Peppermint

Már az ókorban felismerték a mentalevél étvágyra és az emésztésre gyakorolt jótékony hatását. Később alkalmazták gyomor-, epe-, bélbántalmak ellen, de a borsmenta csökkenti a hányingert is.

Bizonyítottan jó szélhajtó, görcsoldó, idegnyugtató, fejfájás-csillapító, fertőtlenítő, vértisztító, valamint hatásos a légúti megbetegedések kezelésében, de alkalmazzák menstruációs zavarok ellen is. Gyulladt ízületek masszírozására, hűsítő fürdőkbe és szájvízbe fertőtlenítőnek használják.

Products containing menthol oil should not be used around or in the nose until children are 3 to 5 years old as it can cause breathing problems such as shortness of breath (Kratchmer-Homgren reflex).

Mint tea can cause rashes and inflammation of stomach lining in more sensitive individuals. It can reduce the testosterone level of men who take large quantities, causing problems in sperm production.

We use it for teas, drinks, jellies, syrups, liqueurs and to decorate desserts.

The food industry uses peppermint oil in the production of chewing gum, and it is also an ingredient of chocolates, sweets and ice creams.

The word comes from Greek. According to legend Minthe was a nymph who set her eye on Hades, god of the Underworld. Persephone, jealous wife of Hades, turned her into the herb as revenge. In another version Hades changed the girl to save her from his wife’s anger.

Black mint

Around 1200-1600 BC the Egyptians were placing mint in sarcophaguses at the feet of the deceased so it would accompany them on their “long journey”.

Some ancient Greeks regarded it as an aphrodisiac and thus brides and grooms wore mint crowns. Hippocrates however warned that it kills sperm and so they used mint suppositories as a contraceptive. Milk and milk products were preserved using mint as it prevents coagulation.

It was a sign of hospitality for the Romans who also disinfected their tables with it, making use of the fragrance – and thus stimulating the appetite. We can read about this in Ovid’s story of Philemon and Baucis, the only couple to recognise Zeus and Hermes (Jupiter and Mercury in Roman mythology). Mint was also present in the Roman kitchen where they used it to flavour and cook. Mint wreathes were worn to prevent hangovers and the plant has long been used to freshen breath. Ancient Greeks chewed mint stems after lucullan feasts to stimulate digestion.

Mint leaves have been used as a disinfectant in Japan and China for since ancient times too. In China wreaths made with other fragrant herbs were placed above the door and burnt to disinfect the house. They believed that the fragrance sharpens the mind and improves memory. It is also good to calms nerves and prepare for meditation.

Its origin is unknown. It is cultivated in countries worldwide and also grows wild.

It bears winter cold well and likes rich deep soil. It requires a relatively high amount of water.

It grows best on well-worked, deep, loose soil with good water management. It can be propagated from cuttings in autumn or spring or by dividing pants It is worth cutting it back twice a year.

In small gardens it can be best in pots as it spreads so quickly and needs space. Water well and put in the light. If kept inside, put near the window.

It is one of the 25-30 mints (Mentha) in the Lamiaceae family.

Mints are found on almost all continents and several hybrids exist. Peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica).

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 30–90 cm (12–35 in). Its shoots can be both shoots or become roots.

Its elliptical leaves are short-stemmed with an acute apex, coarsely toothed margins and rounded start. They are dark green with lighter green back and reddish veins. The leaves and stems are usually slightly fuzzy. The pallascens form does not have the colour on the stem.

The purple flowers are produced in whorls around the stem, forming thick, blunt spikes. The tiny seeds are rarely viable but it can be easily propagated vegetatively.