Peppermint Tea

Peppermint, known for its rich minty aroma, is actually a hybrid of watermint and spearmint, both of which belong to the genus Mentha. Peppermint is a plant native to Europe, but today it can be found all over the world. The presence of high amount of menthol is responsible for giving peppermint its unique and distinctive flavor, for which it is nowadays used to flavor confectionery, ice creams, toothpaste and chewing gum. Apart from these, peppermint leaves are used to make its tea. This herbal tea can be prepared in two ways, either steeping only the dried leaves of peppermint in water, or by using the leaves of both peppermint and tea or camellia sinensis for this purpose. Accordingly, tea made from peppermint leaves can be caffeine free (if prepared only with its leaves), or contain caffeine (if both tea and peppermint leaves are used).

Peppermint Health Benefits

Its health benefits were known from a long time, and perhaps it is one of the oldest herbs to be used by mankind. Even today, herbal tea prepared with its leaves is considered as an effective home remedy for a number of conditions, especially for cold and the problems of the digestive system.

• Indigestion is one of the most common conditions, for which this tea is widely used. This soothing herbal tea made with its leaves can help to calm the muscles of the stomach. At the same time, it can promote the flow of bile (which digests fats), and thus promote proper digestion of food.
• This tea can ease stomach cramps as it has muscle relaxant properties. It can relax or calm the muscles of the stomach to relieve abdominal cramps.
• As it relaxes the muscles of the digestive system, it can facilitate the passage of gas through the digestive tract. This in turn, can prove beneficial in conditions like, flatulence and bloating.
• It is one of the most effective remedy for nausea and vomiting.
• It may also prove effective for alleviating the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), such as gas, bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
• This tea can be used for relieving constipation, as well as colic in infants.
• Peppermint contains menthol, which is a strong decongestant and expectorant, for which it can relieve sore throat and dry cough. People having cold and flu, allergies or asthma can also benefit by drinking this tea.
• Menthol is the active ingredient in many balms used to relieve headaches. This tea also contains this active compound, and hence can relieve headaches.
• Apart from these, this tea can be used to ease menstrual cramps, reduce the intensity of herpes outbreak, relieve muscle pain, boost the immune system and reduce bad breath, while the minty, soothing aroma of the tea can help you to relax and manage the level of stress and anxiety.

Peppermint Side Effects

Peppermint in general, is not known to cause any major side effect or health problem. However, its ability to relax muscles, for which it can help to alleviate stomach problems, can cause a few side effects in certain situations. Its intake in high amounts can cause the sphincter muscles of the stomach and the esophagus to relax, which can aggravate the condition, known as acid reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease. So, people having this condition are usually advised to avoid peppermint and the herbal tea prepared with it. Rarely, intake of peppermint can produce a few other side effects like diarrhea and palpitations, especially if it is taken in higher amounts.

This tea can be taken by pregnant women to manage morning sickness and nausea, if they are not suffering from acid reflux disease or heartburn. Pregnant women generally experience heart burn later in their pregnancy, which can be aggravated by this tea. Its overuse is also not recommended during pregnancy due to that fact that, peppermint is a muscle relaxant, for which it may cause uterine relaxation. This is especially applicable for women with a history of miscarriages. However, there is no concrete evidence to prove that, peppermint can increase the risk for miscarriage. But still, it better to be careful during this period.

It is a safe herbal tea with no known major health risks involved, when used with adequate care. Besides, there are several different tea recipes which can enable you to enjoy this herbal tea in various ways. To make this tea more delicious, you can add a bit of honey, lemon juice and a few ice cubes to it. Otherwise, you can add a few slices of orange in place of lemon juice. In whatever way you prefer to take this tea, it is sure to promote your health and overall well-being, by improving digestion and boosting the immune system.