Spearmint, scientifically known as Mentha spicata, has been traditionally used for a variety of purposes across different cultures. Here are some of the traditional uses of spearmint:

• Digestive Aid: Spearmint has been commonly used to help alleviate digestive issues such as indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and gas. The compound (-)-carvone in spearmint is known to inhibit muscle contractions in the digestive tract, which may help relieve these symptoms.
• Hormonal Balance: Spearmint tea has been traditionally used to help balance hormones, particularly in women. It is believed to decrease male hormones like testosterone and increase female hormones necessary for ovulation, which can be beneficial for women with hormone imbalances or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• Antioxidant Properties: Spearmint is high in antioxidants, which help protect against and repair damage caused by free radicals. This property makes it useful in traditional medicine for its potential to prevent oxidative stress-related conditions.
• Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial: Spearmint has been used for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It has been applied topically to reduce swelling due to nerve or muscle pain and is also used to treat respiratory issues, colds, and coughs.
• Oral and Skin Health: Traditionally, spearmint has been used in oral care products for its cooling and refreshing qualities. It is also used to treat conditions like bad breath and acne.

• Stress Reduction and Memory Improvement: Spearmint is believed to reduce stress and improve memory, making it a popular choice in traditional remedies for cognitive support.

   

Overall, spearmint has been valued in traditional medicine for its versatile therapeutic properties, although scientific evidence supporting these uses varies in strength.

Source : http://www.wikiphyto.org/wiki/Spearmint

Reference on http://www.wikiphyto.org

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plant name

Spearmint, spearmint, sweet mint , Moroccan nana , Moroccan mint

International Latin denomination

Mentha spicata L. or Mentha spicata Huds., Mentha viridis L.

botanical family

Lamiaceae

Description and habitat

• Common perennial herbaceous plant, rather Mediterranean, 60 cm high, deep green lanceolate leaves with serrated edges, young leaves light, flowers generally pinkish or even white in spikes
• It multiplies by stolons which can make it invasive in gardens
  • Common subspecies:
    • Mentha spicata var. twitched or var. crispata = curly mint ,, Roman mint , garden mint , crisp mint
    • Mentha spicata var. longifolia = long-leaved mint , silver mint , wood mint  ; synonym of spearmint Mentha longifolia
    • Mentha spicata var. nana = nana mint (or nanah mint ), Moroccan mint , common in North Africa (Morocco), it would have been brought from Lebanon to Europe during the Crusades

History and tradition

• It's the mint of restaurateurs and ice cream parlors

Parts used

Dosage forms available

• Menthes available in TM  :
  • Mentha arvensis tincture whole plant
  • Mentha piperita tincture whole plant
  • Mentha pulegium tincture whole plant
  • Mentha rotundifolia tincture whole plant
  • Mentha silvestris tincture whole plant
  • Mentha viridis tincture whole plant

Usual dosages

Composition

Main components of the plant

• Polyphenols
• Rosmarinic acid
• Carvone and menthol essential oil

Main components of buds or young shoots

Main components of essential oil

• Menthol , (-)- carvone (55-70%), (+)- limonene (10%), beta-myrcene , dihydrocarvone , 1,8-cineole (0.9-2.8%), 3-octanol , menthone , traces of pulegone

Properties

Plant properties

• Digestive
• Rosmarinic acid cultivars are strongly anti-inflammatory [1]

Bud properties

Properties of essential oil

• Inhalation of its essential oil is anti-emetic [2]

Indications

Indications of the whole plant (phytotherapy)

Indications of the bud (gemmotherapy)

Specific indications of essential oil (aromatherapy)

Known or suspected mode of action

Usual formulations

• Infusion: 10 grams of fresh leaves in a cup of boiling water, infuse for 10 minutes, drink a cup after meals
• Poultice of fresh leaves: to apply on insect bites or bruises
• Tonic and refreshing syrup:
  • Ingredients: 2 bowls of mint leaves, one liter of boiling water, 1 kg of sugar
  • Wash the mint leaves, drain them well, put them in a glass container or a heat-resistant pot, pour boiling water, leave to infuse covered for a day. Filter, add the sugar and cook again for another hour over very low heat. Skim and bottle when the syrup has cooled.

Regulations

• French Pharmacopoeia list A (leaf, flowering top)

Possible side effects and precautions for use

Bibliographic references

1. Go↑ Wendy Pearson, Ronald S Fletcher, Laima S Kott, Mark B Hurtig. Protection against LPS-induced cartilage inflammation and degradation provided by a biological extract of Mentha spicata. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. May 2010 [1]
2. Go↑ Haniadka, R., Popouri, S., Palatty, P. L., Arora, R., & Baliga, M. S. (2012). Medicinal plants as antiemetics in the treatment of cancer: a review. Integrative cancer therapies, 11(1), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735411413266 PMID 21821652

Store in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep tightly closed, away from the reach of Children and pets.

Do not exceed the daily dose.

This product is not intended to prevent or cure any form of illness or disease.
 

If you are pregnant or nursing ; If you have a medical condition or are in the course of medical treatment ; If you are programmed for theater/operation in the near future, please consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product.

This product cannot replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

This product has not been evaluated by the SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use.

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