Spearmint Leaf

Therapeutic Uses

• Digestive Problems – Menthol and carvone soothe the smooth muscle lining the digestive tract, preventing muscle spasms, which means that they are antispasmodics. Researchers gave people with chronic indigestion a combination of spearmint oil (90 mg) and caraway oil (50 mg) three times a day with meals. After 4 weeks, 95% reported significant improvement, with 63% declaring themselves free from pain.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Researchers gave those suffering from IBS enteric-coated spearmint oil capsules (180 to 200 mg one to three times a day). 58% of participants reported relief. The researchers concluded that, compared with currently available drugs, spearmint oil should be the drug of first choice for IBS.
• Pain – The Eclectics were on the right track about menthol’s considerable anesthetic power. It’s an ingredient in many over-the-counter pain-relieving skin creams, including Absorbine and Bengay. It is also added to throat lozenges such a Cepacol. It’s also an ingredient in many ointments marketed to soothe insect bites and stings as well as rashes caused by poison ivy, poison oak, and sumac.
• Colds and Congestion – Menthol vapors help relieve nasal, sinus, and chest congestion. Spearmint is an FDA approved remedy for the common cold, primarily because of its decongestant action.
• Coughs – In addition to its decongestant action, menthol is an effective cough suppressant.
• Headaches – One study gave people who had tension headaches different combinations of spearmint and eucalyptus oils. Participants rubbed the preparations on their foreheads and temples. The formula that was mostly eucalyptus oil provided the most muscle relaxation, while the one that was mostly spearmint oil yielded the greatest headache pain relief.
• Infections – In laboratory studies, spearmint oil kills many types of bacteria and fungi (including Candida albicans, which causes vaginal yeast infections), plus the herpes simplex virus. These findings seem to validate spearmint’s traditional roles in treating wounds and bronchitis.
• Women’s Health Concerns – Antispasmodics soothe the smooth muscle of the uterus. Herbalists recommend spearmint as a treatment for morning sickness. However, medicinal concentrations of spearmint may promote menstruation and miscarriage.
• Lactation Problems – One traditional remedy for lactation-related nipple problems is spearmint compresses. Researchers found that of mothers who used compresses of spearmint tea, only 9% developed nipple problems.

Medicinal Uses: *Cancer *Colds *Cramps *Diarrhea *Gas (flatulence) *Headaches *Indigestion *Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) *Male-pattern hair growth in women (hirsutism) *Muscle pain *Nausea and vomiting after surgery *Osteoarthritis *Skin conditions *Sore throat *Toothaches

Spearmint Leaf Side Effects: Spearmint is possibly unsafe when used in excessive amounts during pregnancy. Excessive use of spearmint tea might cause damage to the uterus. Avoid using large amounts of spearmint during pregnancy. If breast-feeding, avoid using in amounts greater than those found in food. Higher amounts of spearmint tea might increase kidney and liver damage.

Spearmint Leaf Drug Interactions: None noted