The Herb Peppermint
In the Kitchen: Brighten up a batch of fruit salad with a squeeze of lime and a handful of chopped peppermint leaves.
Thank the menthol in peppermint for the plant's ability to clear phlegm and mucus from the bronchial tract to facilitate easy breathing. And also for soothing indigestion, gas, menstrual cramps, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Peppermint, when applied topically, has a soothing and cooling effect on skin irritations caused by hives, poison ivy, or poison oak.
One small study suggested that peppermint oil applied to the forehead and temples helped reduce headache symptoms.
In test tubes, peppermint kills some types of bacteria and viruses, suggesting it may have antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Peppermint calms the muscles of the stomach and improves the flow of bile, which the body uses to digest fats. As a result, food passes through the stomach more quickly. But, if your symptoms of indigestion are related to a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, peppermint should not be used because it can relax the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus, allowing stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus. The sphincter is the muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach. By relaxing the sphincter, peppermint may actually make the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion worse.
Pregnant or nursing mothers should avoid peppermint and peppermint tea. The peppermint that a nursing mother takes in goes in to her child who's system can't quite handle the menthol in it and it might just be enough to cause breathing problems and or allergy problems.
Never apply peppermint oil to the face of an infant or small child, as it may cause spasms that inhibit breathing.
Peppermint may make gallstones worse.
Thank the menthol in peppermint for the plant's ability to clear phlegm and mucus from the bronchial tract to facilitate easy breathing. And also for soothing indigestion, gas, menstrual cramps, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Peppermint, when applied topically, has a soothing and cooling effect on skin irritations caused by hives, poison ivy, or poison oak.
One small study suggested that peppermint oil applied to the forehead and temples helped reduce headache symptoms.
In test tubes, peppermint kills some types of bacteria and viruses, suggesting it may have antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Peppermint calms the muscles of the stomach and improves the flow of bile, which the body uses to digest fats. As a result, food passes through the stomach more quickly. But, if your symptoms of indigestion are related to a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, peppermint should not be used because it can relax the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus, allowing stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus. The sphincter is the muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach. By relaxing the sphincter, peppermint may actually make the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion worse.
Pregnant or nursing mothers should avoid peppermint and peppermint tea. The peppermint that a nursing mother takes in goes in to her child who's system can't quite handle the menthol in it and it might just be enough to cause breathing problems and or allergy problems.
Never apply peppermint oil to the face of an infant or small child, as it may cause spasms that inhibit breathing.
Peppermint may make gallstones worse.
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