Peppermint: 10 Properties And Health Benefits Of This Plant
Surely the best-known properties of peppermint are aromatic and gastronomic. However, this plant has a large number of medicinal benefits that have been used for centuries.
In this article you will find several properties of peppermint, as well as some of the main characteristics of this plant
Peppermint is an aromatic plant of the Mentha genus. In fact, its scientific name is Mentha Spicata, which comes from the Latin “spica” and means “spear.” It receives this name from the shape of its leaves, whose stem reaches 30 cm in height.
In the extract of its leaves there are different natural chemical compounds that have important effects on our body It is an easy-to-cultivate plant of European, Asian and African origin that has been used for several centuries, especially for its medicinal properties.
It is also a plant that can easily be acquired and added to the daily diet. Among the nutrients and minerals it contains are fiber, vitamin A, magnesium, iron and folate
10 properties of peppermint
Due to the multiple properties it has, mentha spicata has received the name “peppermint”. Among the most popular are its aromatic and gastronomic benefits, however, it also has many medicinal properties. We will see below which are the main ones.
One of the properties that has been recently investigated is the activity of menthol in regulating lipids circulating in the bloodstream In experiments with rats with induced diabetes, ingestion of mint extract reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which may indicate an important diabetes prevention property.
2. Antioxidant activity
It helps regulate the cellular oxidation process, due to the bioactive substances present in mint leaves. This antioxidant action allows in turn prevent inflammation processes and, when taken regularly combined with other healthy lifestyles, it can help prevent chronic degenerative diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases).
3. Antispasmodic and analgesic effects
The intake and also the skin use of peppermint oil has properties as a muscle relaxant. In turn this allows to cushion painful sensations, an issue that is attributed to the action of menthol. For this reason, analgesic properties are recognized.
4. Antibacterial property
Mint has shown different modes of action in bacteria and eukaryotic cells, exhibiting different bactericidal properties. This may be due to the presence of phenolic components that act as prooxidants, which counteract the activity of bacteria. Furthermore, one of the effects of mint leaves has been modulate the activity of the immune system which is why it has been related to an antiparasitic effect.
5. Promotes digestion
Peppermint can be effective in relieving an upset stomach and indigestion. The latter are generally caused by the prolonged stay of food in the stomach, during its passage to the digestive tract.
In this sense, taking peppermint oil with meals It has been effective in increasing the speed of food passage ; which means that it promotes digestion.
Another property related to the previous point is the relief of the characteristic symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, for example stomach pain and excess gas. Menthol helps relax the muscles of the digestive tract, which helps relieve some of these symptoms.
7. Relaxing properties
As with other natural infusions, mint has important relaxing properties on a psychological level. This is because it can cause a noticeable reduction in nervous tension after ingesting it in hot tea. Likewise, menthol oil, used in the form of an ointment, has relaxing and refreshing properties. For the same reason, it is used for important muscle tensions, such as relieving cramps.
8. Burn Relief
Related to the previous point, menthol oil ointment (especially when mixed with other elements such as olive oil) can relieve minor burns. This It is also related to its refreshing properties
9. Relieve cold symptoms
It is often thought that mint has a decongestant property. In fact, several over-the-counter pharmaceutical treatments contain menthol, a primary extract of peppermint oil. However, menthol itself does not have a decongestant action. The relief effect is caused by the refreshing sensation that mint causes when we inhale it.
10. Invigorating effect
Recently, the inhalation of peppermint essential oils has been linked to brain functions, especially short-term information retention. It has also been proposed that improves alertness and reduces fatigue, so it could be considered an invigorating. However, more studies are necessary for these results to be conclusive.
