Health Benefits of Peppermint (Pudina), Uses And Its Side Effects

Peppermint is an aromatic herb, it is a hybrid mint formed due to a cross between watermint and spearmint. The rhizomes are wide-spreading, fleshy, and bear fibrous roots. The leaves can be 4–9 cm (1.6–3.5 in) long and 1.5–4 cm (0.59–1.57 in) broad.

Peppermint are dark green with reddish veins, and they have an acute apex and coarsely toothed margins. The leaves and stems are usually slightly fuzzy. The flowers are purple, 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long, with a four-lobed corolla about 5 mm (0.20 in) diameter; they are produced in whorls (verticillasters) around the stem, forming thick, blunt spikes.

Peppermint possesses high menthol content. They also contain carboxyl ester, particularly menthyl acetate and menthane. Dried peppermint typically has 0.3 – 0.4 % of volatile oil containing menthol (7-48%), menthyl acetate (3-10%), menthane (20-46%), methofurane (1-17%) and 1,8 – cineol ( 3-6%).

Along with this, they also contain small amount of many additional compounds including imonene, pulegone, caryphyllene and pinene. Peppermint contains terpenoids and flavonoids, such as eriocitrin, hesperidin, and kalompferol, 7-0-rutino side.

Peppermint can be used in various ways, you can drink peppermint tea to get relief from stress and refresh your mood. Get benefit of peppermint oil using as a massage oil due to its medicinal properties. Both dried and fresh peppermint or pudina leaves are used in cooking.

It also acts as a traditional home remedies and is used in diarrhea, nausea, the depression-related, and the common cold. One of the best remedies in the case of digestive Upsets. To deal with the oral smell, you can use peppermint and it has anti-bacterial properties which keep your mouth clean

Fresh or dried peppermint leaves are often used alone or with other herbs in herbal tea. Peppermint is used for flavouring ice cream, candy, fruit preserves, alcoholic beverages, toothpaste, and some shampoos, soaps and skin care products.

Peppermint oil is frequently used in the manufacture of soaps and perfumery but it most prized for use in flavoring confectionery, medicines. Peppermint is used in several dishes for flavouring, they are used in chutneys in India, and are used in salads. Peppermint leaf sprinkled in the back of cabinets will help deter ants and mice.

Pudina leaves powdered in sugar scrubs, invigorates the skin. Peppermint oil is also used in construction and plumbing to test for the tightness of pipes and disclose leaks by its odor.

Peppermints are likely to be safe. buf its overdose may cause some side effects like; heartburn and allergic reactions including flushing headache and mouth sores.

Peppermint is indigenous to Europe and the Middle East. The plant is now widespread in cultivation in many regions of the world.

The suitable temperature for mint cultivation is between 20°C - 40°C, with rainfall ranging between 100cm – 110cm. light shower at planting time and good sunny days at the harvest stage is best for its yield.