Name:  Peppermint

Latin:  Mentha piperita

Other Common Names:

Family:  Mint

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:  Calcium

Used for:  Fights inflammation, is a bronchiodilator, has some effect against headaches, can be a coffee substitute, and is an effective element in cold and flu preparations.  It is also good for most digestive issues.  It can ease pain, and supports proper liver and nerve function.  One of the reasons it makes a good coffee substitute is that the stimulation it gives comes from a healthier angle.  Peppermint stimulates because of the nutritive value and by increasing circulation.  It wakes the system up, rather than agitating it.  Because it is kind of a catchall, I often use it to make medicinal teas more palatable, as it assists in mitigating unpleasant flavours.

Use in tandem with:

Uses for Pets:

Directions & Warnings:

Edibility:  So many different ways.  In water, in tea, in cocoa, in lemonade, in cookies, in cakes, in frosting, in…..  I also saw a suggestion for mixing sprigs of it in with peas, which I will have to try.

Other Uses for:  Bugs don’t like it when fresh and growing, so it can be used as a barrier along a house, or as an assist for more delicate plants.

Growing:  Mint likes shade, so if you have a darker area that you aren’t sure what to plant, mint is a good fill-in.  A bit literally, actually, because it really likes space, and will propagate itself in a number of ways all over the place.