PEPPERMINT


Peppermint is used to treat flatulence, gallstones , heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome & morning sickness.
Peppermint has long been thought to be particularly useful for digestion, dizziness, seasickness & nausea.
Mint is soothing as well as gently stimulating to the whole of the digestive system.
It is used traditionally for colds & the flu,especially in cases of fever associated with clammy skin that is cool to the touch.
Peppermint is an excellent remedy for chills, colic, fevers, dysentery, cholera, heart trouble, palpitation of the heart & hysteria.
Bruised leaves are applied in headache & other pains.
Mint leaf juice drops are effective in ear & nose infections.
Externally peppermint can be used to soothe itching & inflammation of the skin such as mosquito bites & rashes.
Powdered dried mint leaves mixed with salt should be used as tooth powder for all kinds of dental problems.
Peppermint tea also relieves menstrual cramps & the general tension associated with PMS.
Its strong & delightful smell can freshen breath & the steam from the tea can be inhaled to relieve sinus congestion.
Strong brew of peppermint tea or tincture can be used for relieving stubborn hiccups.
Peppermint is often combined with elderflower & yarrow.
Some mild peppermint tea rubbed on a baby’s stomach can help relieve colic & promote relaxation, especially when used in combination with Chamomile.
Peppermint leaf sprinkled in the back of cabinets will help deter ants & mice.

One of the primary components of peppermint is menthol, which is the active ingredient in most over-the-counter muscle rubs.
Make your own peppermint salve & use liberally on your sore feet, back, or other overworked, over-stressed muscles.
This salve can also be rubbed on the chest to relieve congestion & sooth the infirm to sleep.

PRECAUTIONS:

Internally peppermint is contraindicated for those people with acid reflux & other similar issues in the esophagus.
Do not ingest pure peppermint oil or pure menthol, as both are very toxic & in the case of menthol, can be fatal.
Those who should avoid using peppermint include women with a history of miscarriage & anyone with gallbladder or bile-duct inflammation, obstruction, or a related condition.
Daily use of peppermint can overly relax the peristaltic actions of the colon & because of this is not recommended after dinner. 


RECIPES:

Peppermint, like other members of the mint family, is found often in Mediterranean & Middle Eastern cooking.
Use it to season lamb, curry, couscous, or your favorite vegetables.
Mint has many culinary uses & can be used as a flavoring agent in curries or as an appetizer in the form of chutney or jal-jeera drink.

A mixture of equal quantities of mint leaf juice, lemon juice & honey, taken 2tbsp thrice a day before meals is good for any kind of digestive disorder.

A decoction of boiled mint leaves & green cardamom is good for nausea & indigestion.
To prepare an infusion, use 1 - 2 heaping tsp per 1 cup of boiling water & steep for 10 minutes.
Drink up to 3 cups daily.
Peppermint eases heartburn. This herb is part of a class of herbs that relaxes the muscles involved in the digestive process. Drink up to 3 cups infusion daily between meals.
Peppermint helps dissolve gallstones.

For tiredness try some minted milk made with 1 tbsp of dried mint & 1 cup of almost boiling milk - leave to infuse for 5 minutes then strain & drink by taking slow sips.

When anyone in the family is sick,boil a large pot of water on the stove with rosemary, peppermint, thyme & cinnamon herbs (about 1/2 cup of each) & keep it simmering on low all day.
It smells great, is soothing to the ill person & helps cleanse the air.

A facial steam can also be made with 1/4 cup mint in 1 l of boiling water.
Inhale the steam. Helpful for illness or allergies. Can also add 1 tbsp of epsom salts to sooth sinuses.

Peppermint Tea:

1 cup boiling water
1 tbsp peppermint leaves
Pour boiling water over peppermint leaves into a small teapot & let it steep 5 - 10 minutes.
Strain & pour into a cup.
Breathe in the peppermint aroma as you savor the taste of the hot tea.
Peppermint tea enhances digestion & acts as an antiflatulent.
Drink 1 cup daily.

For a nearly instantaneous nausea tonic in the instance of motion sickness, morning sickness, indigestion, or nausea caused by another illness, brew 3-4 tbsp fresh peppermint in a cup of boiling water.
Steep for 10 minutes & inhale the steam deeply as you drink.

Headache Tincture:

2 parts peppermint leaf
1 part chamomile flower
1 part feverfew flower & leaf
1 part hops
vodka or brandy
Cover herbs with alcohol in a jar or bottle & leave closed in warm dark place for a 2-4 weeks.
Strain. Bottle again.
Take ¼ - ½ tsp before & after meals.
This remedy is especially helpful for those who are prone to headaches that stem from indigestion.

Digestive Tea:

1 part chamomile flower
1 part dill leaf & seed
1 part peppermint leaf
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1-2 tsp of mixture of all these herbs.
Let it steep 5-10 min.
Drink ½ cup of the warm tea before & after meals.
This simple tea is probably one of the best for upset tummies & indigestion.

Mimosas with Fresh Mint & Oranges:

1 orange
2 cups fresh orange juice
1 cup sparkling mineral water
4 fresh mint leaves, for garnish
Slice orange in half. Cut two thin slices of the orange & save them to use
as a garnish.
Stir orange juice together with the sparkling water.
Serve in champagne flutes & garnish each glass with two mint leaves & one thin orange slice.

Peppermint Tincture for Digestion:

1/2 cup dried peppermint leaves
1/4 cup-1/2 cup very finely diced fresh ginger root
1/4 cup dried fennel seeds
~1 1/2 cups boiling water
~1 1/2 cups vodka
Put peppermint, ginger & fennel in glass jar & pour over the boiling water until they are just covered.
Fill the rest of the jar with vodka & close with air tight lid.
Keep in a cool dark place for at least 2-6 weeks, shaking daily.
Strain through mesh strainer or cheesecloth & store in dark place in small jars.
For adults up to 1 tsp can be taken straight or in water as needed.
For heartburn indigestion or nausea, one dose is usually sufficient, though sometimes a second dose is needed.
In pregnancy, 1/2 tsp in the morning often helps with morning sickness, with additional doses if needed throughout the day.
For children, 10-20 drops is usually enough, or it can be used externally.

Peppermint Mocha:

1,5 tbsp peppermint syrup
1,5 tbsp bittersweet chocolate mocha sauce
50 ml espresso
250 ml milk
whipped cream
Put syrup & sauce into serving cup.
Pour espresso over & stir.
Warm up milk.
Pour to cup over the coffee mix.
Add whipped cream & decorate.

Fresh Peppermint Jam:

250 g of mint leaves
1 kg of sugar
2 lemons
0.5 liters of water
Wash mint leaves with stems, dry slightly & chop.
Cut lemons into small pieces with the skin.
Put everything into the pot & boil for 10 minutes.
Leave for a day.
Filter the infusion, add the sugar & cook until tender.
Pour hot boiled jam into jars & close tight.


BEAUTY:

Mint paste in lemon juice applied on the skin gets rid of pimples & blackheads.
A strong tea of peppermint & nettle leaf used as a hair rinse will sooth scalp & promote hair growth. Great for getting rid of dandruff.
Peppermint has always been a popular ingredient in skin care because peppermint oil contains menthol & menthol is good for the skin.
Peppermint has great benefits such as soothing irritated, itchy & dry skin.
It has also been used to fight acne, dermatitis & ringworm.
Peppermint essential oil is often the choice to relieve the symptoms of sunburn in addition to including it with a moisturizing lotion or cream.

Peppermint Bath:

Make 1 l strong tea or infusion from peppermint.
Strain the plant material & add the liquid to the bathwater.
To apply directly, soak a washcloth with the tea & lay over the affected area, or simply use it as a wash.

Cucumber & Peppermint for Oily Skin:

Prepare a facial by mixing
1 tbs of mint juice,
1/2 tsp of peppermint extract &
1 tbsp of cucumber juice.
Use a cotton ball to apply this lotion on your skin & leave it on until it dries. Rinse off the mixture with warm water. 

MAGIC:

Peppermint has been valued as a symbol of wisdom & virtue, a magical plant for passion & love, using the power of the goddess, Venus.
Rubbing peppermint on the feet of your lover will strengthen your devotion towards one another..
It is also known as a money attractant, perhaps for its crisp, green foliage & is attributed with safe travels if carried on the traveler.
Peppermint worn at the wrist assures that you will not be ill.
The presence of peppermint is enough to attract benevolent spirits, ward away malevolence & raise the peaceful vibrations of an area.

Smelled, it compels on toward sleep & placed beneath the pillow it sometimes offers one glimpses of the future in dreams.

Traditional antidotes to vampires include bells, sunlight, bright light, a rooster's crow, garlic, peppermint, onions, silver bullets & bullets melted down from old bell metal...

In English folklore, finding a flowering mint plant on Midsummer's Day brought eternal happiness.
In French folklore, carrying a bouquet of mint & St. John's Wort protected you from wicked spirits.
In Italian folklore, using peppermint helped to protect children from sickness & silk worms from evil spells.

Peppermint leaves can be burned or rubbed upon household items & corners of home walls, to clear them of negative energies or for protection from evil forces.

A hoodoo love powder is:
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp peppermint
1 tsp grated candied orange peel.
Give a 1 tsp of this mixture in a glass of wine & the person will love you forever..


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