Mint: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

Mint (Mentha spp.), known as Phudina in Sanskrit, is a pungent herb with slightly cooling virya and pungent vipaka (PK- V+ in excess). It acts on the plasma, blood, marrow and nerve tissues, working through the respiratory, digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems. Its primary actions include stimulant, diaphoretic, carminative, nervine, and analgesic properties.

The three main mints — peppermint, spearmint, and horsemint (Mentha arvensis, more common in India) — share a mild soothing action on the nerves and digestion, which helps relax the body and clear the mind and senses, hence their widespread popularity and usage. They serve as mild, cooling diaphoretics for common colds and flus and their complications. Each variety has its own strengths: peppermint is the most stimulating and best for improving digestion, spearmint is more relaxing with better diuretic action for urinary inflammation, and horsemint has stronger antispasmodic properties useful for difficult menstruation.

Mint is indicated for colds, fever, sore throat, laryngitis, earache, digestive upset, nervous agitation, headache, and dysmenorrhea. Precautions: Avoid in severe chills and neurasthenia. Preparations: Infusion (do not boil), powder (250 to 500 mg).

• Dı-pana: Enkindles appetite
• Anuloma: Redirects the flow of vata downwards
• Svedana: Diaphoretic Śirovirecana Purges the orifices of the head
• Biomedical: Carminative, diaphoretic, analgesic, antipruritic, nervine, aromatic

Contraindications: High vata; sensitive individuals; and epileptics need to regulate; dosage. May interact with iron medication, should be avoided by; patients with oesophageal reflux,; and it may negate the effect of; gastric reflux medication (Bone; 2003). The World Health

Safety: stones to move into the bile duct and if they are too large they may become stuck (WHO 1999). Organization (WHO) recommends caution in patients with gallstones as it may cause

Dosage: 1–30g per day or 3–20ml per day of a 1:3 @ 45% tincture. Regarding energetics, the dose and method of taking the remedy are all important. A low dose is relaxing, benefiting a va-ta stagnated by constriction; a medium dose (preferably taken at a cool temperature) benefits the anti-inflammatory needs of pitta; and a high dose of a hot drink clears kapha. This returns us to the human nature of herbalism and Ayurveda; it is all about the person, their individual constitution and condition as well as the dose of the medicinal herb. Q Mentha arvensis is also commonly used in India and has a specific antispasmodic and emmenagogue action. Q Mint is not mentioned in the early ayurvedic literature. Q Chapter 6 PLANT PROFILES

Combinations:

• Kutki, guduchi, shatavari for high pitta in the intestines.
• Cardamom, fennel, ajwain for high vata and intestinal spasms, flatulence, etc.
• Pippali, fresh ginger, cinnamon for colds to induce sweating.
• Brahmi, gotu kola, licorice for the mind and tension.