Peppermint

Peppermint is a natural hybrid of water mint (Mentha aquatica ) and spearmint (Mentha spicata ) and was first cultivated in England in the late seventeenth century. The herb has been used as a remedy for indigestion since Ancient Egyptian times. In fact, dried peppermint leaves were found in Egyptian pyramids dating back to 1000 b.c. The ancient Greeks and Romans valued it as a stomach soother. During the eighteenth century, peppermint became popular in Western Europe as a folk remedy for nausea, vomiting, morning sickness , respiratory infections , and menstrual disorders. Peppermint was first listed in the London Pharmacopoeia in 1721. In modern times it appears in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a remedy for intestinal colic, gas , colds, morning sickness, and menstruation pain .

In Greek mythology, Persephone, wife of Pluto, the God of the dead, was jealous of Pluto’s love of the nymph Menthe or Minthe, and turned the nymph into a lowly plant to be trod upon. Pluto, unable to reverse the spell, could only soften it by giving Menthe peppermint’s sweet scent to perfume the air.

But peppermint does much more than sweeten the air.  Besides adding a great flavor to many foods, peppermint’s essential oil is the world’s oldest medicine and has a long history of therapeutic use.  It is valued for combating a variety of issues, including fatigue, minor head discomfort, and digestive concerns.  Early Greeks believed mints could clear the voice and cure hiccups.  Greek and Roman housewives served mint after meals as an aid to digestion and added mint to milk to prevent it from spoiling.  In Victorian times, peppermint was added to hot water for mopping floors in order to remove negativity.