Mint
Health Benefits

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Mint: Top Health Benefits of This Herbal Wonder

| Modified on Jan 22, 2024
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Mint Tea

Mint, a common herb found in gardens and kitchens worldwide, is more than just a flavor enhancer. This aromatic plant, known scientifically as Mentha, boasts a range of health benefits that have been recognized for centuries in various cultures. In this article, we delve into the multifaceted health benefits of mint, exploring its nutritional profile, digestive aid properties, and its role in respiratory health, oral hygiene, and beyond.

Nutritional Profile of Mint

Mint is a nutrient-rich herb packed with essential vitamins and minerals. It contains significant amounts of Vitamin A, known for its eye health benefits, and Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. Additionally, mint is a good source of iron, crucial for blood health, and potassium supports heart function. The herb also provides small amounts of fiber, contributing to a healthy digestive system.

Digestive Aid and Soothing Properties

One of mint's most renowned health benefits is its ability to soothe digestive issues. The herb's natural compounds, such as menthol, have a calming effect on the stomach muscles, helping to alleviate symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Mint also stimulates bile production, aiding in more efficient digestion of fats.

Respiratory Health and Congestion Relief

Mint's menthol content is also beneficial for respiratory health. The cooling sensation of menthol helps relieve congestion in the nasal passages and lungs, making it a common ingredient in cough syrups and inhalers. Mint can alleviate symptoms of asthma and allergies by relaxing the airways and reducing inflammation.

Oral Hygiene and Fresh Breath

Mint is a natural antimicrobial and antiseptic, making it effective in promoting oral health. It helps combat harmful bacteria in the mouth, reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease. Furthermore, the fresh aroma of mint is a natural way to combat bad breath, leaving your mouth clean and refreshed.

Anti-inflammatory and Skin Benefits

Mint contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which can positively impact skin health. Applying mint topically can soothe skin irritations and reduce acne inflammation due to its antimicrobial properties. Its cooling effect also helps relieve itching and discomfort from insect bites and rashes.

Stress Relief and Mental Clarity

The aroma of mint has been linked to enhanced mental clarity and stress relief. Inhaling mint essential oil or consuming mint tea can provide a sense of calm and help reduce anxiety levels. Its refreshing scent boosts alertness and cognitive function, making it a great natural remedy for mental fatigue.

Conclusion

Mint is a versatile and beneficial herb that adds flavor to our meals and contributes significantly to our overall health. From aiding digestion to improving respiratory function, promoting oral health, and offering skin and mental health benefits, mint is a true herbal powerhouse. Incorporating mint into your diet can be a simple yet effective way to enhance your well-being and enjoy the refreshing taste of this amazing herb.

Continue reading to learn how our readers used mint to treat various conditions and please let us know how it helped you!

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Acid Reflux

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Posted by Gregory (Royal Oak, MI) on 11/30/2008
 ★★★☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

Peppermint! I have had Acid Reflux now for 6 years and tried medicine, which doesnt work, apple cider vinegar, which made me vomit, and all sorts of remedies. I tried a lifesaver peppermint and it temporarilly helps me stomach settle! Not a cure, and not sure if it will help you, but why not give it a try?

Directions: Simply eat one or two peppermints

Peppermint cured my burning throat pain for the night, however it doesn't end acid reflux either. I carry a bag of peppermints in my room when I get attacks.

Acid Reflux
Posted by Abigail (Ypsilanti, MI) on 11/15/2006
 ★★★★★

I spent 2 years fighting acid reflux. I ate antacids like candy til the doctor put me on Zantac, then I started taking those like candy. Finally, my pastor gave me some dried mint leaves and told me to steep 1 teaspoon in a cup of water and drink. One cup a day for a week. By the second day I hadn't had an attack. By the end of the week I threw away my Zantac. The tea was only used for a week as it was. After about 1 month the erosion was healed and it would be 4 years before I would have heartburn again. I drink the tea and have no more problems. I use vinegar once or twice a year if I get heartburn again but the tea did a total turn around. None of my doctors believe I used to have acid reflux. Note: the mint used can even be the kind you find on the spice rack at the local grocery store.

Acid Reflux
Posted by Paa (Las Vegas) on 02/04/2006
 ★★★★★

I have heard of mint juice as an Indian remedy. Haven't tried it though.

Acid Reflux
Posted by Tonia (USA) on 03/20/2005
 ★★★★★

I just did my science fair project on this subject and got a 1st, and Best of Show. I found that peppermint will actually lower the acidity in your stomach. Like a mint (like peppermint candy) or peppermint tea will help lower the acid in your stomach that produces the acid that gives you heartburn.

Acne

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Posted by Elizabeth (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) on 02/24/2012

I would love to know if you've had any further developments on this front. A couple years ago I had myself checked out because I had always had abnormal facial hair (my mom always attributed it to heredity), continual weight loss and gain, irregular periods, etc. But I felt it was something more. An external and internal ultrasound showed that I had ovarian polyps, an earlier stage of PCOS.

At that time I had maintained a healthier lifestyle (diet and exercise) with little processed foods and simple sugars out of habit rather than restriction, which had held the polyps at bay. That has changed within the past year and I have noticed a difference on every front. Spearment tea sounds like a wonderful idea and I would love to give it a go so I am thoroughly interested in your findings.

Replied by Sharon
(Odessa, Mo Usa)
05/22/2013

For PCOS and irregular periods, eat seaweed.

Acne
Posted by Loveallnatural (Kansas City, Mo) on 01/22/2012
 ★★★★★

Spearmint for PCOS Acne

Came across an article stating women with PCOS might benefit from spearmint tea. I went to the nutrition store and bought some organic and starting drinking spearmint tea on Friday afternoon. I wasn't really expecting anything for a few weeks, but I woke up today, Sunday, and my face looks 100% better. It was only about 36 hours and is so improved that it defies logic! One cup in the morning and one at night and I'm SHOCKED at the results. I also bought some high quality spearmint oil and put a few drops in some all natural liquid face cleanser so maybe that had something to do with the almost immediate results... ? Today I have almost no oil, my pores are visibly shrinking, and my skin is healthy looking with a more even tone and a pinkish glow... But not even one single new bump/cyst/eruption/pimple and it is finally smooth again!! My face is covered in the healing blemishes, but those should heal soon and nothing new is coming up. On Saturday I noticed that one bump that has been on my cheek for months had finally gotten bigger. Nothing would come out before, but it wouldn't go away. I guess the spearmint had finally brought it to the surface. I was shocked at how deep and infected it was, but today it is finally healing. It honestly looks like I've had 3-4 months of prescription treatment on my face. I thought I was crazy so I asked my husband to look at my skin and he was visibly shocked and said my skin hasn't looked this good in years. My face has gone from being overly oily to almost oil at all. I'm allergic to moisturizers and I've had to start using organic virgin cold pressed coconut oil again just to make sure my skin is hydrated enough, and it is good for my skin too.

I have PCOS (can't take the pill) and for the past year or so my skin has started breaking out with cystic type acne and my pores have gotten really large. I've never had great skin, but I've always controlled it... With retin-a all through high school and college and then switched to a mild face cleanser and toner of organic apple cider vinegar when I got pregnant with my first child. I usually had one or two pimples every couple of weeks. After my children were born I was even able to just use Lancome products and my face looked really nice. Suddenly, about a year or so ago, I developed a severe facial allergy to sodium and ammonium lauryl sulfates and my skin started breaking out worse than ever before. I went to the dermatologist and she said it was hormonal acne caused by the PCOS so there wasn't much she could do and other than prescribe the pill, which I can't take, but to exercise, lose weight, eat healthier, etc. (gee, thanks. ) Due to my allergies, I had to stay with all natural products and my face just kept getting worse and worse. I went back to my tried and true apple cider vinegar, but it didn't really help. I've tried tea tree oil, violet extract, colloidal silver, oil of oregano, organic virgin coconut oil, you name it and nothing helped at all. (I'm very allergic to benzoil peroxide and any of the OTC acne remedies so I couldn't try them. ) I'm in my mid 30s and I looked like a 15 y. O. Boy. It has been so horrible!! Today I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and I just hope it keeps on this same path of healing!!!!

Spearmint is supposed to help regulate hormones and for women with PCOS that is the key. No wonder nothing helped as it really was hormonal acne. I doubt this would work at all for women without hormone issues and men probably shouldn't try it, or maybe try the spearmint oil added to a face cleanser... But in less than 36 hours my skin looks 100% better and I couldn't be happier with the results!!! I'm sticking with this and hoping it continues to improve. Maybe it will even help with other PCOS issues... Only time will tell. I'll post back if anything changes. Good luck to all!!!!

Acne
Posted by Karen (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 08/18/2011
 ★★★★☆

I've suffered from chronic hormonal acne for more than 20 years. I stayed on birth control pills during most of the time because it was the only thing that kept me consistently clear (any combined pill seemed to work for me). After leaving my job and losing my health insurance I found that the drugs were too expensive and started looking for a natural remedy.

After more than a year of giving everything I could think of a try, I finally started to see results with peppermint tea. Took about 2 weeks to start noticing improvement. It's not a 100% cure but it's something of a small miracle after being so completely unresponsive to everything else. 1 - 2 unsweetened strong cups a day seems to do the job. And I quite enjoy the taste.

After doing some research I think this only works for androgen-type hormonal imbalance ie. Too many male-type hormones. I believe the effects are similar for men. Spearmint, which I can't seem to find, apparently works as well.

Bad Breath

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Posted by Amy (Anytown, Oh, Usa) on 09/30/2011
 ★★★★★

Tried brushing with the peppermint essential oil tonight and it worked like a charm. I have now woken up after a long night's sleep and still have a pink tongue, so it seems to have some staying power.

Bad Breath
Posted by Gean (Salina, Ks) on 08/03/2010

Hello, can you please tell me how many mg. of peppermint oil your daughter took per day? Also, I would like to know if there were other ingredients in the capsules. The ones I saw at the store had a variety of other herbs in them. Thank you so much.

Bad Breath
Posted by Mayo (St. Paul, Mn) on 02/06/2010
 ★★★★★

My daughter started taking peppermint oil capsules to aid digestion and noticed the bad taste in her mouth disappeared and tonsil stones stopped forming. When the capsules ran out the stones came back. Restarting the capsules resolved the problem again!!!

Blood Sugar

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Posted by Ratgirldjh (Austin, Texas, USA) on 10/09/2009
 ★★★★★

i am a diabetic on insulin and i recently discovered that peppermint oil lowers blood sugar - a LOT.

how i found this out is i took a bath with 5 drops of peppermint oil and i also have a tooth powder that i mixed up with several drops of peppermint oil and powdered sea salt.

after soaking in the bath - which felt wonderful - i brushed my teeth with the tooth powder and also rinsed my mouth out with a little in water.

after this i started feeling weird. i had eaten whole grain pasta and veggies for dinner and couldn't believe my blood sugar was low. but it was 81 - and it continued going lower even after i ate 1 1/2 kashi cereal bars - 1 teaspoons of karo syrup - and 1 whole wheat gingerbread cookie. i ended up eating another cereal bar and finally got it up to 120.

this morning it was still lower than usual after all those mid night carbs - it was 177.

usually the morning after something like this happens it will be in the 200's - since it finally all catches up again.

so be careful with peppermint oil if you are a diabetic on insulin.

i plan to still use my tooth powder - but i have lowered my insulin doses!!!

i am also taking ACV and water a very small amount 2 x a day.

Body Odor

Posted by Timh (Louisville, Usa) on 12/21/2011 2043 posts

Nishi, extreme body odor is a sign of TOXIC body. Try some detox cures like Charcoal, Bentonite, Chlorella, colon cleanse, Vit-C, Baking soda/epsom salt hot bath etc.

Body Odor
Posted by Nishi (Ahmedabad, India) on 12/20/2011

My armpits smell horrible so I read on net that boiling mint leaves and having bath with it works great and can cure body odor and it was a miracle for me but my problem is, for how much time do I have to continue with mint bathing water?? Is there any permanent cure??

Bug Bite Itchiness

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Posted by Chela (Dallas, Texas) on 09/21/2011
 ★★★★★

I had 6 terrible bug bites on my legs that were inflamed and raised for 5 days with no itch relief. Almost immediately after applying a drop of peppermint oil to each one the itch disappeared. Yay for relief!

Bug Repellent

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Posted by Dawn (North Hollywood, CA) on 08/01/2006
 ★★★★★

You mix 15-20 drops of spearmint oil in a spray bottle with water, spray on fur and ears, careful not to get in eyes, you can spray dog houses, the outer perimeter of your home and the flies disappear almost instantly. my dogs are 7 and I have never found anything that worked until I tried this.

Replied by Charity
(Faithville, Us)
06/26/2020
★★★★★

Years ago I traded plants with strangers and got some chocolate mint plants. I brought them when we moved and share with neighbors and friends. They love the clay soil here and grow like weeds. Neighbors have lots of critters (poop )that draws flies and we have had more than our fair share getting into the house over the years. Last week I had to pot some of my mint to make room in garden space and put it by each door. No flies, no mosquitos and it claims mices : ) don't like it. I put some under my fruit trees and some under my nut trees. Learning new stuff all the time. Chocolate mint tea is nice too. Blessings, Charity


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