Calamintha, Calamint

Also called Mountain Mint
 Picture
Picture New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

 Picture Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Picture Greater (left) and Lesser (right) Calamint
Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

Picture Curtis, William, Flora Londinensis, vol. 6 (1789-1798)

Botanical name:


Calamintha officinalis (syn. Clinopodium nepeta)
C. nepeta (Lesser Calamint) is used similarly and is stronger.
Galen mentioned 3 types.

Parts used:


Herb

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry
opens, attenuates, discusses, cleanses, of thin parts

Classifications:


2A APERIENT.   2B ATTENUATERS.   2C INCIDERS.   2G. CLEANSING.   2H. CARMINATIVE
3C. ALEXIPHARMIC.   3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS.   3E. DIURETIC.   3G. EMMENAGOGUE.   3M. ARTHRITIC
4a. CEPHALIC.   4c. CARDIAC.   4d. PECTORAL.   4f. SPLENETIC.   4i. UTERINE.   4k. ARTHRITIC

Uses:


1. Moves the Qi, Opens Obstructions:
-Benefits the Stomach and Liver, used for Obstructions of the Liver
–hardness and swelling of the Liver and Spleen
-Colic, stomach pain, Hernia (Dioscorides)
-Edema, difficulty urinating
-Jaundice (Dioscorides)

2. Moves Qi and Blood, Promotes Menstruation:
-Good for the Womb obstructed with Cold, Damp, Blood or Qi
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-promotes Birth; ‘expels the Fetus’ (Galen)
–Culpeper and others said it ‘hinders Conception in Women’
–Galen said ‘its juice is a marvellous’

3. Resists Poison:
-acute Sore Throat, Tonsillitis (Pliny)
-Fever and Shivering
-Venomous Bites
-taken in large quantities long-term with Whey for Elephantiasis (Dioscorides)

4. Clears Phlegm, Stop Coughs:
-chronic Cough, Wheezing, shortness of Breath

5. Kills Worms:
-taken with Honey and Salt (Dioscorides)
-kills parasites and maggots (Galen)

6. Externally:
-applied to Bruises, Scars (boiled in wine or the tincture applied)
-boiled in wine and applied as a plaster to
-poultice over the sacrum for Sciatica (since Galen)
-applied with Salt and Honey to Wounds.
-juice is dropped into the ears for earache.
-root was gargled for sore Throat.


Dose:


INFUSION or BRIEF DECOCTION: 2–6 grams
POWDER: 1–3 grams.

Main Combinations:


1. To promote Menstruation:
i. for Amenorrhea, for old Coughs, Calamint with Pennyroyal, Oregano, Parsley seed, Thyme, Lovage (as in Diacalamintha)
ii. to the above can be added Balm, Mugwort Madder, Rue and Cinnamon which is stronger to promote Menstruation and can be used to strengthen before pregnancy if there is a history of Habitual Miscarriage. It promotes Birth and cleanses the Afterbirth.
iii. Calamint with Madder, Carrot seed, Nigella seed, Mugwort, Marjoram (as in Syrup of Mugwort Lesser)
2. Cold Phlegm of the Stomach or Lungs, Calamint with Pepper, Oregano, Parsley seed
3. Poor appetite, Calamint with Cinnamon, Aniseed, Cyperus, Mint, Zedoary, Clove (as in Powder for Loss of Appetite Greater)
4. To benefit Memory, Calamint with Rosemary
5. Hydrocephalus, Calamint with Rosemary and Betony (Model Botanic Guide to Health)
6. Douche for Uterine Pain, Calamint with Mugwort, Betony, Cumin, Anise seed

Major Formulas:


Syrup of Mugwort (Augustana)
Syrup of Stoechas (Fernelius)
Tincture Against Schirrus of the Spleen
Electuary of Calamint (Galen)
Powder of Calamint Compound (Nicholas)
Powder to Warm the Head (Bononiense)
Powder for Epilepsy of Philon

Cautions:


1. Not used during Pregnancy.
2. ‘Let not women be too busy with it, for it works very violently upon the feminine part’ (Culpeper)

Main Preparations used:


Distilled Water of the Plant, Salt of the Ashes, Compound Syrup, Diacalmintha