The family of mints, Mentha, originated in Europe, but it has been taken to other parts of the world, and there are now many different species. It can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Japan, and Rome, and has been used for everything from medicinal remedies to a refreshing agent. Today, we’re going to take a closer look specifically at Peppermint, one of the more popular species of the Mentha family.

Peppermint has a very noticeable sharp and clean scent that tends to be too strong for use in perfumes and fragrances. Although it’s a bit powerful for fragrance, its scent is very uplifting, and it has been known to improve a person’s mood. A technique that some use for Peppermint is to hang it in the bathroom, and while someone is showering, the steam brings out the scent and encourages one’s good mood.

Besides its obvious smell, the medicinal uses of peppermint cannot be ignored. It is an anti-septic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic (prevention of muscular spasms), and anti-bacterial, and it can be used to both calm and stimulate one’s energy. Peppermint has also been used as a muscular pain reliever and as a digestive, and can help both the respiratory and circulatory systems.

Here’s a further list of specific uses for peppermint:

• Bad breath
• Varicose veins
• Headaches/migraines
• Skin irritations
• Toothaches
• Fatigue

There are of course many different uses for peppermint, but it would take all day to list everything. Peppermint, much like Lavender, is very well-known and common in today’s society, peppermint perhaps even more so than Lavender, since it is found in many things beyond body products. From Cool-a-ped lotion to chewing gum, peppermint is everywhere, and rightly so, since it is helpful in a variety of ways.

As always, I encourage even further research, but I hope that this is helpful. Enjoy!