Mentha arvensis L.

English Name : Mint; Japanese Mint, Peppermint

Family : Lamiaceae

Origin : Europe to Indo-Malaysia

Description

It is a branched, downy herb. From the low, spreading, quadrangular stems that lie near the ground, the flowering stems are each year thrown up, 6 to 12 inches high. The leaves, springing from the stems, in pairs, are stalked, their outlines freely toothed. The upper leaves are smaller than the lower, and the flowers are arranged in rings (whorls) in their axils. The flowers themselves are small individually, but the delicacy of their colour and the dense clusters in which they grow, give an importance collectively, as ring after ring of the blossoms form as a whole a conspicuous head.

Habitat
Occasional by roadsides and on cultivated ground.

Parts Used : Flower and leaf

Herb Effects
Antiseptic

Active Ingredients
Menthol (volatile oil), menthone, isomenthone, limonene, neomenthol, methyl acetate, beta-caryopyllene, piperitone, alpha- and beta-pipene, tannins, flavonoids.

Medicinal Use
For neuralgia and inflammations of joints and muscles; in fever. Corn mint has antiseptic properties and it is effective for digestion. The tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and various minor ailments. The leaves are a remedy for stomach cancer.

Contraindication
Mint oil can cause upset stomach, flushing or headache after oral administration and contact dermatitis and sensitization after topical use. Contraindications are clear in patients with bile duct obstruction, gallbladder inflammation, stones and severe liver damage. It is best to avoid use in pregnancy and lactation since reports on its safety are controversial at the moment.

Reference