Health Benefits of Peppermint
Rose May Pimentel in Health
Nov 20, 2021 • 3 min Read
Peppermint, also known as mint, is an aromatic herb that has been used for thousands of years for its pleasant, minty taste, and benefits. It has the prestigious title of being the world’s oldest medicine.
Peppermint is used as a flavoring in breath mints, candies, foods, and drinks. Research shows that peppermint’s health benefits come from applying it to the skin or inhaling its aroma.
Here are some of the amazing benefits of peppermint:
1. Helps in Digestion
Peppermint is rich in antioxidants, menthol, and phytonutrients that help enzymes digest food. The essential oils in it possess strong antibacterial and antiseptic effects that calm stomach cramps and help ease acidity and flatulence.
2. Treats Asthma
Regularly taking peppermint can ease chest congestion. The methanol in it acts as a decongestant helps loosen mucus collected in the lung and shrinks swollen membranes in the nose to allow you to breathe easier.
3. Cures Headaches
Peppermint contains menthol that helps relax muscles and ease the pain. Applying peppermint juice on your forehead and temples can give you relief from headaches. Balms of peppermint base or mint oil are effective in curing headaches.
4. Eases Stress and Depression
One of the main advantages of peppermint is it’s the most widely used herb in aromatherapy. Mint has a strong, refreshing smell that can ease stress and refresh the body and mind. The apoptogenic activity of mint helps regulate the cortisol levels in the blood that triggers the body’s natural response to ease the stress. Inhaling mint essential oil can instantly release serotonin in the blood which is a neurotransmitter, known for easing symptoms of stress and depression.
5. Makes Your Skin Healthy
Peppermint has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help treat acne. Mint leaves contain a high amount of salicylic acid which acts as an anti-acne and an effective skin cleanser. Peppermint has antioxidant properties that remove free radicals from the body that will give you youthful skin. Peppermint also retains the moisture in the skin, clears off dead skin cells and dirt from the pores, and makes the skin look radiant and toned.
6. Oral Care
Chewing peppermint leaves is a great way to improve oral hygiene and dental health. The essential oils in mint can help you get fresh breath. The mouthwash containing peppermint oil can help you kill bacteria in the mouth and provide you with healthy gums and teeth.
7. Improves Memory
According to research, peppermint can improve memory and retrieve the cognitive function of the brain. Consuming mint regularly can increase brain power by improving alertness, memory retention, and other cognitive functions.
8. Promotes Weight Loss
Peppermint can help in weight loss. The essential oils of mint stimulate digestive enzymes to increase the bile flow, promote digestion and improve nutrient absorption from the food. When the body can assimilate and absorb nutrients properly, metabolism increases and promotes weight loss.
9. Treats Common Cold
If you are struggling with cold and difficulty in breathing, mint is the best remedy for it. Most of the vapor rubs and inhalers contain mint for it naturally clears nose throat, bronchi, and lung congestion. Mint also eases irritation caused by chronic coughing.
10. Eases Symptoms of Nausea
Peppermint is an effective treatment for nausea that often occurs in morning sickness. Eating a few mint leaves or smelling them every morning can help pregnant women prevent the nauseous feeling or cope with it better.
Include this wonderful herb in your daily life, diet and enjoy its benefits!
Stay healthy and safe!
