| This article is part of a series giving information about | | | | some water to the boil and then adding the fresh |
| herbs and their medicinal properties. We are going to | | | | mint leaves. Let it infuse for about 5 minutes and |
| look at spearmint in this article. You will find out what | | | | then strain and you can add honey to taste. |
| this herb is, how you can use it and the conditions | | | | 2. Tincture - place the leaves in a container and cover |
| that could be helped by spearmint. | | | | with alcohol then seal the container and leave in a |
| What is Spearmint? | | | | cupboard for a few weeks. Make sure you shake it |
| Spearmint is a perennial herb that grows naturally | | | | several times a day. After two weeks strain the |
| throughout Europe and has also been brought over | | | | mixture and put in a container for storage. |
| to the United States and Canada. It usually grows | | | | Uses of Spearmint |
| very easily in damp soil and sunny areas. It seem | | | | Spearmint has many of the same properties as |
| obvious but spearmint is one of many varieties of | | | | peppermint which is a hybrid of spearmint and water |
| the mint family of plants. It is one of the true mint | | | | mint. This means it can be very useful for digestive |
| varieties as they easily interbreed and there are a | | | | problems, colic and flatulence and so could be useful |
| large number of hybrid mint plants. The plant has a | | | | for irritable bowel syndrome. In addition spearmint |
| tall square stem that grows to about 60cm or 2 feet. | | | | can be useful in treating motion sickness, nausea and |
| The leaves are bright green with serrated edges and | | | | hiccups. It can also act as a diuretic and so could be |
| short stems. The flowers bloom between June and | | | | helpful for people who have suppressed or painful |
| August and are pink or lilac in colour and appear in | | | | urination. The high levels of vitamins A and C that can |
| rings on the top of the stems near the upper leaves. | | | | be found in spearmint mean it could be useful for |
| Mint species have strong roots that easily spread out | | | | treating scurvy, improving eyesight and reducing night |
| across the ground and multiply, for that reason many | | | | blindness. In studies on animals it has been shown to |
| people view it as a weed. | | | | have properties that can protect against the grown |
| How to use Spearmint | | | | of a number or tumours. Used externally it could be |
| Spearmint is something that is used quite widely in | | | | helpful for treating itching, burns, insect bites, scabies |
| products like chewing gum and you can also buy | | | | and various other skin conditions. |
| spearmint teas from health food stores. However if | | | | Side Effects and Precautions |
| you want to make your own remedies this can easily | | | | Spearmint is thought to be a very mild and safe herb |
| be done. You can harvest the leaves yourself and | | | | however some say that it should not be given to |
| this should be done just as it comes into bloom on a | | | | young children and pregnant women. In addition |
| dry day. They should be picked after the dew has | | | | people suffering from hiatus hernia or gallstones |
| gone but before it is too warm. The leaves should be | | | | should not take spearmint. There are thought to be |
| left on the stalks and hung in a dry room out of | | | | no side effects to spearmint although some may |
| sunlight in order to dry out, an airing cupboard would | | | | experience an allergic reaction that results in a skin |
| be a good place. Below are some remedies you could | | | | rash. There are no known interactions with |
| consider: | | | | medications but if you are unsure you should discuss |
| 1. Infusion - this can be done very simply by bringing | | | | it with your doctor. |