Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) tea is a wonderful remedy for poor digestion, heartburn, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting during pregnancy, sudden pains and cramps in the stomach, tension headaches, flatulence and colic. It can be taken as a tea to relieve blocked nasal passages resulting from a cold or influenza, and can also be used as an inhalation to relieve nasal congestion. This herb is a useful tonic for easing anxiety and related conditions. Prepared from either the fresh or dried herb, it is one of the best carminative and antispasmodic agents as it stimulates bile and digestive secretions.
Peppermint is considered a stomach healer
that can assist with irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, stomach aches, diarrhea or constipation. People often find it easier to consume peppermint tea because it does not contain sugar like peppermint candies that may further irritate the stomach.
Peppermint fomentations bring prompt relief from itching and other skin conditions.
According to the German Commission E (the German equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), peppermint has been used internally as an antispasmodic (upper gastrointestinal tract and bile ducts) and to treat irritable bowel syndrome, catarrh of the respiratory tract, and inflammation of the oral mucosa.
Peppermint inhalations can be taken to relieve blocked nasal passages
and bronchial congestion and relieve the symptoms of colds, flu, hayfever and sinusitis. To prepare a steam inhalation, place 50 g of dried peppermint in a bowl or saucepan. Pour 1 litre of boiling water over the herbs. Cover your head and the bowl with a towel, close your eyes and inhale the steam for 20-30 minutes.
For bad breath chew fresh peppermint leaves to sweeten the breath
Drinking peppermint tea on a regular basis is claimed to help to permanently rid you of bad breath symptoms that can be uncomfortable or embarrassing.
There is a special tea mixture that blends equal parts of my favourite herbs
and is suitable for the whole family including small children:
- Peppermint
- Camomile
- Liquorice
- Fennel
The mix produces a naturally sweet, caffeine and sugar free alternative to coffee and tea. The herbs in this mixture have an antispasmodic and carminative action and are a specific for the digestive and intestinal tract. 
Peppermint generally grows best in moist, shaded locations, and expands by underground rhizomes. Young shoots are taken from old stocks and dibbled into the ground about 1.5 feet apart. They grow quickly and cover the ground with runners if it is permanently moist. For the home gardener, it is often grown in containers to restrict rapid spreading. It grows best with a good supply of water, without being water-logged, and planted in areas with part-sun to shade.
Learn more about herbs similar to peppermint that also assist with your digestive health in our Gastro-Intestinal System Lesson 3 online!