Positively affects digestion, relieves tension, facilitates coughing: we talk about the properties of mint

Dear readers! We continue our column “Green pharmacy” about the benefits of gifts of nature filled with biologically active compounds that affect the work of organs, metabolism, immunity and even mood. People have used the gifts of nature since ancient times: first intuitively, then consciously, passing on knowledge from generation to generation. Now herbal medicine is a recognized direction that studies the medicinal properties of plants and their application in medicine.

This time we will talk about the benefits of mint. It can hardly be called exotic: it grows in suburban areas, is sold in a pharmacy in packs and filter packages, is found in toothpaste, chewing gum and summer drinks. It is habituality that sometimes prevents the perception of this plant as a medicinal plant with a very specific chemical composition, proven effects and, no less important, limitations. Meanwhile, peppermint, the most commonly used species, contains a whole complex of biologically active substances, among which menthol occupies a central place, as well as menthone, limonene, cineol and other components of essential oil. Evgeny Shmerko, phytotherapist, corresponding member of the Belarusian Engineering Academy, said:

- Almost everyone has tried tea with this aromatic herb. Mint is added to various foods, such as candy or refreshing drinks. But at the same time, manufacturers do not remember that it is not for everyone. In particular, it is contraindicated in people with low blood pressure, because it can reduce it. Therefore, if a person initially has low blood pressure, after drinking such tea, weakness and poor health may occur. You can't joke with that. Reducing the tone of venous vessels, the grass can provoke an exacerbation of varicose veins.

It is the components of essential oil that determine the main spectrum of the plant: antispasmodic, soothing, anti-inflammatory, soft antiseptic and choleretic. Understanding this spectrum is useful if only because mint surrounds us every day and we often consume it without thinking about the dosage and possible consequences. The most justified and best studied area of application is the digestive system. Menthol relaxes the smooth muscles of the intestines, removing spasms that underlie many unpleasant sensations: bloating, flatulence, cramping pain. In irritable bowel syndrome, this herb is among the means with a confirmed symptomatic effect: it does not eliminate the cause of the disorder, but noticeably alleviates the condition. The same mechanism explains the effectiveness of nausea, including seasickness: the relaxation of smooth muscles and the calming effect on the nervous system work together here. Separately, it is worth talking about the choleretic effect: the plant stimulates the outflow of bile, facilitating the work of the liver and gallbladder. This property is useful, but requires a caveat, which will be discussed below: in the presence of stones, it can turn into a problem.

The second major block of useful properties is associated with the nervous system. Menthol acts as a mild muscle relaxant, so a cup of mint tea helps relieve accumulated tension, relax and improve sleep quality. It is not a sedative in the medical sense, but a working everyday tool for those who do not want to resort to stronger drugs. For the same reason - through muscle relaxation - the plant is used for headaches and menstrual cramps. The mechanism here is direct and clear: where there is muscle spasm, there is also an application point for menthol.

The respiratory system is another traditional application of mint. The cooling and slightly anesthetic effect of menthol relieves coughing and a feeling of nasal congestion, helps to thin mucus, so the plant is often included in fees for the treatment of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Laboratory studies confirm that the extract has antimicrobial, antiviral and antioxidant activity – albeit in vitro conditions, but this explains why mint has been present in oral hygiene products for centuries, helping to fight bacteria and unpleasant odor. The antioxidant properties of the plant are also of interest for preventive medicine, although it is important not to overestimate the effect of regular tea.

Who needs to be careful? Now, what is important to consider. Natural origin does not negate biological activity, and mint has quite specific contraindications. The first is low blood pressure. The herb helps to expand blood vessels and can reduce pressure even more, so people with hypotension should not get carried away with it. The second is pregnancy and breastfeeding: most instructions for pharmacy mint indicate these conditions as a contraindication, which is associated with a high content of essential oils, and when lactating mint in addition can reduce milk production. The third is stones in the gallbladder and kidneys: a choleretic effect, useful in normal situations, in the presence of stones can provoke their movement and colic, so medical advice is necessary here.

Men’s health should be mentioned separately. The plant contains phytoestrogens, and with excessive use there is reason to talk about the effect on testosterone levels, so it is wiser for men with relevant problems to choose other sedatives. Of course, individual intolerance and allergy to the components of essential oil are possible, and small children are not given mint without consulting a pediatrician: for the delicate mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, it can be too strong an irritant.

Special discussion deserves the question of dosage and form. Mint in the form of tea or pharmacy raw materials is a mild remedy, and when used wisely it is safe for most adults. A completely different matter is concentrated essential oil and capsules with a high content of menthol: here we are talking about doses comparable to medicinal ones, and uncontrolled use is unacceptable. An indicative story with the preparations of peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome: they are effective, but require strict adherence to the instructions and caution in concomitant diseases - reflux, hernia of the esophagus, kidney stones. Simply put, tea and butter are different tools with different measures of responsibility. The rare case when the grass with a thousand-year history remains both in the ancient myth and in the modern medicine cabinet. Her journey began with the legend of the nymph, and continued in the banquet halls of Rome, monastery gardens and breeder laboratories. The history of its name is associated with the name of the beautiful nymph Minta, the beloved god of the underworld Hades. Persephone, his jealous wife, turned her into a fragrant plant, dedicating it to Aphrodite. Since then, mint has been considered a symbol of love and hospitality. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was believed that its smell lifts the mood and animates conversation. Therefore, the feast halls were sprinkled with mint water, and the tables were rubbed with leaves. Guests were offered wreaths from this plant, believing that the aroma stimulates the work of thought. The Roman historian Pliny the Elder constantly wore a wreath of fresh mint on his head, recommending that his students do this. In addition, the Romans believed that this plant helps prevent hangovers, and decorated their hair during feasts.

In the Middle Ages, mint firmly settled in the monastery gardens as an important medicinal plant. Interestingly, in medieval medicine were used and quite unexpected ways: for example, woolen tampons impregnated with the juice of this herb were used as a contraceptive, and mint juice with honey was buried in the ears with pain. And peppermint, which is most often seen in a pharmacy, is a mystery plant in general. She's not in the wild. It's a sterile hybrid. According to the most common version, he spontaneously appeared in England in 1696. It was from there, from the town of Mitchum, began the triumphal procession of peppermint around the world. It came to Russia at the end of the XIX century, and industrial breeding began in 1923. Scientists derived varieties with a high content of menthol and high winter resistance. It came to Belarus as an organized culture in Soviet times.