Mentha, Mint, Bo He 薄荷

Bo He (TCM)
Pudina (Unani)
 Picture
Picture Garden Mint
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Picture Picture
‘Greater’ (left) and ‘Lesser’ (right) Mints
Della Materia Medicinale, Andrea Valuassori, 1562

Picture Picture
M. piperita
Koehler’s Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887

 M. viridis
Koehler’s Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887
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Botanical name:


Mentha spp.
Various types are used: Peppermint (M x piperita); Crisp or Curled (M. crispa); Cornmint, Field or Marsh Mint (M. arvensis, M. haplocalyx); Saracens Mint; Wild Mint (Horsemint, Mentastrum), Water Mint (‘Sisymbrium‘, M. aquatica, M. hirsuta); Catmint (Nepeta); Spearmint (M. viridis) is used similarly. The Curled Mint with red stalks was accounted best.
TCM uses the Field Mint (M. haplocalyx), stronger than regular Peppermint.

Parts used:


Herb

Temperature & Taste:


Cool (Warm in the West), dry. Pungent, aromatic

Classifications:


2I. ANTISPASMODICS.    2K. RESOLVENT.    2Z. CICATRIZING
3A. SUDORIFICS & DIAPHORETICS.    3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC.    3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS.    3H. LACTAGOGUE
4c. CARDIAC.    4e. STOMACHIC.    4f. SPLENETIC

Uses:


1. Clears Wind-Heat, Promotes Sweat, Resists Poison:
-Fever, Fever with Chills
-beginning stages of Cold, Flu
-“It elicits diaphoretic actions” (Avicenna)

2. Promotes Expression of Rashes:
-Measles and other spotted Fevers to encourage full expression of Rash and facilitate quicker recovery.

3. Clears Liver Heat, Settles Wind:
-Liver Headache, Migraine, sore and red Eyes, Toothache
–obstruction of the Liver: distention or pain of the Hypochondria
-Nervousness, insomnia, Hypertension, Tinnitus, Childhood Spasms

4. Moves Qi, Clears Heat, Benefits the Stomach:
-chiefly for weak Stomachs, Crudities, Hiccups, Vomiting, Wind, burning Heat or pain of the Guts
-“It strengthens and warms the stomach, relieves hiccough and promotes digestion” (Avicenna)
-also helps remove Black Bile.

5. Externally:
-externally for weakness of the Stomach, pains of the Colic
-hardness of the Breasts
-curdling of Milk; poultice for Swollen Breasts in nursing mothers
-“Its plaster prevents the coagulation of blood in the Breast and relieves Mastitis” (Avicenna)
-Scald head, Itchiness and other skin diseases.
-“plastered with roasted flour on Abscesses” (Avicenna)
-Neuralgia (Menthol or Peppermint oil)
-Mints are mixed with Parched Barley meal as an application to hard Tumors and swellings.
-“Mint, specially the fresh one, is decocted with wine and plastered to remove black spots of the body and the dark grey marks occurring round the eyes”. (Avicenna)
-‘And if a man have botches or other runnings or swellings in his head, take this herb and stamp it, and lay it to the sore, and it will heal it. Also if a mans tooth ache or stink: take this herb and seethe it in white wine and in Vinegar, and take that liquor and wash his mouth therewith’ (Wyer’s Herbal, 1535)
-Stings of Bees and Wasps.


Dose:


Decoction: 3–6 grams, added towards the end
Infusion: 1–2 grams or a sprig of fresh mint may be infused.
Powder: 500mg–2 grams

Correctives:


 … available in PRO version

Substitutes:


 … available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


1. Cold and Flu:
i. Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
ii. Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
2. Promote the Expression of Measles and other Spotted Fevers, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
3. Acute Sore Throat, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
4. To prevent infection during epidemics, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
5. To protect from Rabies after being bitten, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
6. Species Aromatica: Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
7. Hypertension, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
8. Tinnitus, Wild Mint Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
9. Cholecystitis, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
10 Indigestion, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
11. Nausea and Vomiting, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
12. Liver Heat, Sore and Red Eyes, Scrofula, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
13. Liver Qi Stagnation:
i. Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
ii. Sadness, Worry from Qi constraint, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
14. Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea:
i. Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
ii. Peppermint with  … available in PRO version
15. Infertility, Peppermint with  … available in PRO version

Major Formulas:


Infusion for Painful Menstruation
Decoction Against Vomiting
Powder of Aloeswood (Mesue)
Powder of Galangal Compound (Diagalanga) (Mesue)
Powder for Gonorrhea
Powder for Loss of Appetite Greater (Nicholas)
Powder for Paralysis and Vertigo (Nicholas)
Four Thieves Vinegar
Electuary to Promote Fertility (Wirtzung)
Electuary of Bayberries (Electuarium de Baccis Lauri)
Electuary for Sadness and Worry
Ointment for Congealed Blood

Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
Yin Qian San
Xiao Yao San
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San

Cautions:


1. Not used for excess sweating
2. ‘It is an enemy to generation, by overthickening the seed’ (Gerard)
3. Culpeper said of Wild Mint: ‘They are extream bad for wounded people and they say a wounded man that eats Mints his Wound will never be cured, and that’s a long day’.

Main Preparations used:


Distilled Water, Syrup of the Juice, Compound Syrup, Conserve of the Leaves, Distilled Oil, Infused Oil, Salt of the Ashes