Benefits and healing properties of Peppermint

The scientific name of peppermint is 'Mentha Spicata', most of the time it is used for medicinal purposes, since this plant has several health benefits. It is also used in the kitchen, as it is an aromatic plant and provides different flavors to dishes.

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However, according to Medline Plus, the National Library of Medicine of the United States, the appropriate dose of peppermint will depend on several factors such as the person's age, health status and other conditions.

“At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for spearmint use. Remember that natural products are not always necessarily natural, and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow the appropriate directions on product labels, and check with your pharmacist, doctor, or health care provider before using it," explains Medline Plus on its website.

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Peppermint is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, phosphorus or potassium. This is why it has benefits which help reduce fever, improves digestion, decreases heartburn, reduces nausea and vomiting after surgery if used as aromatherapy, helps relieve headaches, is good for fighting stress , relieves intestinal gas, among others.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH for its acronym in English), peppermint is used to relieve colds, since it has a high content of vitamin C and this improves the absorption of iron present in foods of plant origin and contributes to the proper functioning of the immune system to protect the body against diseases.

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For its part, Medline Plus noted that spearmint and spearmint oil are safe to ingest in amounts commonly found in food. He also explained that side effects are not common and that certain people may have allergic reactions to spearmint. Peppermint can be applied to the skin, although it may cause allergic reactions in some people. However, these cases are rare.

The Library of Medicine explained that peppermint tea could cause kidney and liver damage, as large amounts of spearmint seem to have greater effects. Likewise, according to the Department of Physiology of the Seoul National University College of Medicine in Seoul, it says that the plant inhibits the development of prostate cancer.