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SPEAR MINT(Mentha spicata)

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Stories about it

In Hellenic mythology Menthis was a nymph who was transformed into the herb from Persephone, when she caught Ades cheating on her with Menthis.

Ancient Hellenes believed that it is a mind refreshment

Hippocrates, Dioskouredes and Pleneos were referring to it as a herb with great healing properties and nice aroma.

In antiquity they were scrubing their body with it , to smell good.

General info

It can be found in Europe , Asia and North-West Africa.

Its height is between 30-100cm and its leaves are 5-9cm long and 2-3cm wide and have the scheme of spear. Its flowers usually have purple colour.

It can be gathered all year but especially in June or in September October

It is multiplied from its roots and more rare from its seeds.

It contains essential oil , tanines, dietic fibres, folic acid, rivoflavine, vitamins A-B6-E, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium , manganese and copper.

Healing effects/Properties

-Anti-inflammatory action
-Antioxidant action
-Helps in colics and stomach gases
-Helps in dizziness and in vomits especially those of pregnancy
-It is an excellent diuretic
-Has antifungal properties(eg. fungis Candida albicans and those appearing in food decomposition)
-Inflammations of nasopharyngeal
-Relaxation action
-Enhances memory
-Helps in hiccups
-Helps in bladder and choler stones as also in kidney diseases
-Helps in haemorrhoids disease
-Has a good effect in central nerve system and helps in headaches , migraines , palpitate and insomnia.
-Its oil helps in radiation or chemeotherapy cases for body recovering
-Helps in arthritis and rheumatisms
-Its essential oil acts against many bacteria like bowel E-Coli, pylori, salmonella, staphylococcus and teeth bacteria causing dental caries
-Gargles with it help against mouth ulcers

How to use

-For drink , boil water with some Mint leaves , take them out and honey for extra flavor . Use it in vomit , colic or cramp.
-For infusion , in already boiled water put a small spoon of dry mint and leave it for 30'.
-Use its leaves for massage in order to relief pain of arthritis at rheumatism.
-Mix in 50ml of almond oil with 30drops of Mint essential oil and massage your legs and pads to move away bad smell and fungi disease.
-Use few drops of essential oil in hot water for gargles
-Use it in cooking but in the end in order not to lose its essential oil and aroma.
-As a cold refreshment , boil some Mint leaves with water , add some honey , let it cold and put it in the refrigerator . Serve it with ice cubes.
-For syrup , boil 1 & half cup of water 2 big spoons of honey and 1 cup Mint leaves cut in small pieces, for 2-4 minutes. Take out the leaves and put it in a sterile jar .

Caution

-Big doses of Mint essential oil can be toxic
-The drink in big doses can be toxic for kidney and leaver
-Children and pregnant or breast feeders should avoid it
-In combination with tranquilizers or antidepressants , enhances sleepiness
-Don't combine it with drugs for central nerve system depression
-Don't use it if you are trying to bear a child . It reduces the quantity of the sperm and also cause destruction of hormones in both sexes.

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Thanks for stopping by and reading.
Till next post , take care !