Mint: beneficial and medicinal properties, contraindications and applications. What is the difference between peppermint and lemon balm or lemon balm? Use of mint in folk medicine

Mint is a fairly common and unpretentious plant. The beneficial properties of mint are widely used in different areas: cosmetology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, cooking. Mint in reasonable quantities has a beneficial effect on men's and female organisms. The characteristic smell of the plant is easily recognizable.

Mint has many beneficial properties. First of all, it has a relaxing, calming and healing effect. It is not without reason that mint is used in toothpastes - it heals wounds and eliminates inflammatory processes.

The plant normalizes blood pressure. It will be especially useful for hypertensive patients. Peppermint has been proven to lower blood pressure. It is successfully used for headaches (put sprigs from this herb on your head or rub menthol oil into your temples, back of your head and forehead), relieves nausea, and has a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach.

The ability of mint to regulate digestion has led to the fact that this herb is used for colic, in the fight against diarrhea and flatulence, as well as overweight. It removes toxins, normalizes metabolism and perfectly reduces appetite.

A beneficial effect of mint on the condition of the skin has been noted. For women this is an important factor. Mint soothes irritated skin and relieves fatigue. This is familiar to those who take mint baths or use mint-based skin care products (masks, lotions). The sensations and results are obvious. Mint tightens pores and removes oily shine.

To smooth out wrinkles, frozen mint decoction is often used, wiping the face with it every morning. It is also good to use mint in hair care. Strengthening, healthy shine of painted or damaged hair secured.

Mint strongly supports women Health. It will relieve inflammation during gynecological diseases, will help reduce the symptoms of menopause. Mint is a harmless remedy, so you can use the decoction during pregnancy. It will relieve nausea during toxicosis and help relieve heartburn. But you should be careful in the amounts of use - there are contraindications. In pregnant women, large doses can cause labor, and in those who give birth, breast milk may disappear.

In too much quantity, mint has a negative effect on men's health, more precisely, on potency. It should be noted that when you stop using the herb, these symptoms disappear. So the benefits of mint for men outweigh the minor side effects.

Mint – good alternative chemicals, natural product. Widely used for colds - use menthol ointments for rubbing, inhalation, with the addition of a few drops menthol oil in water. It's good to drink warm tea with mint and chamomile. Mint gets rid of the skin. It should be ground with salt and applied to the affected area of ​​the skin. This procedure for frequent use will allow you to forget about this illness for a long time.

Stocking up on mint

Mint is good in many ways. It does not lose its benefits when dried. It is best to store dried mint in a dry, ventilated area, in paper or linen bags. By preparing mint, you will provide for yourself useful product, which can bring health to every home.

Mint is a very affordable product; it can be planted on summer cottage, it is quickly growing, spreading, and will soon delight you with a whole clearing medicinal herb. You can use mint in baking and cooking. The beneficial properties of the plant will find their application, even if you limit yourself to a mint drink.

This tonic mint drink is easy to prepare. There are 2 ways: pour a glass of boiling water over the dried herb (1 tablespoon), leave for half an hour and strain. The drink is ready! It's good to drink warm tea with mint and chamomile. The second method is more suitable for those who are struggling with excess weight - prepare yourself mint tea by brewing the leaves and let it brew for 5-8 minutes. This drink tones and refreshes. It can be consumed both warm and cold.

Watch also a short video review about the benefits of mint:

An aromatic and pleasant drink that can be consumed regardless of the season - mint tea, beneficial features which was described by Avicenna.

In those distant times, when the terms “hyperexcitability”, “hyperactivity”, “neurosis” were unknown to humanity, and all this was considered somewhat increased emotionality, doctors advised patients who noticed deviations from the norm in themselves to put things in order. state of mind bowl mint tea.

Centuries have flown by, and many new “fashionable” diseases caused by stress have appeared. To get rid of them, a lot of new ones have been developed. But before taking them, try brewing a cup of mint tea, relax, think - maybe this is not what you need, this expensive medicine, maybe an amazing drink made from aromatic mint will be enough?

Equanimity is your middle name

There are moments when you have had enough of everything - work, the road to the office, rush hour with its eternal traffic jams or crush in public transport, ordinary conversations that one way or another have to be had with friends or girlfriends, even one’s own family does not provide what is necessary. Usually in such a state one wants to lash out at someone, shout out, free oneself from negativity, which is what most of us do, loading those around us with the same negativity .

You can free yourself in different ways: break dishes or use them for their intended purpose - brew, for example, tea with mint, the beneficial properties of which primarily lie in the ability to quickly bring the nervous system into order.

With constant use of the drink, after a few weeks you may be surprised to find that former irritants practically do not bother you. Crowds of people, queues, bright lights, city noise, morning lectures from the boss - everything is taken for granted and does not cause indignation.

Well, peppermint tea has successfully completed its mission, and you are already on your way to the title of "Mr. (Miss) Equanimity."

Women's drink

And yet, this aromatic drink is more popular among the fairer sex. And not only because ladies prefer mint tea to other varieties. Its beneficial properties are most noticeable by the female body.

Relieving spasmodic pain on days of menstruation that are not the most comfortable for any woman or relieving symptoms menopause, mint tea is becoming an effective and affordable pain reliever.

It can and should be drunk by pregnant women suffering from toxicosis. But at the same time, one should observe the measure - no more than one cup per day, since what is beneficial for the mother can harm the fetus, especially if the unborn baby is male.

But the list doesn't end there physiological problems, which mint tea helps combat. The beneficial properties for women also include the ability of this rather simple drink to lower the level of male hormones. The property is very valuable for women suffering from excess body hair.

Peppermint tea is an indispensable aid for anyone losing weight or dieting: the abundance of essential oils in the mint herb that dulls the feeling of hunger allows you to use the drink as a “main drink” if you need to lose a few extra pounds.

In the process of losing weight, there are options for drinking mint tea - a pure drink or well-known mixes: green tea + mint, + mint.

So is it sedative or invigorating?

Like any other mint, it has its own beneficial properties and contraindications. Not without it. But the main dilemma remains which properties are more inherent in mint tea - soothing or invigorating.

According to herbalists, a mint drink is universal: it can be used both as a sedative and as an invigorating remedy, the only difference is in the quantity.

For example, if you need to calm down, you don’t have to limit yourself to drinking a drink. If you want to cheer up, then two cups a day will be enough.

Why are men afraid to drink mint tea?

At regular use Peppermint tea can do more than just calm you down nervous system, but also a decrease in male libido, which is undesirable for the stronger sex. Moreover, many men consider this process irreversible and refuse the drink even if necessary (to relieve severe nervous tension).

There is no need to be afraid, because mint tea, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which have been studied so well, affects male potency temporarily. It is enough to stop drinking the drink, and everything will be restored.

Mint as a supplement

Not only pure mint tea is favored by its fans. Many people enjoy using this plant as an additive to other teas. Linden, thyme, currant leaves, chamomile, herbal teas- these are the most common teas, drinks and infusions in which mint may be present. Tea, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which must be taken into account in every special case, you need to use it with caution, but never deny yourself the pleasure, or, moreover, the need, to drink a cup of healing drink.

One of the recipes that has come down to us from time immemorial consists of mint, thyme, St. John's wort, rose hips and currant leaves and is the best remedy from malaise and loss of strength.

It's not just the aroma that comes from tea with thyme and mint - the beneficial properties in this case are focused on the antiseptic and analgesic effects of herbs. A double blow to pain is tea made from mint and thyme.

Take during an epidemic

It is impossible not to feel the bright menthol aroma with one touch of a mint sprig. The plant is indispensable not only as a natural air freshener (although if there is a sick person in the room, you can use mint bouquets as an oxygen purifier from pathogens), but also as a powerful antibacterial agent.

During the period of increased incidence of acute respiratory infections or the onset of a flu epidemic, consume as much mint as possible and breathe it. Ideally, if mint grows in a flowerpot, it can be used fresh all year round.

An excellent remedy for raging colds is green tea with mint, the beneficial properties of which are to improve the body’s defenses and relieve muscle spasm and headache - the first symptoms of the disease.

What else can mint do?

A useful plant containing healing power and which can be grown without hassle in a summer cottage, can stimulate brain function and of cardio-vascular system, activate the body's metabolic processes, work gastrointestinal tract, improve appetite (but also reduce it - everything again depends on the concentration of the drink).

Tea with mint, the beneficial properties of which have been tested for more than one generation, is drunk for migraines, nervous overexcitation, the first signs of a cold, and given to hyperactive children (but it is not a strong drink - two leaves per liter of boiling water). Peppermint tea is used as an external remedy for itchy skin rashes.

Those who need to be careful about drinking the drink are people suffering from low blood pressure, varicose veins veins, and for those who have an individual intolerance to mint and allergic reactions at her.

This is a perennial ether-bearing herb from the family Yasnotkov (Lamiaceae). The name of the plant is borrowed from Greek and Roman mythologies. Latin word " Mentha"was the name of the nymph Menta (in the Greek version - Minta), transformed by the jealous wife of the ruler underworld into fragrant, fragrant grass.

The plant's generic system includes 42 species and many hybrids. The most famous and used in various fields following

1. 1 types of mint and its hybrids: Peppermint
2. 2 – a hybrid of two wild species (garden and water mint). The honey-bearing properties of this variety of mint are highly valued by modern beekeepers; Longleaf mint
3. 3 – grows in Europe, Asia, and the African continent. The spicy taste has contributed to the fact that this species has taken pride of place among the spices of world cuisine;– grows in moist soil, near a water source. This type of mint has taken root in Europe, but is also found in African and Asian countries;
4. 4 Sweet mint– common in the Mediterranean, Asia Minor region, Europe. Used in cooking and medicine;
5. 5 Field mint– grows in Europe, Asia, the Caucasus, India and Nepal. Component of many herbal teas;
6. 6 Apple mint- from the countries of Asia Minor and Egypt it spread to Transcaucasia and took root in southern Europe. Found it wide application V confectionery;
7. 7 Japanese mint- a rather rare species, a representative of the flora of the Japanese islands. Used in the cosmetics industry;
8. 8 pennyroyal (or flea mint)– grows in northern Africa, eastern Asia, common in Europe, in the Caucasus mountains;
9. 9 Curly mint- grows in North America, in some Western and Southern European countries.

The rhizome of the plant is branched, creeping, and produces numerous shoots. Stem with many branches, up to half a meter in height. According to phenotypic characteristics, black and white mint are distinguished. The leaves of the first variety are purple, red-violet, white mint is light green. The flowering period of white mint begins earlier, it essential oil has a more subtle aroma. But the productivity of white mint is lower than that of black mint. Therefore, in industrial cultivation, preference is given to latest variety . The leaf arrangement is opposite, the arrangement of flowers is ring-shaped. mint flowers

small, purple-red, collected in an inflorescence of spikes. A characteristic property of all types of mint is a persistent aroma.

The species diversity of mint is so wide that the plant can be found almost everywhere. Peppermint is grown in vegetable gardens and orchards; water mint has chosen places near water bodies; long-leaved mint grows in swamps, in mountainous areas and alder forests.

Mint in history: how the plant was cultivated The history of mint cultivation goes back centuries: humanity has long used the storehouse of beneficial properties that this plant offers. How did mint spread around the world? For example, it was brought to the islands of Britain by the Romans. Pliny wrote about mint: “

The smell of mint makes the mind soar and the appetite expand and grow. " Mint is mentioned in medieval manuscripts; it is known that already in the ninth century it became a garden crop among the English. Mentions of garden mint can be found in the texts of Chaucer., soap and confectionery. This is how peppermint came into being, the oldest cultivated member of the flora, a hybrid of which was developed by the British in the seventeenth century, believed to be a cross between other species. In Russia, mint began to be cultivated a century later (this process coincided with the activities of the so-called pharmaceutical gardens). IN Soviet time the plant was cultivated on the territory of the former republics on a huge scale.

Conditions for growing mint

The plant's method of propagation is vegetative: mint spreads by dividing the root system, and not only the rhizomes, but also with the help of rooted stems and leaves. Basic soil requirements: moisture.

Mint is a high-yielding plant, provided it is grown in low-lying areas, which are characterized by shallow groundwater. With abundant snow cover, mint can withstand sub-zero temperatures down to 30 degrees. But in snowless frosts it dies. The most favorable weather for mint is summer weather with a temperature range from 18 to 22 C. Frequent rains and heat lead to the appearance of fungal diseases, which negatively affect the amount of essential oil produced by mint. The area for planting rhizomes must be plowed to a depth of 25–27 cm, while simultaneously applying organic fertilizers. In early spring the soil is cultivated. Fresh, unsprouted rhizomes are planted manually using the square-cluster method. When weeds appear, the crops are cultivated to a depth of 8–10 cm. The first harvest occurs during the period of budding and the beginning of flowering (in July–August), re-harvesting mint is possible after regrowth in September. Mint blooms in June – July.

Mint collection

begins in July (sometimes in August) and coincides with the period of flower budding. Mint is collected again in September, after regrowth. The answer to this question is determined by the form in which – dried or fresh – this healing herb should be preserved. It is best to store dried mint in fabric bags. The life of fresh mint will be extended by a damp waffle towel and refrigerator. Mint leaves can also be frozen and stored for a long time in the freezer, in a tightly sealed bag or plastic container.

How to grow mint at home

You can enjoy the mint harvest not only at personal plot, in the garden. If you wish, you can grow mint at home, on a windowsill, in a regular flower pot. When planting mint, use seeds or rooted, sprouted mint stems. Caring for mint in an apartment or house is quite simple: moderate watering, periodic fertilizing, moistening the above-ground part of the plant, additional lighting in the cold season and maintaining optimal temperature conditions (about 20 degrees).

Growing mint can be accompanied by problems that many gardeners face - pests and diseases that affect the plant. Among the pests that mint attracts mint flea beetle, aphid, peppermint mite, leaf beetle and others. The best way to combat them is to use appropriate insecticides and spray according to instructions. It should be remembered that the plant must be processed at least a month before the start of harvesting in order to avoid high concentration harmful substances in mint stem and leaves. Mint is often affected by a disease such as rust. In this case, the lower part of the leaves becomes covered with voluminous brown spots. The infection spreads quickly enough and soon the entire plant becomes diseased. Rust is caused by a fungus. In case of fungal infection, you need to use a special spray solution. The occurrence of rust is facilitated by high humidity, fairly low temperatures, the “age” of the mint grown and increased level nitrogen in the soil. Preventive

measures to combat rust on mint bushes

: you need to feed the soil with a mixture of phosphorus and potassium, replant the plants in time and be sure to burn the diseased stems. Power circuit(catnip), containing substances that can attract the attention of a pet and have a stimulating effect on it.

Useful properties of mint

Chemical composition and presence of nutrients

What exactly is used and in what form?

For the manufacture of medicines use grass and mint leaves. Raw materials in the form of dried or fresh herbs are a source of valuable essential oil. Decoctions, tinctures, and teas are prepared using mint leaves.

Mint leaves and inflorescences contain essential oil, the amount of which is determined general conditions plant growth, mint variety and time of collection of raw materials. Essential oil got mint wide application: V medical practice, in the food industry. This is a natural flavoring, indispensable in alcoholic beverages, confectionery. Menthol, which is obtained from essential oil, is a component of medications with a disinfectant and anti-inflammatory effect. Mint tincture and mint leaves (as part of herbal teas) are used to improve performance digestive system, as a choleretic and antispasmodic agent. Peppermint oil useful for inhalations. Mint water good for rinsing, included in mixtures. Small children are bathed in mint baths for allergic rashes, scrofula, rickets, intestinal colic. Menthol alcohol treats neuroderma. Fresh flowering mint is used in homeopathy.

Medicinal properties of mint

Peppermint leaves rich in volatile oils (among them menthol, limonene, depentene, menthone), they also contain triterpene compounds (various acids), mineral salts, tannins and enzymes. The largest amount of essential oil is contained in the flower part of mint, much less in the leaf part, and very little in the stems.

Composed of leaves mint several types of organic acids (malic, citric and succinic) and vitamin C. Curly mint contains carotene, vitamin P, ascorbic acid and phytoncides.

The therapeutic effect of mint is explained by a combination of substances with primary biological effects, among which menthol, which belongs to the terpene group, occupies a central place.

Menthol exhibits anesthetic and antiseptic properties characteristic of this group.

The use of mint in official medicine

• The following drugs are widely used in official medicine: peppermint leaves
• , bagged mono collection; peppermint tincture
• . A tincture of 10 drops is prescribed to improve the functioning of the digestive tract, as well as as a diuretic and to eliminate nausea. The tincture expels bile. For the purpose of disinfection, it is used for purulent bronchitis and bronchiectasis. Acts as a vasodilator for angina pectoris. Lowers blood pressure when taken simultaneously with vinca-based medications;
• peppermint oil. Found use as a disinfectant and flavor enhancer; boromenthol, ointment. An excellent antiseptic and antispasmodic, used externally to treat the nasal mucosa for general
• respiratory diseases, to relieve skin itching and irritation; menovazine, which contains ethyl alcohol, menthol, novocaine, anesthesin. Rubbed into
• skin for dermatosis, myalgia and neuralgia. The drug should be used with caution: if the dose is exceeded, weakness, dizziness, and hypotension may occur.;
• validol– a solution of menthol in menthol ester of isovaleric acid. Used for angina pectoris, hysterical and neurotic diseases, and also as an antiemetic for motion sickness and disorder vestibular apparatus;
• pectusin, which contains menthol, eucalyptus oil, sugar and talc. Prescribe one tablet under the tongue for inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract, drops "Eucatol"(menthol,
• eucalyptus tincture ethanol
• ). For diseases of the upper respiratory tract, it is recommended to gargle (up to 10 drops per 200 ml of boiled water); olimethine capsules
• (peppermint oil, purified turpentine oil, calamus rhizome oil, olive oil, purified sulfur). Used to eliminate stones in the urinary and gallstones (2 capsules 3-5 times a day after meals);;
• Anestezol suppositories, which contain menthol. Used to treat hemorrhoids;

dental drops

mint water . Used as a flavoring agent and as a mouth rinse. as a powerful antiseptic and analgesic. For a sore throat or toothache, rinsing with a concentrated decoction of mint is recommended. The herb is useful for stomach cramps.

• Brings relief from cough. For anemia, consume mint leaves raw. Longleaf mint is also used for neurological problems. Patients with hysteria, neurological problems and aggressive behavior are prescribed a course of medicinal baths. Mint leaves
• used to prepare a decoction: brew a tablespoon of leaves in two glasses of boiling water, let it brew for 10 minutes. They drink this decoction when expectant mothers have weak fermentation and nausea. Externally, the decoction helps with itchy rashes. It is credited with a steroid effect. Mint decoction

• with gastritis or decreased appetite.
• Peppermint oil Brew 2 teaspoons of dry raw materials in a glass of boiling water. Leave the broth for about 30 minutes, strain. Take 60 ml of the resulting liquid before each morning and evening meals.
• for acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, colds, bronchitis and sore throat. Pour a tablespoon of mint leaves with a small amount of boiling water, and use it later as a regular tea brew. This tea with honey and lemon is beneficial.
• Ideal for inhalation for upper respiratory tract infections. Mint lotions
• help with fungal nail infections. Grind the leaves and stems of mint to a paste and pour boiling water over it. The resulting mass is wrapped in thin cloth or gauze and applied to areas of the skin where the fungus appears. After 5 minutes, rinse the affected area and pat dry with a clean towel. Repeat the procedure up to 2 times a day. Mint tincture
• for migraines. A teaspoon of mint raw material is infused with alcohol (70%) in the amount of 20 teaspoons. The tincture is prepared for a week. Drink 15 drops per 200 ml of drinking water daily. Peppermint tincture
• helps with heartburn: two tablespoons per half liter of boiling water. Take a quarter glass up to 4 times a day. Externally used oil for the treatment of wounds and cervical erosion
• . To prepare the oil, a 10% tincture of mint leaves is mixed in equal proportions with Provençal or sunflower oil and the alcohol is evaporated in a water bath. with mint infusion is recommended to relieve fatigue, redness and irritation of the eyes. Add 2 tablespoons of mint leaves to 1⁄2 liter of hot water.
• Boil over low heat for about 10 minutes. Strain the cooled broth, apply cotton pads soaked in the broth to the eyelids for 1-2 minutes, repeating the procedure up to 4 times a day. Mint steam baths

: steaming the facial skin over mint decoction reduces the amount of inflammation and has excellent antiseptic properties.

Use of mint in oriental medicine Chinese and Japanese healers have long used mint to treat migraines, diseases digestive in nature and stopping internal bleeding. Avicenna's treatises mention the so-called " pulegiaceae

» mint. Avicenna described its vasodilating effect and gave recipes containing mint for getting rid of kidney stones.

Mint in scientific research In ancient times, Avicenna described the types of mint known to him and recorded the recipes that existed at that time. In early Europe, interest in the plant was maintained at the state level: by decree of Charlemagne in 812, the population was obliged to grow 4 types of mint in their gardens..

Carl Linnaeus made his contribution to the development of research into the species diversity of mint: it was he who in 1753 defined a new hybrid (arising from water mint and spearmint, garden) -

peppermint

Modern scientists are increasing the body of knowledge about the numerous healing properties of mint. The antibacterial and antioxidant effects of peppermint are reviewed (R. Singh, M. Shushni, A. Belkhair). The object of the study is the biologically active characteristics of herbal tea from peppermint (D. McKay), J. Bloomberg). A group of researchers led by P. Mikaili focuses scientific interest on pharmacological and therapeutic properties

mint , and its main component – ​​menthol. Turkish scientists analyze agronomic and

chemical indicators

spearmint, native to Türkiye.

In the domestic scientific paradigm, E. L. Malankina classifies and describes mint varieties.

American researchers point to the choleretic properties of mint and explain the effectiveness of diets that include mint tea by improving the flow of bile, which accelerates fat breakdown. The feasibility of mint aromatherapy for suppressing appetite has been experimentally proven. Test subjects who inhaled mint flavor, experienced less hunger and were content with a reduced amount of calories.

Use in cooking

Mint is a real find when you need to diversify a simple dish by adding a spicy note. A couple of leaves of dried or fresh herb will significantly change the taste of a soup or salad. Meat dishes and baked goods also go well with a splash of mint. This spice is valued by oriental cooks. Recipes with mint are so diverse that they could make up a separate cookbook, so the question “ What to cook with mint “It’s just a matter of taste. Mint is one of the essential ingredients of the legendary drink.

mojito

Mojito recipe:

You will need 40 ml of white rum, 6 peppermint leaves, 30 ml of lime juice, 10 g of light cane sugar, half a glass of crushed ice and 0.25 liters of soda. Grind mint leaves with lime juice and granulated sugar, fill the glass with crushed ice, mix with mint mass and pour in rum and soda. Incredibly tasty and non-alcoholic:

drinks with mint

Moroccan mint tea To prepare, take 2-4 mint stalks with leaves, a quarter glass of granulated sugar, 2 half tablespoons of green tea, 150 ml of water. Separate the leaves from the stems, throw them into a teapot, add sugar, and brew in 50 ml of boiling water. Green tea

cook in another kettle, brewing with the remaining boiling water. Leave for 3 minutes.

Strain the tea and mint infusion from two teapots and pour into one container. Place a mint stalk in the cups and pour the finished tea. Serve with crushed sugar.

Mint Julep

Take a handful of raw mint, 1 lemon or lime and a liter of sparkling water. Wash and chop mint leaves. Then puree in a blender with 100 ml of water. Combine the pureed mixture with the juice of one lemon or lime, add soda and strain.

Serve the julep in glasses garnished with mint leaves and lemon wedges. A confectioner who wants to make a mint dessert also has plenty to choose from. Peppermint Cookies Recipe

Grind granulated sugar with mint leaves. Combine the resulting mixture with softened butter and stir. Add flour, add egg. Make small balls and form them into small cakes with your fingers. Bake for about 20 minutes at 175 degrees, until golden brown. Store cookies in a tightly sealed jar.

Useful for preparing refreshing drinks mint ice: mint leaves, arranged in molds, pour boiled water and place in the freezer.

Mint sauce pair harmoniously with lamb and pork dishes, and meat prepared for cooking in a mint marinade will satisfy the most demanding gourmets.

Using mint in cosmetology

Mint in cosmetology has justified itself as a valuable and multifunctional plant. Mint renders beneficial effect on skin, hair, moisturizes, nourishes and heals. This herb is included in both professional skin care cosmetics and a variety of home remedies. cosmetics. Mint is used in masks for skin and hair; lotions, tonics, compresses, and lotions are created on its basis. Shampoos and hair rinses based on mint extract help with seborrhea.

Use in perfumery

In Greek culture, mint was credited with aphrodisiac properties. Wreaths were woven from it, added to water for ablutions and used for cleaning rooms. Nowadays, this plant is used in perfumery. Aroma oils based on mint, they are useful in healing migraines and combating unpleasant odors. Well-known brands have created perfumes and eau de toilette based on mint notes. Popular: mint scented perfumes Acqua di Gioia from Giorgio Armani, Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca

from Guerlain.

Other uses

Mint is a kind of natural fumigator. Pests cannot tolerate the smell of this plant. If you plant mint in the area around your house, you can forget about cockroaches, flies and moths for a long time. Depending on the era and cultural affiliation of countries, mint at different times has been a symbol of hospitality, inspiration, and creativity. In world literature, one of the most famous references to the aromatic herb is Detective novel French writer Marguerite Duras " English mint " The Soviet futurist poet Nikolai Aseev, in poetry about his own work, wrote that his poems were “made of mint and wormwood,” comparing the beneficial effects of words with healing power

Dangerous properties of mint and contraindications

When hypersensitivity You cannot use toothpaste or cream that contain it with menthol, as this can cause hives, redness of the skin, and headaches. It should also be used very carefully peppermint oil for treating the skin of infants.

In large doses, peppermint oil can provoke vomiting, ataxia, and sometimes, due to its effect on the central nervous system, accelerated breathing rate, convulsions, and even death from paralysis of the respiratory center. Apart from allergy sufferers and infants, mint is not recommended to be taken in any form by children under 3 years of age, pregnant women and those who drive, as this plant causes drowsiness. Medical consultation is required in each case possible treatment

mint preparations. You should not buy dried or freshly harvested grass at market points or in the passage. The origin of such raw materials may be associated with unsuitable environmental conditions; the grass could have been collected close to the roadway. In this case, mint will turn out to be a container of toxins dangerous to human health.

• The use of mint in any form should be avoided if the patient is simultaneously taking:
• preparations containing iron;
• cyclosporine;
• any antibiotic or antifungal agent;;
• anticonvulsants
• medications to lower blood pressure, any drug for heart problems. source
• Karkhut V.V. Living Pharmacy - K. Health, 1992. - 312 p., ill., 2, arc. ill.
• Medicinal plants: encyclopedic reference book / ed. A. M. Grodzinsky. – K.: Olympus, 1992. – 544 p.: ill.
• Herbalist's Handbook/Comp. V.V. Onishchenko. – Kh.: Folio, 2006. - 350 pp. - (World of Hobbies).
• Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Mentha piperita L.,
• A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.),
• Pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Mentha Longifolia L. and its main constituent, menthol,
• Agronomical and chemical characterization of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) originating in Turkey,
• Malankina E. L. Varieties of mint, Neugeboyrova Ya. Value various types

and mint hybrids as medicinal plants,

Mint for men has a set of properties that will help fight mainly diseases of the nervous system and their consequences. We will look at the pros and cons of using mint, whether men can drink mint, and what it entails.

Mint is a long-cultivated plant that has dozens of species. High content The essential oils in its leaves give the plant a bright aroma and a fresh, pronounced taste. It is these properties that have made mint in demand in many industries: Food Industry, medicine, cosmetology, pharmacological. Peppermint flavors are the most popular in the world.

Traditional medicine offers a large list of recipes based on mint. These are drugs for patients gastrointestinal diseases, at increased sweating, and also as sedative. During the hot season, drinks with mint add vigor and freshness. Why is mint useful or harmful for the stronger sex? There are mixed opinions from experts on this matter, which we will consider further.

As you know, mint exists in the form of a domesticated crop and in the form of wild plants. Dozens of species are united under one name mint. But not all are suitable for use in medicine and other fields. The most widespread is peppermint, which is written about on the packaging of various products, for example, mouth rinses, toothpastes, and so on. These products have nothing in common with mint, as they have added crystalline flavoring. Natural ingredients medicinal herbs can only be found in herbal mixtures, lotions, teas, and aromatic oils. Dry mint can be purchased at the pharmacy.

How is mint useful for men? Mint acts on several organs and systems of the body:

• Helps with stress and nervous overexcitation.
• Peppermint tea is useful for spasms of the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Helps cope with inflammation.
• It is recommended to drink mint tea for any cold.
• Positive reviews of mint drink can be found among those who suffer from headaches and even migraines.
• Mint is excellent for helping with insomnia; it is recommended to drink tea at night.
• Mint will help relieve nasal congestion, and is especially useful when combined with honey.
• If you have a stuffy nose, mint will also help. It makes nasal breathing easier.

What exactly is mint good for?

Mint is famous for its essential oil, which is contained in both leaves and fruits. In second place in quantity are the tannic and resinous components of mint, as well as carotene and hesperidin. The plant also contains a lot of organic acids, such as caffeic, oleanolic, ascorbic, ursolic and chlorogenic. The seeds contain fatty oils.

Leaves of such varieties as peppermint and threshed mint are used as raw materials in medicine. You need to harvest raw materials in dry weather, when half of the plants have already bloomed.

The main component that is responsible for most of the properties of mint is menthol. Menthol belongs to organic substances and is used as a means for over-the-counter drugs.

Menthol is excellent for treating colds and as a means to relieve muscle and rheumatic pain. Good action menthol provides if in in kind included in toothpastes, rinses, ointments. In ointments, the cooling effect of menthol is appreciated, which helps with severe itching.

The benefits of mint for men include its relaxing effect. Since ancient times, mint has been added to aroma lamps and baths at the end of the day. Now you can make foot baths. Mint relieves unpleasant thoughts, stress, and helps in the fight against depressive state. Before bed, mint is useful as a mild sleeping pill if you suffer from insomnia.

This treatment plant also has a general effect. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, restores impaired functioning immune system. In addition, mint is a strong antioxidant.

Harm of mint for men

The fear that mint allegedly significantly reduces potency in men and leads to sexual impotence is greatly exaggerated. The herb contains a plant analogue of the female sex hormone estrogen, which is why it is more often considered and called a female herb. But this does not mean that mint brings nothing other than harm to men.

A small portion of mint brewed in tea, or an aroma lamp lit in the evening will not affect potency. The point is not that the estrogen-like substance is not there, the point is its dosage.

Some believe that the content of mint in tea can greatly affect potency, which is why they say that men should not drink tea with mint. In fact, a couple of glasses will only bring benefits, calm you down after a working day, and balance the nervous system.

How does mint affect male potency if consumed in large quantities? To feel at least some effect on male power, you need to consume a lot of mint daily. Thanks to the specific taste and pronounced aroma, this becomes simply impossible. But all herbs can change the balance between sex hormones: androgens (testosterone) and estrogens in favor of the latter, that is, lead to.

When should you not use mint?

Does mint affect male potency if you drink it daily? Perhaps the use of this medicinal herb in small quantity will only benefit any organism. The exception is the group of people who have manifestations of allergies to it. It could be itchy skin, difficulty breathing, rashes, soft tissue swelling and more severe reactions. In this case, of course, you will have to forget about mint forever.

Sometimes you can find information that drivers and other workers whose specialty is associated with constant attention and concentration should not use mint. This is partly true, because the components of the plant have a calming effect on the body, causing drowsiness in people prone to this.

Some medicinal recipes with mint for men

Let's look at the most common mint recipes:

• The most common and simplest recipe is mint tea. You can combine mint with, since the latter is no less useful. You need to take a tablespoon of herbal leaves and pour a glass of boiling water. The tea is infused for up to 15 minutes, after which it is filtered and drunk. If desired, you can add honey. How much tea to drink will be determined by your condition. If you feel insomnia or nervousness, then one glass at night is enough for you. If you have a cold, drink 2 glasses. If you are bothered by stool pungent odor, flatulence, abdominal pain, you feel intestinal spasms, then during the day you need to drink up to 3 glasses of the drink.
• Infusion of peppermint leaves. For 2 teaspoons of raw materials, dry, take a glass of boiling water and pour. Leave for 20 minutes, then strain and can be consumed. The infusion will be useful for those who feel pain in the heart, joints, hard breath, suffers from hemorrhoids, nervous disorders, including hysteria. Before use, tell your doctor and get his or her advice.
• Alcohol tincture. You need alcohol or vodka 75%, in a volume of 100 ml, for this amount take 20 grams of dry herb. You need to prepare the product in advance; it will infuse for 2 weeks. This drug will help with inflammatory diseases nasal cavity, throat, trachea or bronchi. Can also be used as a rub for muscle pain, migraines, headaches, and skin inflammation of non-allergic origin.
• Baths using mint herb. Pre-brew 50 grams of mint in 1000 ml of water. Baths are very useful for psoriasis, pimples, acne, and other inflammatory skin diseases. If you have an itchy type of dermatosis, add a decoction of bird knotweed to the mint infusion.

As you can see, any medicinal plant will be useful for correct use. Mint is no exception. All the prejudices associated with negative influence plants for potency are exaggerated, since usually the dosage of substances in tea or preparations is insufficient for strong decline hormonal background of men.

Latin version peppermint– Mentha piperita L. This name is explained by the presence of a burning taste of the leaves of the plant. The root is branched and can go into the soil to a depth of 70-80 cm. The stem is erect, the leaves are covered with soft short hairs.

Small, pale pink or pale purple mint flowers are collected in spikelet-like inflorescences at the top of the shoot. The plant blooms all summer and part of September.

Types of mint

In the 17th century In England, peppermint or English mint was obtained by crossing wild species. Now mint is widespread throughout Russia and many European countries. The plant is unpretentious: it feels good under the snow, tolerates cold, but prefers light and moisture. Nowadays, the famous cultivated types of mint are black - the leaves have a red-purple tint to the stems, and white - the color of the leaves is white. The latter's essential oil is more delicate, but it produces little of it, so it is more rational to grow black.

Mint composition

Vitamins

How to prepare mint

The leaves are used for medicinal, culinary and cosmetic purposes. To prepare the leaves, they are collected in July and August at the beginning of flowering, preferably in the first half of the day, laid out in sheaves for several hours to wither, laid out again and dried at 30-32°C.