By Brigitte Mars

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata) are herbs in the mint, or Lamiaceae, family. The genus name Mentha originates in Greek mythology, which tells of the nymph Minthes who was transformed into a mint plant by Persephone, the jealous wife of Pluto. 

    Peppermint is considered a hybrid of other mints. Due to its peppery taste, botanist John Ray first described this herb as peppermint in 1696. Peppermint has smooth, reddish-purple stems and dark green, elongated leaves. Considered stronger than spearmint by many herbalists, peppermint contains more menthol, its active ingredient, than its cousin.

    Spearmint was originally called "spiremint," referring to its narrow spike of flowers, and was listed as one of the plants brought to the New World by the Plymouth colonists. Its leaves are shorter than peppermint leaves and are lighter green and more wrinkled. Both peppermint and spearmint are perennials that propagate through root runners, and they can be used interchangeably for medicinal purposes.

    Peppermint and spearmint are considered pungent and cooling. They're mildly stimulating to the nerves and make an excellent wakeup tea. During pregnancy, these herbs can be used to aid morning sickness. They're often combined with raspberry leaves (Rubus species) and ginger (Zingiberis officinale) for this purpose. Always consult with your physician before starting any herbal program, especially if you're pregnant or lactating. Also consult with your baby's doctor before giving the baby any herbs including those ingested through mother's milk.

    Mint teas are good for children. They work gently and effectively to help colic and congestion. Nursing mothers who drink mint pass the health benefits to their baby through their milk. Because mint helps relax the esophagus, it eases burping in an infant. The older baby can take the herbs in a bottle or by the teaspoonful. These mints are mildly anesthetizing to the mucous membranes of the stomach and help with gas, nausea and stomachache discomfort. Give mint teas to a child after vomiting to help settle stomachaches.

    Many parents have found peppermint and spearmint help ease travel sickness and may even quiet chemotherapy nausea in children. These herbs also make good drinks to help restore appetite. Mint tea is helpful in relieving congestion, and a cup of mint and elder flower tea is excellent for children with fevers. Both herbs are mildly diaphoretic and help the body sweat and eliminate toxins through the skin. Ice cubes made out of mint tea can help soothe canker sores.

    Too much fruit juice isn't good for children; it's sweet and concentrated. However, juices can be diluted with herbal teas such as mint. Since mint is rich in volatile oils, it's best to avoid boiling the herbs. Instead, bring a cup of pure water to a boil, remove from heat and add either 1 teaspoon of dried herb or 2 teaspoons of fresh (undried) herb. Cover, let sit for 10 minutes and strain. Honey can be used as a sweetener in moderation; however, avoid giving this sweetener to children under 1 year (botulism spores can live in honey and can be fatal to young children).

Peppermint

    Use the sun's energy to help you brew mint teas. Fill a quart jar with pure water. Add 4 teaspoons of dried mint or 8 teaspoons of the fresh plant to the jar. Cover and let sit in the sun for several hours. Strain and enjoy.

    Mint, especially fresh spearmint, can be added to fruit salad, vegetable salad, tabouli salad, yogurt dishes, hummus and even split pea soup. The flavor is wonderful and mint enhances digestion. Nutrients found in peppermint include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamin B₂, according to Mark Pedersen in Nutritional Herbology (Pedersen Publishing).

    Mint is also a cooling herb to add to a child's bath. Place a handful of fresh or dried herbs into a washcloth and close with a hair tie or rubber band. Add the cloth to hot running water. Allow the bath to cool to the proper temperature before letting your child get in. Or, add 5 to 7 drops of pure essential oil of peppermint to the tub after filling it. In 1629, herbalist John Parkinson said that adding spearmint to bath water would "comfort and strengthen the nerves and sinews." Herbalist and aromatherapist Jeanne Rose, in The Aromatherapy Book (North Atlantic Books), says the smell of mint "helps dispel negative thoughts." 

Mint for Aches and Pain

As an essential oil, peppermint has many uses. Peppermint oil is antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal and should always be diluted before applying to the skin.

    For congested children, mix 2 drops peppermint oil into ¹/₄ cup almond oil and massage the child's chest and back. Never ingest peppermint oil, and keep it out of your children's reach. Even ^l/₂ teaspoon of the oil taken internally can be toxic.

    In her book Natural Child Care (Harmony Books), Maribeth Riggs suggests making a comforting teething oil by combining 4 teaspoons olive oil, ^l/₂ teaspoon pure clove oil and ^l/₂ teaspoon pure peppermint oil. Stir well and test a small amount on your finger and then on your own gum area to make sure it's not too strong (this minute amount of peppermint oil isn't harmful). Saturate a cotton ball or apply a small amount directly to the teething area.

Brigitte Mars is an herbalist who formulates a line of herbal medicinal teas. She bases her information on 20 years' experience in herbal folk medicine.

Reprinted with permission from the December 1995 issue of Delicious! Magazine, a publication of New Hope Communications, Boulder, CO.