Peppermint

Peppermint is a perennial plant. This is a hybrid that does not grow wild. Peppermint is cultivated for medicinal, culinary and cosmetic use.

The rhizome of the plant is horizontal, fibrous, from which several shoots appear in spring. The stems are straight, tetrahedral and covered with short dark purple hairs. Opposite, rather large leaves are dark green above and paler on the inside. Their upper part is smooth, and the lower part is slightly pubescent. The shape of the leaves resemble an oval, pointed at the edges. The leaf is about 8 cm long and 3 cm wide.

During the flowering period, small flowers of light purple color appear on the top of the plant, which are collected in inflorescences. The flowering period lasts about three months (end of June - September).

The fruit of peppermint is a dry brownish nut. The fruits of peppermint are formed infrequently, since the plant itself is a hybrid of its two types: garden and water mint. Therefore, mint can be propagated by layering and roots.

Plant height can be from 30 to 100 cm.

Peppermint comes in black and white. They are distinguished by external signs: the stems and leaves of black mint cast a red-violet color. White mint does not have such an overflow, its leaves and stem are green. The smell of white mint is gentle and not as sharp as that of black. Yes, they have different bloom times.Black mint blooms much later.

It is almost impossible to find peppermint in the wild. It is known only in culture. Regions where it is cultivated and grown: Ukraine, foothills of the Caucasus, Belarus, Voronezh region, Central Asia, Moldova.

All the valuable properties of the plant are contained in the leaves and flowers, which have a very strong aroma and refreshing effect. They can be dried in the shade.

Peppermint has a spicy and fresh aroma.

100 grams of fresh raw materials contain the following components:

• Water (79 g).
• Fiber (8 g).
• Carbohydrates (15 g).
• Proteins (3.8 g).
• Fats (0.9 g).
• Saturated fatty acids (0.2 g).
• Trace elements (K - 570 mg, Ca - 243 mg, Mg - 80 mg, P - 75 mg, Na - 30 mg, Fe - 5 mg.
• Vitamins (C - 30 mg, B3 - 1.7 mg, B2 - 0.3 mg, B5 - 0.3 mg, B1 - 0.1 mg, B6 - 0.1 mg)

Calorie content - 70 kcal.

You can learn more about the benefits of peppermint from the video excerpt from the program "Live Healthy!"

Leaves:

• Lycoside tropsoline
• Sulfur-containing essential oil (2.5 - 3%).
• potassium sulfate.
• Phytosterol.
• Myrosin enzyme.
• Vitamin C.
• Sugar.
• Starch.
• Pectin.
• Sorbusin pigment.

Inflorescences:

• Essential oil (up to 6%).

Seeds:

• Fatty oil (20%).

Peppermint Oil:

• Menthol and its esters with acids (acetic and valeric).
• Limonene.
• Dipentene.
• Citral.
• Karvon.

• Relieves pain syndrome.
• Expands blood vessels.
• Strong antibiotic.
• Has tonic properties.
• Choleretic and diuretic.
• Depressant.

• Peppermint should not be consumed too often, as it can cause heartburn or cause the body to become addictive, and it will be immune to its beneficial effects. If you drink mint tea for a long time with insomnia, then it will cease to act.
• Reduces blood pressure.
• Do not use for children, as it can provoke the appearance of allergies.
• Peppermint tea lowers libido in men.

• Individual intolerance to the components of the plant, allergy.
• Children up to 3 years old.
• Sleepy state.
• Hypotension.
• Dangerous inhalation in large doses.
• Do not use infusion of too high concentration.
• lactation period.

Raw materials for peppermint oil are harvested only once a year during the period of full flowering of the plant. It is this time of life of peppermint that is most favorable, and the oil is of the highest quality.

Flowers and leaves serve as a material for obtaining oil of the highest grade, and the stems - of the lowest. Water or steam distillation is a method for obtaining oil. The dried plant or fresh is used. The oil is refined by rectification. Thus, volatile sulfur compounds are removed from its composition. Oil needs aging. This will give it a unique subtle flavor that freshly made butter does not have. The oil has a light yellowish-greenish color. It dissolves easily in alcohol. Its aroma is quite strong. The oil is pungent and illuminating in taste.

Peppermint is used in various cuisines around the world. This is perhaps one of the most commonly used spices.Especially love her inhabitants of the East.

• Peppermint is added to compotes, fruit drinks, soft drinks. One of the most famous is the mojito. The combination of lemon and mint gives an amazing effect.
• Another area of ​​culinary use is salads.
• Peppermint leaves decorate culinary dishes.
• Additive to desserts, jellies and jams.
• Used in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages.

To prepare it, you need a pound of green apples. They should be cleaned from the core and cut into large slices. Mint leaves should also be coarsely chopped. Pour it all with white wine vinegar - 375 ml. Put on a slow fire and cook until the apples are soft. Strain with a colander and pour half a kilogram of sugar and a pinch of granulated gelatin into the resulting broth. Again put to cook on a slow fire for 10 minutes. After removing from the fire, add finely chopped mint leaves - 15 g. Next, the mixture is poured into special forms and cooled.

Peppermint is cut under the spine. Dry and damaged leaves are removed from the stem. Next, the stem with leaves is cut into pieces about 10 cm long. The prepared raw materials are put into a saucepan and filled with water so that it is 4-5 cm higher than the cut pieces. The mixture is boiled over low heat for 10 minutes. Then it is infused for a day. Then sugar is added to the strained infusion at the rate of: kilogram per 1 liter. After 10 minutes of boiling mint honey is ready. It can be poured into jars and rolled up with iron lids. The color of honey will be cherry.

• Due to its analgesic properties, it is used to eliminate toothaches (applying peppermint essential oil to the temples) and headaches. Combats pain caused by spasms.
• Relieves pain from muscle strains and minor injuries.
• Cholagogue property of mint has a stimulating effect on the gallbladder and liver.
• Makes the digestive system work actively, relieves gas formation.
• Relieves nausea. To do this, chew a mint leaf.
• Possessing antibacterial and disinfecting properties, it is used to treat inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. Mint water provides fresh breath.
• Destroys bacteria harmful to our body in the intestines.
• It has a tonic effect on the cells of the skin.
• Eliminates various rashes and an unpleasant sensation of itching.
• Peppermint is useful for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system. It relieves arrhythmias and, in general, its effect has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and circulatory system, as it dilates blood vessels.
• Strengthens our body's ability to fight off diseases, thereby supporting the immune system.
• Fights pathogens that destroy the genitourinary system.
• Infusions and decoctions facilitate falling asleep, have a calming effect. Useful for shaking the nervous system, with neurosis.
• It is used in the complex therapy of colds, such as tonsillitis, dry cough, runny nose. With a runny nose, half a liter of boiling water is poured into 1 tbsp. a spoonful of leaves. The infusion "reaches" for about an hour. It must be wrapped in a towel. Strained infusion drink 0.5 cups. Adding honey will enhance the therapeutic effect.
• Externally used to treat varicose veins. To do this, take 3 teaspoons of mint leaves, 2 teaspoons of sweet clover and pour boiling water. It will take 2 hours to infuse a decoction for compresses. It is used cold. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. It needs to be done three times a day.The course of treatment is three weeks.
• For diabetes, the following infusion is prepared: crushed dandelion roots - 1 teaspoon, peppermint leaves - 3 teaspoons. The mixture is poured with a glass of water and boiled for 7 minutes. Strained solution is consumed in a quarter cup before meals from 2 to 4 times a day.

Peppermint can be used in overweight diets. It dulls the feeling of hunger and at the same time does not disturb the work of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, you can use it fresh, in the form of oil, tea.

The plant has the beneficial property of removing toxic substances from our body that contribute to the appearance of cellulite.

Making a tea that can make you slimmer is not difficult at all. You need mint leaves. They are poured with boiling water and insist 5 minutes. That's all! Tea is ready. It promotes weight loss and at the same time has a pleasant taste.

You can make a drink called sassi. In the evening, one lemon and one medium-sized cucumber are cut into a three-liter jar with thin plastics. A teaspoon of grated ginger and mint leaves (20 pieces) are added. Pour the resulting mixture with cold water (2 liters) and put in the refrigerator. You can use it the next morning. It removes excess fluid from the body and promotes better bowel function.

• Peppermint oil removes vascular "asterisks".
• Eliminates acne.
• Masks tone and tighten the skin of the face, make its color better and fight premature wrinkles.
• It has a positive effect on the protective function of the skin during the heat.
• Relieves leg fatigue and leg swelling. In this case, a foot bath with the addition of sea salt and a few drops of oil will become an indispensable assistant. Legs after taking this bath are smeared with cream.
• Peppermint oil helps the scalp and nourishes the hair, preventing hair loss.

• Dried mint leaves along with other herbs are used in aromatic sachets.
• Dry leaves are placed on the linen shelf to give it a unique intoxicating aroma.
• Peppermint oil can be added when rinsing clothes during washing. This will remove the smell of the powder, and plus, replace the conditioner.
• Peppermint oil can repel parasitic insects.
• To disinfect the air, especially in the autumn-spring period, when the risk of viral infections is exacerbated. 5-8 drops of oil are added to the aroma lamp. The air is filled with freshness. This is both pleasant and useful, as bacteria and viruses are destroyed.

For the cultivation of peppermint, the soil is well fertilized and loose. If the plant will occupy the sunny side of the site, then the soil should be well moistened, and if in the shade - less. Soil with a high content of black soil will allow the plant to smell fragrant. But the lime will take away the aroma. In acidic soils, your plant will be stunted and underdeveloped.

Since mint reproduces vegetatively, spring or early autumn is the most favorable period for transplanting roots.

There is a beautiful ancient Greek myth that explains the appearance of mint on earth. Pluto, the ruler of the underworld, could not resist the beauty of the nymph Menta. Pluto had a very jealous wife who eliminated her rival with the help of magic. Mentha became grass. All attempts by Pluto to give his beloved its former appearance ended in failure. Then he rewarded her with a wonderful fragrance.