PEPPERMINT
Plant family: Labiatae (Mint family)
Part used: leaf
Taste: aromatic
Historical commentary: The mints are among the oldest herbs used in Europe; several species are used similarly, but peppermint is preferred. The essential oil is the most extensively used of all natural oils. Peppermint is a major beverage tea and is often used to flavor medicinal teas.
EFFECTS
Digestive aid: Relieves gas and bloating (carminative), improves appetite and alleviates gastric insufficiency and distress (stomachic), promotes the flow of bile (promotes digestion of fats; may help alleviate fullness and constipation).
Antispasmodic: alleviates intestinal cramping (colic).
Diaphoretic: In large doses (and when accompanied by physically warming the body with blankets or hot bath) helps induce sweating. Sweating therapy has been used as a means of treating acute ailments, such as common cold and influenza.
Modern findings: The herb has antibacterial, antipyretic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory actions, mainly due to its essential oil content.
Dosage: 3-6 grams; lesser amounts in formulas.
Active constituents: The volatile oil, comprised mainly of menthol and menthyl acetate, is responsible for virtually all its medicinal effects and has been used, as an isolate, for the same purposes (a few drops taken internally; also applied topically).
Cautions: None noted.
Künzle Formulas: Tea for Tension, Tea for Mood, Tea for Sleep, Tea for Digestion, Slimming Tea, Tea for Colds, Tea for Flu.