Most of us are familiar with the refreshing application of mint, do you know today modern has proved that peppermint is one of the nature’s most valuable herbal remedies. Mint is a soft-flavoured herb, that is widely used in cooking as a condiment, and dessert recipes or main dishes.
Moreover, it is also widely used to make teas. It is also widely used in medicine, through mint oil, which has numerous health benefits. Mint leaves can also be used as mouth wash.
Defining Mint Plant (Mentha) and Understanding What It’s Good for
Mint is one of those versatile herbs that we can find useful just about anywhere. It makes a wonderful tea, spruces up salads and adds invigorating and cooling (menthol) properties to skin care. Mint is a native to Eurasia, North America, southern Africa, and Australia, and are widely distributed throughout the temperate areas of the world and have naturalized in many places. The mint is a member of Lamiaceae which is known for its aromatic members, especially the mints and balms. The scientific name for mint is Mentha.
12 Uses for Mint Leaves
There are so many safe uses for this soft-flavoured herb apart from beautifying your gardens. Do you want to know the uses of mint leaves? Check out it’s uses below:
1. Tea
Peppermint tea is a popular herbal tea that is naturally calorie and caffeine-free. What we usually call the “mints” (peppermint, spearmint, apple mint, etc.) are traditional tea herbs. It also has anti-bacteria properties. Apple mint is one of my favorites with more mint flavor and less aftertaste. Just steep your fresh mint leaves in boiling water for about five minutes and serve.
2. Moth Repellent
Tie a few branches of strongly scented mint (peppermint, sage, lavender, rosemary, bee-balm) together, or pull off a handful of leaves, and stuff them into the leg of an old nylon stocking. Suspend by a string inside a garment bag, tuck into bags of stored woolen clothing, or just place in your drawers to let your clothes soak up the scent. Refresh periodically to keep the scent fresh.
3. Food
The peppermints are especially good culinary mints, ideal for chopping into salads, sprinkling over fruits or combining with basil or cilantro to make mint pesto. We like to add a couple tablespoons of fresh chopped mint to peas, green beans, carrots, cauliflower, or zucchini to create a minted vegetables!
4. Breath Freshener
Just chew on a few mint leaves! Sage teas and extracts have been used for centuries as a mouthwash for oral infections. Don’t use chew mint-family herbs if you’re breastfeeding, as even small amounts or sage and peppermint may reduce milk supply.
5. Bug Repellent
When ants come into the kitchen during the summer, place a few stems of mint, gently crushed, near suspected entry points really does deter ants.
You need to replace the mint with fresh material every few days. Also, keep pets flea-free by stuffing a small pillow with fresh spearmint and thyme and placing near your pet’s bed.
6. Drinks
Freeze a few trays of strong mint tea, then use the ice cubes for cooling summer drinks! Add mint leaves or cubes to mojitos, iced tea, or fresh lemonade.
7. Mouthwash
Chop a quarter cup of fresh mint, bee-balm, lemon balm, basil, thyme, or oregano leaves and infuse in a quart of boiling water. When cool, strain the herbs and store in the refrigerator.
8. Hair Rinse
Add one part strong mint (especially rosemary) tea to one part cider vinegar for a conditioning rinse you can either leave in or rinse out. The vinegary smell dissipates after drying.
9. Ease Sunburn Pain
Make a strong peppermint tea and refrigerating the mixture for several hours. To use, gently apply to the burned area with cotton pads.
10. Facial Astringent
Add a few finely minced leaves of fresh peppermint or other mint to a cup of witch hazel. Store in a glass jar for a week or more, shaking occasionally. Strain the herbs from the mixture after a week.
11. Scent Up a Space
Keep your home smelling fresh by adding a few drops of mint essential oil to your favorite unscented cleaner or just take a cotton ball and dap onto a light bulb.
12. Mint Bath
Steep a handful of mint leaves in a pint of hot water for about ten minutes, the strain. Add to bath water for an invigorating, stress-free soak.
Medicinal Uses Of Mint Leaves
The Mint plant (Mentha) has been long used as a folk remedy. Many, perhaps most, are also being uses for human and veterinary medicine, as insecticides or insect repellents, and as antifungal or antibacterial protection for crop plants. Few popular uses of mint leaves are discussed below:
Traditional Medicine
It has also been used for centuries in traditional medicine. There are studies that show mint to help easing queasy stomachs, calming stress and anxiety, and promoting restful sleep.
For Stomach Upset and Other Health Conditions
Peppermint tea has long been viewed as an excellent way to ease an upset stomach, calming the digestive tract and alleviating indigestion, gas, and cramps.
Antibacterial
Mints are potent plants, full of phytocompounds that plants manufacture to protect themselves against harmful bacteria, viruses, and other assaults from the environments they evolved in.
Cleanses Hives Mites
In additional, there are studies that show spearmint is even beneficial to honeybees by cleaning out the mites that infect their hives.
Uses Of Mint Leaves For Skin
We’ve covered that mint offers numerous health benefits when it comes to medicinal uses. Now, let’s look at the uses of mint leaves for skin:
Treats Acne
Mint has strong antibacterial properties and contains salicylic acid – both of which effectively prevent acne. It also contains vitamin A, which controls the secretion of oil in people who have oily and acne-prone skin.
The application of this ingredient dries up and eliminates acne while cleaning your pores. The benefits of salicylic acid and Vitamin A in mint leaves controls the secretions of sebum oil in the skin.
Gets Rid Of Blackheads
Blackheads form when dirt and oil settle into your pores and clog them. As mentioned above, mint keeps your pores clean and tightens them. This gets rid of blackheads and prevents them from reoccurring.
Hydrates And Tones The Skin
When used with the right ingredients, mint locks moisture in your skin by tightening your pores. It also softens and calms dry and itchy skin.
Mint is also a mild astringent that can be used to tone your skin. The ingredient removes dirt and grime from your pores and refines them to leave you with smoother, softer, and well-hydrated skin.
Slows Ageing
Ensuring that your skin is nourished and hydrated is the only way to slow aging. As mint boosts the circulation of blood to your skin and hydrates it, it also delays the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.
Reduces Dark Circles
Dark circles can be caused by a myriad of factors but mint can diminish and prevent them with its antioxidant content. The antioxidants in mint heal your skin and revitalize it. The skin under your eye is fragile and prone to damage – the antioxidants keep it damage-free by neutralizing free radicals.
Brightens Complexion
Mint has an extremely refreshing and soothing effect on your skin. When applied to the skin, it allows it to relax while acting on any blemishes that might be present. This leaves your skin looking bright and refreshed after each treatment.
How To Add Mint Leaves to your Daily Skin Care Routine
In this section we’ll be looking at the ingredients You Need, Preparation Time, Treatment Time, How Often? Why This Works and the different Methods you can use to add mint to your daily skin care routine.
Mint Water As A Toner
Things Needed
- 1 ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves
- Cotton pad
- Moisturizer
Prep Time
- 30 minutes
Treatment Time
- 5 minutes
Method
1. Boil the mint leaves in one and a half cups of water for about 20 minutes.
2. Allow the water to cool and then filter out the mint leaves.
3. Apply this solution to your face with a cotton pad after you wash your face.
4. Begin to moisturize your face.
You can store the solution in your fridge for 6-7 days.
How Often?
- 1-2 times a day.
Why This Works
Mint is an excellent cleanser and astringent. Its salicylic acid content controls and prevents acne. It also loosens dead skin cells.
Banana + Mint Face Pack For Glowing Skin
Things Needed
- 2 tbsp mashed banana
- 10-12 mint leaves
Prep Time
- 2 minutes
Treatment Time
- 30 minutes
Method
1. Grind the banana and mint leaves together until they form a smooth mixture.
2. Apply this mixture onto your face as you would a face pack.
3. Leave it on for 15-30 minutes.
4. Rinse your face with cool water.
How Often?
- 1-2 times a week.
Why This Works
Banana is a rich source of vitamins A, B, C, and E. It also contains potassium, lectic, amino acids, and zinc.
The combination of these nutrients help hydrate your skin, nourish it, fight oxidative damage, prevent acne, fade acne scars, boost collagen production, fight UV damage, and improve skin elasticity. In combination with mint, banana boosts skin health and leaves it looking radiant.
Milk + Honey + Oats + Cucumber, And Mint Skin Scrub
Things Needed
- 1 tbsp oats
- 10-12 mint leaves
- 1 tsp honey
- 2 tsp milk
- A half-inch slice of cucumber
Prep Time
- 2 minutes.
Treatment Time
- 10 minutes
Method
1. Grate the cucumber and mash the mint leaves.
2. Proceed to combine all the ingredients until you get a coarse mixture.
3. Apply this mixture onto your face as you would a face pack and let it dry for about 7 minutes.
4. After 7 minutes, gently scrub your face in circular motions to slough off any dead skin cells.
5. Scrub for 2-3 minutes and then rinse your face with cool water.
How Often?
- 2-3 times a week.
Why This Works
This is one of the best scrubs you could use for dry or sensitive skin. The scrub is gentle on your face but it also cleans your pores and sloughs off any dead skin cells. It also nourishes your skin and leaves it looking radiant and healthy.
Mint Leaves For Dry And Itchy Skin
Things Needed
- 6 tsp fresh mint leaves
- ½ liter water
- Washcloth
Prep Time
- 30 minutes
Treatment Time
- 10-15 minutes
Method
1. Boil the mint leaves in half a litre of water for about 20 minutes.
2. Allow the water to cool and then strain it.
3. Soak a washcloth in the cooled tea.
4. Spread the cloth onto the affected area.
5. Leave it on for about 2-3 minutes.
Repeat the process 4-5 times.
How Often?
- 1-2 times a day.
Why This Works
Mint is an abundant source of menthol, which has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce itching and other types of skin aggravation. Mint is also a great source of rosmarinic, which is a natural acid that treats rashes.
Does Mint Leaves Help In Weight Loss?
Yes. Mint can also help you efforts to lose weight in a healthy way. Mint is a stimulant that it also stimulate the digestive enzymes that absorb nutrients from food and consume fat and turns it into usable energy therefore, by adding mint to your diet, you are increasing the amount of fat that is been consumed and put to use rather than being stored and contributing to weight gain.
How To Use Mint Leaves For Weight Lose
- Make a cup if mint tea.
- Boil 1 Teaspoon of dried mint leaves in 1 cup Water for 10 minutes.
- Then, strain and drink.
- You can add 1 Teaspoon of honey for taste
It is safe to consume peppermint tea, but don’t have it if you suffer from acid reflux.
Flat Tummy Mint Water Recipe
Add the following ingredients in a BPA- free pitcher or Mason jar.
- 6 cups of frittered water
- 1 slice cucumber
- 1 tablespoon of grated Ginger
- I sliced lemon
- 1/2 cup of mint leaves
- Allow the blend to infuse overnight
- Drink this next morning
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