Common Name: Spearmint
Spearmint is so common in mouth washes, toothpastes & its a popular flavor in chewing gum. Spearmint is also a great flavoring in salads as an alternative to salad dressings. I had never tried spearmint tea before, but its to me more of a medicinal sedative for patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Spearmint is native to Europe & Asia, but it spreads through much of the United States as well as in your backyard garden. You can also see spearmint in the woods on hiking trails. Spearmint has a lot of similarities to peppermint, In my own personal opinion, I think Spearmint is so much safer to use around babies, small children & the elderly.
Spearmint is not as penetrating as peppermint. The Aroma of Spearmint is: sweet, minty & green.
Spearmint & Health Benefits
1.Protects throat, teeth & gums against bacterial infections.
2.Supports the digestive system.
3.Gives relief from stress
4.Prevents anemia & improves blood circulation in the body.
5.Kills the bad bacteria
6.Promotes good breath
7.Helps to maintain healthy blood pressure
8.Helps to prevent morning sickness, nausea & vomiting during pregnancy.
9.Beneficial for maintaining hormonal balance in the body.
10.Helpful for preventing chronic diseases.
11.Aids toothaches
12.Decreases your risk of cancer
13.Fights colds
14.Spearmint is rich in Fiber
15.Rich in Vitamin A
16.Rich in Iron
Caution
Spearmint is safe for most individuals, for the people who need to avoid spearmint are of the following:
1. Pregnant women
2.It may cause allergic reactions in certain people.
3.Individuals with kidney disorders
4.Individuals with liver disease
The Health Effects of Chewing Spearmint Gum
This is a highly controversial topic to me when I watch youtube channels saying that chewing spearmint gum does help stimulate your brain while their are other studies in the research of medline plus saying its ineffective for healthy adults when they chew spearmint gum of it stimulates your brain. To me it depends on the person, & I think that every individual person is different. It might help some people stimulate their brains or it might not. People have to do what works for their own personal brains.
Conclusion
Spearmint has its work for natural medicine just like any other plant. This plant can be used for cooking & its recommended for dental care. Spearmint blends well with Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Lavender, Tea tree, Geranium,& Patchouli.
Reference: http://www.organic facts.net/healthbenefits
http://www.nlm.gov/medlineplus