Overview
Mint is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for irritable bowel syndrome. This hardy perennial is famously fragrant. It is full of aromatic menthol, which ‘wakes up’ the senses and decongests the orifices of the head as well as calming and relaxing digestion.
How Mint Helps with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Mint has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing irritable bowel syndrome:
- Potency (Virya): Cooling and heating
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Pungent
- Taste (Rasa): Sweet, pungent
- Qualities (Guna): Light, dry, penetrating
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Sweet, pungent
- Quality (Guna)
- Light, dry, penetrating
- Potency (Virya)
- Cooling and heating
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Pungent
- Dosha Effect
- Dos.aHIIHFW3.9ï9LQH[FHVV
- Key Constituents
- Flavonoids Bitter principle Tannin Essential oils Menthol, menthone Vitamin Choline (Mills & Bone 2000, Duke 2004)
- Dhatu
- Plasma, blood, nerve
- Srotas
- Digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous
Safety & Precautions
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
Other Herbs for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
See all herbs for irritable bowel syndrome on the Irritable Bowel Syndrome page.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.