Mint is perennial herb which is cultivated for its aromatic leaves. The leaves has a distinct aroma and used for flavouring food items and preparation of chutney. Mint leaves offers several health benefits. The leaves can be used for treating various common ailments especially related to digestive system.
Mint leaves has carminative, digestive, stomachic, diuretic, anti-spasmodic, stimulant, deodorant, antiseptic and contraceptive activities. The leaves are useful in skin diseases, wounds, cuts, halitosis, and ailments of digestive system.
Scientific name: Mentha arvensis Linn
Family: Lamiaceac (Labiatac)
Vernacular names, Hindi: Pudina, Podina, Bengali: Podina, Pudina
Kannada: Chetni, Telgu: Podina, Pudina
Trade name: Field mint, corn mini
Medicinal uses of mint leaves
- Indigestion, biliousness, flatulent colic, summer diarrhea
Mix fresh leaves juice of mint with a teaspoonful of lime juice and honey. Take this thrice daily. - Loss of appetite, tastelessness
Prepare infusion of mint leaves and take 2 teaspoonful three times a day. - Hyperacidity
Take 1-2 tsp pudina leaves juice three time a day. - Painful periods
Start drinking mint tea few days before expected periods. - Morning sickness, iron deficiency anemia
Take fresh mint leaves. Wash properly. Grind leaves in mortar and pestle to extract juice, without adding much water. Mix with lemon juice. In a glass add water, lemon and mint juice. Mix honey as per taste and drink few times a day. - Tuberculosis, asthma, bronchitis
Take a teaspoonful of fresh mint juice. Mix 2 teaspoonful of pure malt vinegar and 2 teaspoonful of honey. Now mix this in 100 ml carrot juice. Drink 3 times a day. - Skin dryness, pimples, acne
Apply fresh mint juice on the face every night. Wash with plain water next morning. - Insect stings, eczema, scabies, contact dermatitis
Apply fresh leaves juice on the affected area. - Bad breath, gum problems
Chew fresh leaves of mint.
Learn how to prepare mint tea and what are it’s benefits?
Mint tea is prepared from mint leaves (Pudina in Hindi). It has refreshing and aromatic taste. You can drink this tea hot or cold. Mint tea gives relief from digestive system problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, vomiting. This preparation is also useful in colic, common cold and bad breath.
If you are using fresh herb for tea preparation then make sure to remove imperfect leaves and wash the herb thoroughly to remove dirt and soil.
You can dry mint leaves for using later. For this purpose select perfect leaves, wash to remove dirt and soil then dry with clean towel. Hang or spread these leaves on mesh for faster drying. Always dry in shade.
Ingredients of Mint tea
A handful of fresh Mint leaves, boiling water, honey or sugar as per taste.
Recipe of Mint tea
- Take water (150 ml) in pan. Bring it to boil.
- Add handful of chopped mint leaves in this boiling water.
- Steep for ten minutes.
- Filter tea and drink hot.
- You may add honey as per taste. If you are diabetic then avoid adding honey or sugar.
Benefits of Mint tea
- Mint tea gives relief in Cramps, poor digestion
- Nausea, vomiting, heartburn
- Abdominal pains, spasm
- Headaches, common cold