Many of us probably know mint as just a herb that you use to garnish your dishes. Sure, it gives food a wonderful aroma and adds to the overall experience, but did you know that mint is also extremely beneficial to your health?
Known as one of the most durable natural herbs, mint can be used in the treatment of several diseases, both physical and mental. Mint contains a number of natural chemicals and oils that impart a positive effect on your body and mind. It has been used for therapeutic and medicinal purposes since a long time ago.
So, are you ready to find out all the amazing and unexpected ways you could use mint for medicinal purposes? Then keep reading!
1. Dental & Oral Hygiene
Mint is a common ingredient used in modern toothpaste, and that’s not just because it smells good. In fact, the benefits of mint extend far beyond helping you get rid of bad breath (which is also pretty important, to be honest). Mint is a natural herb that can help get rid of lingering food particles in your mouth, which would ultimately lead to the growth of bacteria, which would then lead to several issues such as tooth decay and bleeding gums.
Furthermore, mint is an effective medicine in the treatment of tooth pain and sensitive teeth. Due to its effectiveness in getting rid of bacteria in the mouth, it ultimately helps preserve the overall hygiene of your mouth. This will help keep problems such as laryngitis and sore throat at bay. If you are experiencing any of the problems mentioned above, try gargling your mouth with some peppermint oil mixed with warm water several times a day until the issue goes away.
2. By-Bye to Hair Woes
Mint can also be used in the treatment of beauty-related issues, specifically the hair. Mint has the ability to increase blood circulation, therefore, applying it on your scalp will help relive scalp-related issues like dandruff, dryness, and itchiness. If you’ve got oily hair, mint could be your best friend as it reduces the production of fatty oils in your scalp that becomes crusty. This will also help soften the scalp while keeping it moisturized enough.
Mint is also a great hair growth aid, as it stimulates and encourages the growth of the hair follicles while also keeping them soft and moisturized. Massaging your scalp with some mint essential oils will help you get healthy hair growth and keep your mane feeling soft, refreshed, and shiny!
3. A Clean & Healthy Digestive System
A cup of honey lemon tea with some mint extract can be just the cure for any gastrointestinal problem that you’re facing. From diarrhea and colic to acidity, bloating, and other stomach and intestinal infections, mint can be a great cure.
This is because this magical herb is an effective moisturizer and laxative to the stomach, which will make sure that all waste is effectively cleaned out. Because of its disinfectant qualities, it gets rid of bacteria and worms and protects you against irritable bowel syndrome. It also helps rid of any unnecessary gases in the digestive system that can hinder the process of digestion properly. Furthermore, it helps excrete gastrointestinal juices and relieve acute intestinal spasms.
4. Remedy for Skin Issues
Another beauty-related use for mint is that it helps you have clear, blemish-free, glowing skin. Due to their abundance in anti-inflammatory and palliative substances, mint can be used to treat several skin-related diseases, including rashes, pimples, boils, eczema, and psoriasis.
Mint is also a natural moisturizer, which means it keeps your skin soft and supple while also helping remove any spots. This is precisely the reason why you can see the addition of mint in many a commercially manufactured face cream and skin ointment. But a few drops of peppermint oil placed on top of areas where the skin has developed inflammation or allergy can also be an effective short-term solution to alleviate swelling and pain.
5. Peppermint Fights Against Influenza
As we already discussed earlier, mint contains a large number of anti-inflammatory substances. This is precisely why it can be a great aid in the fight against diseases that affect the respiratory system, namely influenza. Since the influenza virus targets a weakened immune system, mint can help strengthen it as well as get rid of harmful bacteria.
Mint can also be used in the treatment of other common respiratory system-related illnesses like coughs, cold, sneezing, runny nose, etc. Mint helps expand the bronchi, which will then help you breathe easier and get rid of nasal congestion and infections in the throat. So an effective way to relieve the symptoms of a common cold or flu would be to add some mint leaves in a cup of hot tea. You may also add some peppermint extract into some boiling water and breathe in the steam in order to relieve nasal congestion.
