(http://commons NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/File:Mentha_x_piperita_002 NULL.JPG)Peppermint Has Many Health Uses
Peppermint is known as a stimulant herb — the spiciest of all the mints. It is a calming sedative for the nerves of restless people of all ages. It can promote relaxation and sleep which is a superb combination of features for good health. Not to mention that it is a very scrumptious and welcome tea.
Throughout the centuries, this herb is utilized for different ailments affecting people. It is a major remedy for the common colds and flu. The classic formula can break a fever quickly by using a combination of equal parts of peppermint and elder flowers. You can make this in a tea and serve to the afflicted person who goes to bed and keeps warm until he starts to sweat.
We all know that sweating can breaks the fever. This is why we hasten to make the patient sweat — sweating kills germs and brings the patient to normal. You can also make hot cups of tea, as strong as you like, for the same reason, even with no elder flowers. The formula is soothing for restiveness and nervousness that often go with the onset of the illness and it can be used to calm people of any age for any reason.
It can be a good replacement for aspirin or other inorganic detrimental painkilling drugs. Just take a cup of strong peppermint tea then lie down for a little while. It should relieve the pain fast — if needed take two or three cups. This way you can strengthen the nerves instead of deteriorating them as so many of the drugs’ side-effects do. In addition, it has been shown that aspirin obliterates some of the good bacteria. Meanwhile, peppermint tea only strengthens the person against the disease.
For severe pain, it is suggested to take a strong blend of peppermint. This can be made by blending at least three ounces of cut peppermint leaves with one quart of warm distilled water. Cover and let stand for around one to two hours. Bring to a boil, and then simmer gradually for around five minutes. Put in four ounces of glycerin and again simmer for three to five minutes. Strain, cool and bottle. This is given when a person suffers pains and feelings of ache in the stomach and abdominal region without knowing the precise cause.
Another popular use of peppermint is the relief of gas in our body system. There are a lot of people who lack the needed enzymes, or just fail to chew their food properly, or eat improper combinations of foods or improper foods, suffer from flatulence. Some foods, such as the legumes, contain chemicals which promote the formation of gas in the system. Many people take a cup of peppermint tea after meals against the onset of flatulence. Peppermint taken with meals assists in general digestion and is much a preferable beverage for everyday use instead of coffee or tea which hinders proper digestion and causes other health problems.
The mint will get rid of a queasy stomach and nausea –for this reason it is often mixed with chamomile which has pain dipping and relaxing properties also. Many of us have experienced sudden, sharp pains in the abdomen, which are often caused by pockets of gas cramping in the system. Peppermint relieves these almost immediately; it is therefore a good remedy for colic with babies. The leaves can be slightly warmed and bound on the infant’s abdomen – a good method especially in cases of small infants who cannot stand the proper amount of tea.
Peppermint is such a potent stimulant as it could lead the body to its normal warmth – proven good in cases of abrupt dizziness or fainting spells, extreme coldness and a pale appearance. Peppermint is also good to administer for diarrhea – in fact some doctors believe that it is one of the best, effective and simplest remedies for this problem. When diarrhea appears, just use 20 drops of peppermint essence in a cup of hot water, and drink using a spoon. Repeat every three hours until the problem is gone.
The essence of peppermint is also helpful in a nervous sick headache or migraine. To a cupful of water add one teaspoonful of the essence; saturate a cloth with it and apply to the head and temples. For many persons this gives quick relief. As soon as the cloth becomes dry, wet the cloth again. This is one of the few herbs that the oil and essence are used without any kind of danger in terms of overdosing. However, it must always be blended with water for internal use. The oil of peppermint can be applied directly to an aching tooth pending a trip to the dentist and it could effectively lessen the pain from inflammation.