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Peppermint
Peppermint (Mentha
× piperita) is a (usually) sterile hybrid mint,
a cross between Watermint (Mentha aquatica) and Spearmint
(Mentha spicata). It is occasionally found wild
with its parent species in central and southern Europe,
but the first intentional crossbreed of Watermint and
Spearmint was done in England. Being sterile, it spreads
by rooting.
The stems are
from 30-70 cm tall, rarely up to 100 cm, smooth, and
square in cross section. The leaves are from 4-9 cm long
and 1.5-4 cm broad, dark green with reddish veins, and
with an acute apex and coarsely toothed margins. The
flowers are purple, 6-8 mm long, with a four-lobed corolla
about 5 mm diameter; they are produced in whorls around
the stem, forming thick, blunt spikes. Flowering is from
July to September.
Uses
Peppermint has a
high menthol content, and is often used as a flavoring in tea,
ice cream, confectionery, chewing gum, and toothpaste. The
oil also contains menthone and menthyl esters. It is the
oldest and most popular flavor of mint-flavored
confectionery. Peppermint can also be found in some
shampoos and soaps, and when used, gives the hair a minty
scent and cooling sensation on the skin.
Peppermint, like
many spices and herbs, is believed to have medicinal
properties when consumed. It is said that it helps against
upset stomachs, inhibits the growth of certain bacteria,
and can help smooth and relax muscles when inhaled or
applied to the skin. Other health benefits are attributed
to the high manganese, vitamin C and vitamin A content; as
well as trace amounts of various other nutrients such as fiber,
iron, calcium, folate, potassium, tryptophan, magnesium,
omega-3 fatty acids, riboflavin, and copper.
Peppermint oil
has been demonstrated to reduce colicky abdominal pain due
to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with an NNT (number
needed to treat) around 3.1, but the oil is irritant to
the stomach in the quantity required and therefore needs
wrapping for delayed release in the intestine. Peppermint
relaxes the gastro-oesophageal sphincter, thus promoting
belching.
Peppermint flowers
are heavy nectar producers and honeybees as well as other
nectar harvesting organisms forage them heavily. A mild,
pleasant varietal
honey can be produced if there is sufficient acreage
of plants.
Areas of North
America where peppermint was formerly grown for oil (now
produced synthetically) often have an abundance of feral
plants, and it is considered somewhat invasive.
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