Table of Contents
Introduction
The herb peppermint, a cross between two kinds of mint (spearmint and water mint ), grows throughout North and European America. Both peppermint essential oil and the leaves from peppermint have been used for health reasons.
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is a plant in the mint family. It’s a natural hybrid of wild mint and spearmint. The oil and leaf are used as medicine.
Peppermint tea is free of caffeine and naturally sweet. It is made by infusing peppermint leaves in hot water. You may also make spearmint tea using spearmint leaves.
Peppermint oil seems to lessen spasms in the digestive tract. When applied to the skin, it may generate surface warmth, which eases pain beneath the skin.
It may also assist in “cooling” the skin and relieving itching.
People use it for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is also helpful for indigestion, bed sores, tension headaches, stress, sleeplessness, memory, and many other goals, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.
Make sure to distinguish peppermint from other mint plants, such as English Horsemint, Japanese Mint, Perilla, Salvia divinorum, Spearmint, and Wild Mint.
Peppermint and mint are often mentioned as pudina in Hindi, which has usually made many of us wonder what the difference is.
For all of those who have had a tough time figuring out what distinguishes the two, we are here to help. Here’s how mint is different from peppermint.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea is free of caffeine and naturally sweet. It is made by infusing peppermint leaves in hot water. You may also make spearmint tea using spearmint leaves.
Peppermint leaves contain essential oils released when steeped in hot water, including limonene, menthone, and menthol. These give peppermint tea its cooling, refreshing, minty taste.
It may be made using fresh leaves, dried loose leaves, or tea bags. It may be mixed with other flavours, such as liquorice or fruit in teabags. It’s naturally caffeine-free, so you may take it as often as you like.
Mint
Mint is a generic term for the ‘mentha plant’ family. Peppermint, orange mint, apple mint, spearmint, and about 15 other varieties belong to this family. Mint is one of the elderly herbs known to humanity. In India, mint is also one of the universally cultivated herbs. It is an essential summer staple across some households. Besides the kitchen, mint’s healing and medicinal properties make it one of the most favourite and precious herbs. Each variety of mint has its distinct flavour. One of the chief differentiating features amongst the many diversity of mint is the constitution of menthol.
Peppermint
Peppermint is an aromatic plant cross between water mint and spearmint. Its benefits include helping to manage digestive problems, nausea, headaches, and other health issues.
Peppermint is one of the diversity of mint herbs, which is added for its aroma and flavour to several products and preparations. You may have seen peppermint tablets, tea, and ice cream. In cosmetics and beauty, peppermint is a hit, too. Its oil is an excellent remedy for treating sore colds and throats. It has antiseptic, anti-microbial, & anti-inflammatory properties and is a mild sedative and natural pain killer.
Peppermint is used to add flavour or fragrance to soaps, cosmetics, foods, mouthwashes, toothpaste, and other products, and it may have few medicinal uses.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea is free of caffeine and naturally sweet. It is made by infusing peppermint leaves in hot water. You may also make spearmint tea using spearmint leaves.
Peppermint leaves contain essential oils released when steeped in hot water, including limonene, menthone, and menthol. These give peppermint tea its cooling, refreshing, minty taste.
It may be made using fresh leaves, dried loose leaves, or tea bags. It may be mixed with other flavours, such as liquorice or fruit in teabags. It’s naturally caffeine-free, so you may take it as often as you like.
Peppermint tea recipe
- Boil four cups of water in a pan.
- Add peppermint leaves & turn off the heat.
- Keep the pan aside for about 5 minutes or until the infusion turns fragrant.
- Strain into cups.
- Add honey or jaggery if your tea tastes a little sweet.
- Serve in a cup, and Enjoy!
Peppermint tea benefits
1. It may ease indigestion and bloating.
Peppermint tea is well known for its digestive effects, and some people, anecdotally, find it can assist in relieving symptoms such as bloating and gas. As yet, there is only a little human research on the effectiveness of peppermint tea, but some animal studies do show that it may relax the digestive system.
Some research has been done on peppermint oil, which is more potent than tea. There is some proof that it may offer some short-term relief for IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) sufferers. If you’re considering using peppermint tea or oil to manage your IBS issue, speak to your GP(General practitioner ) first to ensure it suits you. Peppermint oil has been shown to relax or ease muscles in the digestive system and upgrade various digestive issues. Therefore, peppermint tea may provide similar benefits.
2. Caffeine-free
Pure peppermint tea is caffeine-free. Because it is naturally caffeine-free, you can drink it at any time of the day. Enjoy it as a post-meal treat to boost your energy levels in the afternoon, aid digestion, or before bed to help you relax.
3. May improve sleep
No research supports claims that peppermint tea can assist with sleep, but as it is caffeine-free, it is entirely acceptable to drink before bed and may help you relax. While the aroma of peppermint tea can assist in relaxing muscles and improve headache pain, there is no supporting scientific proof to validate this effect. Moreover, applying peppermint oil to the temples may help. While no proof exists that peppermint tea improves headache symptoms, research informs that peppermint oil reduces tension headaches and migraines.
4. It may support fresher breath.
There’s a reason why peppermint is a common flavouring for mouthwashes, toothpaste, & chewing gums and more.
Moreover, due to its pleasant smell, peppermint has antibacterial or antiviral properties that kill germs that cause dental plaque, which may improve breath. While scientific studies do not show that peppermint tea has the same impact, the compounds in peppermint have been shown to better breath.
Peppermint oil has been appearing to kill germs that cause bad breath. Peppermint tea, which contains peppermint oil, may also help improve breath.
5. It may relieve clogged sinuses.
While drinking peppermint tea won’t eliminate the cold, the menthol smell of the mint and the steam from the tea may help improve nasal airflow if you have a blocked nose. Peppermint has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, which may alleviate clogged sinuses due to infections, allergies, and the common cold.
6. It may help relieve tension headaches and migraines.
Peppermint functions as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever, so it may diminish certain types of headaches. While the aroma of peppermint tea can help relax muscles and relieve headache pain, there is no scientific proof to confirm this effect. While no proof exists that it improves headache symptoms, research shows that peppermint oil reduces tension, headaches, and migraines.
7. May improve energy
Peppermint tea may upgrade energy levels and reduce fatigue.
While there is no research on peppermint tea, research shows that natural compounds in peppermint may benefit energy.
8. It may help relieve menstrual cramps.
Taking peppermint tea may reduce the intensity and length of menstrual cramps since peppermint helps stop muscle contractions. Regardless, more research is needed.
9. It may be beneficial against bacterial infections.
While no research exists on the antibacterial results of peppermint(herbs) tea, peppermint oil has been shown to kill bacteria effectively.
10. It may aid in weight loss.
It is a calorie-free beverage that may help satisfy the sweet tooth and reduce your appetite. However, more research on peppermint and weight loss is needed.
11. It may improve seasonal allergies.
Peppermint holds rosmarinic acid, which has been shown to reduce allergy symptoms, such as running nose and sneezing. Moreover, evidence of the efficacy of peppermint tea in treating allergy symptoms is limited.
12. May improve concentration
Drinking peppermint tea may help upgrade the ability to focus and concentrate.
While investigations on the effects of peppermint tea on concentration are unavailable, two little studies have researched this advantageous effect of peppermint oil taken by inhalation or ingestion.
13. Easy to add to your diet
It is delicious and easy to add to the diet.
You may buy it in tea bags, as loose-leaf tea, or grow your peppermint.
To make your peppermint tea:
- Bring 2 cups (473 millilitres) of water to a boil.
- Turn off the heat and add some torn peppermint leaves to the water.
- Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain the tea and drink.
Because peppermint tea is naturally caffeine-free, you can drink it anytime.
Enjoy it as a post-meal treat to support digestion, boost your energy levels in the afternoon, or before bed to help you relax. Peppermint tea is a tasty, calorie- and caffeine-free tea that can be enjoyed anytime.
Peppermint schnapps
Peppermint schnapps is a distilled spirit that adds peppermint flavouring to a clear grain spirit. It’s flavour like a liquid candy cane with an astringent or bitter, almost mouthwash-like finish. Most sources believe the natural version originated in Germany (in German, the term Schnaps means a strong alcoholic beverage).
Peppermint tea side effects
Using herbs is a time-honoured approach to fortify the body against disease. However, herbs may trigger side effects and interact with other medications, supplements, or herbs. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care under the direction of a healthcare provider.
DO NOT drink peppermint tea or take peppermint if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD—a condition where stomach acids back up into the oesophagus) or a hiatal hernia. Peppermint may relax the sphincter between the oesophagus and the stomach, allowing stomach acids to flow back into the oesophagus pipe. (The sphincter is the muscle that disconnects the oesophagus from the stomach.) Peppermint may worsen the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn by relaxing the sphincter.
The amount of peppermint typically found in food is likely safe during pregnancy, but not enough is known about the effects of more significant supplemental amounts. Some specialists even recommend modest amounts of peppermint tea to help alleviate nausea during pregnancy. Speak with your healthcare provider before using peppermint during pregnancy.
Never put peppermint oil on the face of a small child or an infant, as it may cause spasms that inhibit breathing.
Peppermint may make gallstones worse.
Large doses of peppermint oil may be toxic. Pure menthol is poisonous and cannot be taken internally. It is essential to distinguish between oil and tincture preparations.
Peppermint or menthol oil applied to the skin can cause a rash.
Non-enteric-coated capsules and peppermint oil can lead to heartburn.
Conclusion
Peppermint is an aromatic plant cross between water mint and spearmint. Its benefits include helping to manage digestive problems, nausea, headaches, and other health issues. Peppermint tea is free of caffeine and naturally sweet. It is made by infusing peppermint leaves in hot water. You may also make spearmint tea using spearmint leaves.
Peppermint leaves contain several essential oils released when steeped in hot water, including limonene, menthone, and menthol. Collectively, these give peppermint tea its refreshing, cooling, minty taste.
