Benefits Of Mint And Mint Juice

Latin Name : Mentha spicata

Mint or Mentha is called Pudina in India.

Mint originated in Europe and the Mediterranean region. Its curative properties have been known for over 2000 years.

Mint is available in many varieties like applemint, horsemint, orangemint, pineapplemint, peppermint, spearmint etc. Peppermint and Spearmint are the most commonly used varieties. Mint is the short form of spearmint.

Mint got its name from the Greek Goddess Minthe. According to Greek folklore was transformed into a plant by Pluto's wife Prosperine who suspected Minthe as having an affair with her husband. As Pluto could not break the spell, he gave the plant a sweet aroma so that it would not get trampled upon.

Mint, the herb, can grow in a variety of climatic conditions, from moist and wet to full sunshine. It grows fast and can be propagated by cutting very readily. Mint repels harmful pests but attracts the favourable ones.

Menthol is the major component in peppermint that gives it the distinctive smell, flavour and cool property.
R-carvone is the major contributor to the smell in Spearmint.


Mint can be used fresh or in dried form. The dried form has less flavour and aroma.
It is used in making chutney, juices, desserts, top dressed on salads, salad dressings, soupsetc.

Mint is used in toothpastes, mouth fresheners, candies, chewing gums etc.

Mint is also used in pharmaceutical fomulations like cough syrups, inhalers and balms.

It is also used in the manufacture of perfumes, lipstick, ice creams and liquour.

Mint oil is produced from various species of the mint plant. Although they have different properties, some properties are common to all the oils sourced from the different varieties of the plant. These are listed below.

• Easing congestion of the respiratory tract - Mint oil breaks up the mucous and helps remove it.Steam inhalation of the vapours of peppermint or spearmint oil, by adding few drops of water to boiled water, is the best way to clear congestion.
• Cleansing the skin - Both peppermint and spearmint oil help remove excessive oil from the facial skin and alleviate acne by their astringent action.
• Correcting digestive problems - Both spearmint and peppermint oil can be taken internally. Just 1 drop of the oil in 1 cup of warm water with some added honey is sufficient.

CAUTION

• Peppermint oil is stronger and more effective than spearmint oil.
• Use peppermint oil with care and in moderation since it can cause skin irritation, heartburn and irritate the mucous membranes in excess.
• Do not use this oil in pregnancy or during nursing.
• Do not give this oil to babies or small children.
• Avoid use of this oil if you have gall stones, hiatal hernia, suffer from GERD, or if you are taking medicines for reducing stomach acid, blood pressure, diabetes or cyclosporine.

Peppermint oil contains

• menthol 30% to 55%
• menthone 14% to 32%
• iso menthone 1.5% to 10%
• menthyl acetate 2.8% to 10%
• menthofuran 1% to 9%
• cineole 3.5% to 14%
• pulegone upto 4%
• iso pulegol upto 0.2%
• limonene 1% to 5%
• carvone upto 1%

These proportions vary with different locations.

• Menthol gives the peppermint oil the fresh smell and flavour.
• Isomenthone is a precursor to menthone which in turn is a precursor to menthol. Menthone is converted to menthol by a protein.
• Carvone is the main component of spearmint oil being 50% to 65% of the oil content.
• Menthyl acetate is used as a flavouring agent.
• Menthofuran and pulegone also impart flavour.
• Cineole is anti inflammatory mucous solvent used in lung disease treatment, additionally.

REFERENCES

• A Review On Peppermint Oil; Shrivastava Alankar; Apr-Jun, 2009
• Variations in composition of peppermint oil…; R. J. Clark and R. C. Menary; Jan. 1981
• Scientific Committee on Food on Pulegone and Menthofuran expressed on 2 July 2002
• Chest of Books: The Volatile Oils
• “Plant Physiology”; Monoterpene Metabolism. Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of Menthone Reductases from Peppermint; Edward M. Davis et al; Feb 2005.

Mint is rich in Vitamins A, C and small amounts of B2. It also contains the minerals manganese, copper, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, folate in good amounts and fiber.

• Mint stimulates digestion and is an anti spasmodic, relieves gas, menstrual spasms, reduces nausea and morning sickness in pregnancy.
• Mint relieves cough, cold, fever, rheumatic pains, earaches, sinus and throat ailments, food poisoning and travel sickness.
• Mint boosts immunity, reduces the growth of fungus and bacteria.
• Mint cleanses the blood, relieves sprains and muscle cramps.
• Mint has shown anti cancer properties in animal studies though its benefit on cancer in humans is yet to be fully established.

However, nursing mothers should not take mint as it may decrease milk output.

For The Face

Grind mint leaves and apply on the face at night. It removes pimples, boils and makes the face glow.

For Stomachache

Take dry mint and sugar in equal quantities. Grind. Take 2 tsp of this with water.

For Cold, Cough And Fever

Take 10 leaves of mint, 5 black peppercorns and salt to taste. Add to water. Boil and steep for 5 minutes. Drink when tepid. Do this 3 times a day.

For Cold, Asthmatic Cough & Weak Digestive Power

Take 1/4 cup mint juice with 1/4 cup water three times a day.

In Vomiting, Diarrhoea And Cholera

Drink 1/2 cup of mint juice every 2 hours.

In Gas

• Early morning drink a glass of water to which 25 ml of mint juice & 30 ml of honey has been added.
• Boil 60 gms mint, 10 gms ginger cut in small pieces and 8 gms ajwain in 250 ml of water. After boiling add 1/2 cup milk and jaggery to taste. This relieves gas and strengthens digestive power.
• Take 1/4 cup mint juice in 1/2 cup water. Add juice of 1/2 a lemon. Mix well and drink.

For Worms

Drink mint juice.

For Scorpion Bite

Apply a poultice of crushed mint leaves. Also drink mint juice with added water.

In Hiccups

• Suck on some mint leaves or lemon.
• Mint leaves and sugar can be chewed too for relief

For Removing Body Heat

To 10 gms mint add 20 gms jaggery and 200 ml water. Boil and strain. Cool before drinking.

For Glowing Skin

Take 1 tsp curd and 1 tsp crushed mint leaves. Mix a few drops of lemon juice. Mix all these well and apply on the face. Wash off after 20 minutes with cold water.

In Morning Sickness

Mix 1 tsp mint juice and 1 tsp ginger juice and 2 tsp honey. Take 2 times a day.

As A Mouth & Breath Freshener

Boil mint leaves in water. and cool. Gargle with this water.

For Abdominal Pain

To a glass of milk add few mint leaves. Boil. Drink when cool enough.

Mint Juice with Lemon Juice acts as an appetizer. Mint helps control acidity, indigestion and vomiting.

Concentrated Mint Juice, when applied on skin, controls blackheads and pimples, reduces acne and itching. Application of mashed Mint leaves on skin also helps reduce dryness of skin and rejuvenates it. Drinking Mint Juice during summer promotes healthy skin and helps beat summer heat.

Mint Juice is a health drink which can be prepared quickly any time. The recipe involves Lemon Juice and seasonings like Pepper, Cumin/Jeera Powder and Dry Mango powder. These seasonings provide additional taste and carry their own health benefits when used moderately.

Ingredients

• Mint Leaves or Pudina Leaves – 2 tsp
• Lemon Juice – 1 tsp
• Sugar powder – 3 tsp
• Cumin / Jeera powder – 1/4 tsp
• Pepper powder – 1/4 tsp
• Dry Mango Powder or Amchur powder – 2 pinches
• Salt

Method

1. Take handful of Mint/Pudina leaves and grind in mixer grinder with enough water. If you prefer, you may use a filter to filter out the ground leaves to obtain Mint juice.
2. Take a vessel, add all the ingredients including the Pudina liquid/paste. Add suitable quantity of water and mix all ingredients well. Stir with a spoon.
3. Keep the Pudina/Mint Juice in the refrigerator for an hour.

Serve Pudina Juice or Mint Juice chilled.

Source : Hema Raghvendra / http://www.vegetarianrecipes.net/pudina-juice-mint-juice/

Mint Tea Benefits

Mint tea reduces stress and taken before going to sleep induces sleep, maintains oral health and boosts immunity. It reduces hirshutism in women, cures motion sickness, alleviates nausea of pregnancy, and acts as analgesic in menstrual cramps and spasms.
It promotes digestive health, relieves skin rashes, controls herpes and reuces appetite.

How To Make Mint Tea

Take some fresh mint sprigs. Boil water and pour it over the mint sprigs. Add a bag of green tea and sweetener to taste. Let it steep for a few minutes before consuming.
If you are using dried mint leaves, use 1 tsp instead of the fresh leaves.

Pudina Chutney - Punjabi Indian Recipe

In the Punjab and Kerala region of India, a delicious chutney with pudina (mint), is made



Ingredients:

1 bunch pudina (mint)
2 dry red chilies
1 tsp Rai (mustard seeds)
2 tsp urad daal
1 piece dry imli (tamarind)
1 tsp heeng (Asafoetida)
1 tsp oil
1 tsp of salt

METHOD

Wash and then chop the pudina (mint).

In a pan heat the oil. Add 1 tsp of urad dal.

Then add the chilies. Cook for two minutes.

In the same pan add the mint and carefully cook until it changes color.

Once it is cooked it shrinks to half the original quantity, let it cool.

Add the tamarind, sugar, hing & grind it to a fine paste.

Do the seasoning with the other tsp of urad dal, mustard seeds in a tsp of oil.


source: http://www.pudina.com/



Pudina Pulao is basically mint fried rice, a delicious, vegetarian addition to any meal.

Ingredients

2 cups basmati rice
2 cups fresh pudina (mint)
1 onion, chopped
4 green chillies
¼ cup grated coconut
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
4 cloves
4 green cardamom pods
1" piece of cinnamon
1 star anise1 bay leaf
1 tbsp ghee (butter)
1 handful of cashews

Method

Cook the basmati rice to preference.
Grind the mint leaves with the coconut, green chillies and ginger / garlic (if using fresh) to a paste.
Heat ghee (butter) in a pan and roast the cashews until golden brown and drain.
Add the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves and anise and saute for about a minute. It's easy to burn these spice; Be careful.
Then add the chopped onions and saute until it turns transparent.
Add the ground paste to the pan and fry for about 2 to 3 minutes until it turns fragrant.
Mix in the cooled rice without breaking it too much.
Garnish with the roasted cashews and serve with a raita of choice.

source : http://www.pudina.com/

Disclaimer

The information provided in this hub is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements.