Nutritionally, peppermint is packed with vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, and fiber while being low in calories. Its fresh flavor and cooling sensation make it a popular ingredient in products like mouthwash, toothpaste, soap, and ointments. Whether sourced from your local farmer’s market, grown in your home herb garden, or purchased as a supplement, peppermint leaf offers numerous health benefits.
Benefits of Peppermint
Defends against harmful organisms
Supports digestive health
Promotes respiratory health
Promotes oral health
May relieve headaches
Soothes against stress
Supports the liver
Contains antioxidants
Soothes muscle tissue
Peppermint Leaf Fights Harmful Organisms
Peppermint and its compounds, including menthol, help fend off various harmful organisms. Studies have shown it to be effective against head lice, fungus, and even intestinal worms in goats.
Peppermint Supports Digestive Health
Peppermint has been valued as a digestive aid for centuries, and recent studies confirm its benefits. Peppermint tea can relieve indigestion, and peppermint leaf oil may help alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) such as abdominal discomfort, gas, and diarrhea.
Peppermint Promotes Respiratory Health
Peppermint can support lung health and improve respiratory function. It may even enhance lung performance during exercise. Experiments with peppermint-infused mineral water have shown increased respiratory rates and better running performance in healthy men, likely due to higher oxygen levels and reduced blood lactate.
Peppermint Leaf & Oral Health
Peppermint is a common ingredient in toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss because its fresh flavor keeps your mouth smelling clean. It also has significant benefits for oral health by deterring plaque and supporting healthy gums. Peppermint helps inhibit the growth of harmful organisms in the mouth.
Peppermint Leaf, Headaches, & Stress
The cooling sensation of peppermint makes it a popular natural remedy for tension-type headaches. Some reports indicate that peppermint oil can be as effective as pain relievers like aspirin or acetaminophen. Additionally, aromatherapy practitioners recommend peppermint for relieving stress and anxiety.
Peppermint & the Liver
Peppermint may aid liver function by promoting bile flow, which aids in fat digestion and helps maintain normal cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the liver’s workload. Compounds in peppermint may also protect the liver from certain toxins. Although more research is needed, initial studies indicate peppermint’s positive impact on liver health.
Other Benefits of Peppermint Leaf
Peppermint tea, one of the most popular herbal teas globally, contains antioxidants. Traditional folk medicine often recommends peppermint for relieving discomfort, a claim that has been supported by research. Peppermint can relax smooth muscle tissue, which can be beneficial in various situations like soothing sore throats or calming colonic spasms.
Some studies suggest that certain compounds in peppermint may support normal cell growth and development under specific conditions.
How to Grow Your Own Peppermint
Peppermint makes a great addition to an organic herb garden as it repels insects and requires little care. Once established, it grows rapidly, though some might argue it grows too easily.
Since true peppermint is a sterile hybrid that cannot be grown from seeds, it must be propagated through cuttings. You can find peppermint cuttings at garden shops or from friends with peppermint plants. Perform a taste test on the leaves first to ensure it’s true peppermint.
Plant the cuttings in early spring, ideally in temperatures of at least 65°F (~18°C). If temperatures are cooler, start the cuttings indoors. Once they reach 10 cm in height, they can be moved outside. Peppermint prefers moist but well-drained soil and can thrive in both full and partial sunlight.
Peppermint plants can grow one to two feet tall and spread across the ground. Due to its invasive nature, many gardeners prefer to grow peppermint in a container or an enclosed area to control its spread.
You can start harvesting peppermint leaves as soon as they begin to grow. The freshest leaves have the best flavor. When harvesting, leave at least one-third of the plant intact.
