Peppermint - the wonderful hybrid!

The world didn't start out with peppermint, first, there were spearmint and water mint plants but over time, the two plants crossed pollinated creating the hybrid 'peppermint' as we know it today.

Mentha piperita, to give peppermint its scientific name, is known for its most active ingredients menthol and menthone but also contains B vitamins, calcium and potassium and is totally caffeine free.

Peppermint tea and health

Firstly it's important to point out that there have not been any trials to assess the health benefits of 'peppermint tea' as such. Most research has been centred around peppermint oil and a few on the peppermint leaf. However the main constituents of the peppermint oil are menthol and methone, which are two ingredients found in peppermint tea. As there is much anecdotal evidence surrounding the benefits of drinking peppermint tea, the findings in research with peppermint oil gives some weighting to these reports that peppermint tea may:

• improve digestion and reduce heartburn
• ATTENTION! Trials involving peppermint oil showed it acted as a muscle relaxant and therefore anyone suffering from gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatus hernia or kidney stones are advised to avoid peppermint as it could make symptoms worse.
• ease symptoms for irritable bowel syndrome
• ease nausea and vomiting
• eases symptoms of stress
• helps improve bad breath
• eases congestion and coughs related to colds.

References:
A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.)

Author(s)
MCKAY Diane L.; BLUMBERG Jeffrey B. USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, ETATS-UNIS PTR. Phytotherapy research ISSN 0951-418X Source2006, vol. 20, no8, pp. 619-633 [15 page(s) (article)] (4 p.1/4)