Mint
Mentha × piperita, M. spicataIn Greek myth the nymph Minthe was turned into mint by a jealous Persephone; the plant’s Latin name comes from her.
What is Mint?
Mint (Mentha × piperita) is a plant of the Lamiaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean, Andes. Part used: leaves.
What is Mint used for?
Traditional use: Its tea is drunk for nausea, gas and indigestion; it goes into dishes, ayran and cacık. Scientific evidence: clinical. Peppermint oil (Mentha × piperita) capsules reduced irritable bowel syndrome symptoms versus placebo in many controlled trials.
Is Mint safe?
Safety label: generally safe. Generally safe. Can worsen reflux. Pure peppermint oil must not be put on the faces of babies and young children; it can stop their breathing.
Traditional use
Its tea is drunk for nausea, gas and indigestion; it goes into dishes, ayran and cacık. In winter the dried leaves are inhaled with steam for colds.
Hierbabuena is one of the most often brewed herbs for stomach ache and gas in Peru and Bolivia.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Wild mints, especially pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), contain high pulegone and are poisonous in large amounts.
Preparation
Fresh or dried leaves are steeped covered; the essential oil is diluted and rubbed on the temples.
What science says
Peppermint oil (Mentha × piperita) capsules reduced irritable bowel syndrome symptoms versus placebo in many controlled trials. The EMA recognises peppermint leaf for indigestion and gas as a traditional use.
How strong is the evidence?
Claims often repeated online about Mint, and what science says today.
| Claim | Evidence | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Reduces irritable bowel symptoms (peppermint oil capsules) | Clinical evidence | Better than placebo in many controlled trials and meta-analyses. |
| Eases indigestion and gas (leaf tea) | Traditional only | Recognised by the EMA as traditional. |
| Eases tension headache (oil on the temples) | Limited evidence | Benefit in small controlled trials. |
| Helps heartburn | No evidence | On the contrary, it relaxes the stomach valve and can worsen reflux. |
Common mistakes
- People with reflux trying to soothe it with mint tea.
- Putting peppermint oil on the faces of babies and young children: it can stop their breathing.
- Drinking non-enteric-coated peppermint oil without a capsule.
Frequently asked
Does mint tea help nausea?
It is used traditionally; small studies suggest its scent slightly eases nausea after surgery.
How is peppermint oil used?
The form studied for the gut is special capsules that open in the intestine. On the skin it is applied diluted.
Are pennyroyal and mint the same?
No. Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is a different species and its oil is poisonous.
Safety
Generally safe. Can worsen reflux. Pure peppermint oil must not be put on the faces of babies and young children; it can stop their breathing.
Similar plants
Sources
- EMA monographMenthae piperitae folium: European Medicines Agency herbal assessment
- NCCIHUS National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: use and safety summary
- BookBaytop T. Türkiye’de Bitkiler ile Tedavi: Geçmişte ve Bugün. 2. baskı. İstanbul: Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri; 1999.
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Mentha × piperita
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe