these particular medicinal indications may not exist today, the ancient Greeks and Romans also chewed mint after meals to freshen breath and aid digestion. Over time, this herb has become one of the most popular after-meal flavors in products such as mints and gum, which are used today like mint leaves were in ancient times; to freshen breath and aid digestion.
The mint species, mentha x piperita, is the most widely used mint species both in commercial products such as gum and mints, as well as in health-promoting products, including skin treatments, toothpaste, and essential oils. Its effectiveness as an ingredient in health-promoting products can be attributed to its high concentration of menthol, an organic compound that possesses powerful local anesthetic and counterirritant qualities.
While the ancient Greeks and Romans used this herb in its raw form, by chewing or using the leaves and buds of the plant, today it is commonly used in refined or processed forms. Peppermint essential oil is the most common of these, and is made by distilling the leaves and flowering tips of the peppermint plant. It is commonly used in the practice of aromatherapy, which takes advantage of the natural properties of plants and herbs through the use of distilled essential oils.
This essential oil has numerous indications within and derived from the practice of aromatherapy. Its cooling and soothing properties make it a valuable ingredient to comfort and cool the skin. It can be used in a lotion and applied to the skin to soothe irritation and pain associated with chickenpox and shingles. When added to water, this oil can make a refreshing foot bath or a refreshing bath to treat sunburned skin.
Peppermint oil is also indicated as a useful ingredient in mouthwashes and can be used in slightly higher concentrations to treat headaches and toothaches. However, one of the most common indications for this oil is the treatment of nausea. To do this, the oil can be dropped on a handkerchief and held close to the nose during inhalation. This method is particularly effective for treating nausea due to motion sickness, pregnancy, and hangovers. It can also be mixed with water and honey to form a tea. This method is useful for treating nausea due to illness, and can also relieve heartburn, vomiting, and indigestion. However, in the treatment of indigestion, peppermint is most commonly used in the form of herbal tea, in which the leaves are steeped in hot water, rather than using the distilled essential oil.
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