Name
The “Mentha” comes from the nymph Minthe, seduced by Hades and metamorphosed by Persephone in a plant. The specific name “piperita” means ‘peppery’.
Also Known as
- Mentha balsamea
- peppermint
- hortela
- mint
- menta
- mentha montana
Identification Keys
- perennial herb
- stems erect
- 60-110 cm high – it mostly reclines and often sticks up less than 30 cm
- square, smooth, branching stem
- purple-blotched stalk
- dark green, purplish-tinged leaves
- opposite leaves, each pair alternating along the stem
- elliptical and lanceolate leaves
- leave blades to 9 cm long, 4 cm broad
- leave broadest near base
- sharply toothed along leave margins
- pink to violet flowers
- four-lobed, weakly lipped flowers (shaped like open mouth)
- flowers carried in thick, blunt, many-flowered, oblong, upright spike
- fruits with 4 tiny nutlets enclosed by persistent calyx
- pungent scent
Bloom Time
- summer-fall
Habitat
- sunny and partially shaded wet places
- wet meadows, marshes, spring branches, rivers and lakes, pond margins, sloughs, ditches, roadsides, railroads
- doesn’t need many nutrients
- can sustain bitter-cold winters
Look-alikes
There are no poisonous smell-alikes. You can confuse Mentha piperita with other aromatic mints (Mentha spp.) which also have square stems and opposite leaves, and smell minty. Don’t use any odorless plant with square stems and opposite leaves until you’ve positively identified it to be an edible or safe medicinal specie.
- Mentha acquatica (watermint)
- Mentha spicata (spearmint)
- Nepeta cataria (catnip)
Medicine Uses
Parts Used
Aerial parts
Actions
aromatic, diaphoretic, carminative, nervine, antispasmodic, antiemetic, antiseptic, digestive, cholagogue, circulatory stimulant, analgesic, antimicrobial, rubefacient
Systems
Digestion
- relieves spasm and pain in colic, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, heartburn, hiccups, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach-aches
- enhance appetite
- helps digestion
- relieves nausea and travel sickness
- protects guts from irritation and infection
- helps in Chron’s disease and ulcerative colitis
Circulation
- taken in hot tea, it promotes sweating
- improves circulation moving blood to the periphery
Mental and emotional
- improves concentration
- clears the mind
- calms anxiety and tension
- relieves tension headaches
- relieves joint and muscle pain
Respiratory system
- taken in hot infusion, it’s a decongestant
- clears airways
- reduces asthma’s spasms
- relieves colds, flu and fevers
- enhance resistance to infections
Immune system
- enhance digestion and absorption, increasing energy and immunity
- active as antibacterial (including Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli), antifungal (including candida), antiparasitic and antiviral
- has antihistamine action
Reproductive system
- relaxes smooth muscles in the uterus
- reduces menstrual pain
Externally
- oil is useful for herpes simplex and ringworm
- use as an inhalant for colds, catarrh and sinusitis
- relieves muscular pain and aching feet
- use as gargle for sore throats
- mouthwash for gum infections and mouth ulcers
Caution
- avoid in pregnancy
- don’t use oil on babies or small children
- an overdose of the concentrated essential oil is toxic.
Food Uses
Parts Used
Aerial parts
Main Uses
seasoning, tea
Nutrition
- provides carotinoids that the body uses to make vitamin A
- provides the minerals: calcium, iron, phosphorus, silicon, and chromium
Cooking
- use any or all of the aerial parts for making tea
- chop finely the leaves and use with any dessert or sweet recipe.
- it is also one of the best flavorings to use with chocolate.
Harvesting
Harvesting Season
- Mid-spring to mid-fall
Harvesting Methods
- cut or break off all above-ground parts for tea
- strip the leaves and tops with your fingers for food use,
- leave as much of the hard stems as possible behind
- gather leaves at any stage
- pick leaves on dry day
- dry on paper in warm area
- store in a tight container