Mentha, Mint, Bo He 薄荷Bo He (TCM)Pudina (Unani) Gur tig གུར་ཏིག་ (Tibet) |
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Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485 |
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491 |
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Della Materia Medicinale, Andrea Valuassori, 1562
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M. piperita Koehler’s Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887 |
M. viridis Koehler’s Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887 |
Botanical name:
Mentha spp.
Various types are used:
- Peppermint: M x piperita, M. arvensis var. piperacsens
- Crisp or Curled: M. crispa
- Cornmint, Field or Marsh Mint: M. arvensis, M. haplocalyx
- Saracen’s Mint; Wild Mint, Horsemint, ‘Mentastrum‘–M. sylvestris
- Water Mint ‘Sisymbrium‘: M. aquatica, M. hirsut
- Spearmint: M. viridis
The Curled Mint with red stalks was accounted best by the Europeans.
TCM uses the Field Mint (M. haplocalyx), and Unani use Marsh Mint (M. arvensis) which are stronger than regular Peppermint.
Parts used:
Herb
Temperature & Taste:
Cool (Warm in the West), dry. Pungent, aromatic
“”Mint is hot and dry in the second degree with some superfluous moisture” (Avicenna)
Classifications:
2I. ANTISPASMODICS. 2K. RESOLVENT. 2Z. CICATRIZING
3A. SUDORIFICS & DIAPHORETICS. 3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC. 3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS. 3H. LACTAGOGUE
4c. CARDIAC. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4f. SPLENETIC
TCM
A. Clear Exterior Wind-Heat
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Heat, Promotes Sweat, Resists Poison:
-Fever, Fever with Chills
-beginning stages of Cold, Flu
-acute Wind-Heat conditions of the Head: loss of voice, mouth, teeth and throat problems
-“It elicits diaphoretic actions” (Avicenna)
-“Its intake with wine would remove the fatal effects of the Poisons”. (Avicenna)
-“The drug, specially its seeds, are useful in cases of bite by a Rabid Dog.” (Avicenna)
-also for Leprosy and Elephantiasis; “Oral use of mint is beneficial in Leprosy“. (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
–‘It is good against watering eyes and all manner of breakings out in the head’. (Gerard)
–obstruction of the Liver: distention or pain of the Hypochondria
-Nervousness, insomnia, Hypertension, Tinnitus, Childhood Spasms
-“useful in cases of Jaundice” (Avicenna)
-“Oral intake of its extract with vinegar stops the internal bleeding.” (Avicenna)
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:
1. Smaller doses release constrained Qi and open Obstructions. Full doses clear Heat and promote Sweat.
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
Comment:
“It is helpful in increasing the sexual desire.., It strengthens the seminal tract, but kills the Sperm. Its pre-coital use as a suppository prevents pregnancy.” (Avicenna)
Correctives:
1. Honey
2. Violet
3. Rose Conserve
Substitutes:
Various types of Mint have been used similarly.
Main Combinations:
Acute Diseases:
1. Cold and Flu:
i. Mint with Elder flower
ii. with Headache, Sore Throat, Mint with Chrysanthemum Ju Hua
iii. dry throat with cough, Mint with Burdock seed (Niu Bang Zi)
iv. Mint with fresh Ginger, Long Pepper (Ayurveda)
2. Promote the Expression of Measles and other Spotted Fevers, Mint with Burdock seed (Niu Bang Zi) (TCM)
3. Acute Sore Throat:
i. Mint with Sage and Licorice
ii. Mint with Platycodon Jie Geng, Licorice
4. To prevent infection during epidemics, Mint with Calamus, Cinnamon, Lavender, Rue, Sage, Wormwood, Rosemary, Clove, Nutmeg, Garlic, Camphor (as in Four Thieves Vinegar)
5. To protect from Rabies after being bitten, Mint with Rue, Vervain, Plantain, Sage, Polypody, Wormwood, Mugwort, Balm, Betony, Centaury, St. John’s Wort (as in Powder Against Rabies)
Clear Liver Heat
6. Cholecystitis, Mint with Camomile, Balm, Centaury, Caraway
7. Liver Heat:
i. Peppermint with Chrysanthemum
ii. Mint, Balm,. Camomile
iii. Liver Heat, Sore and Red Eyes, Scrofula, Mint with Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao) (TCM)
iv. Peppermint, Centaury, Agrimony
Liver Qi Stagnation:
8. Liver Qi Stagnation:
i. Mint with Paeonia Bai Shao, Bupleurum Chai Hu. (TCM)
ii. Sadness, Worry from Qi constraint Mint with Balm, St. Johns wort
iii. Mint with Basil seed, Bugloss, Pearl, Red Earth, Indian Spikenard, Chebulic Myrobalan, Dodder, Cinnamon, Frankincense (as in Electuary for Sadness and Worry)
iv. mental tension, Mint with Centella, Licorice (Ayurveda)
Calm the Liver, Settle Wind:
9. Childhood Spasms, Mint with Camomile, Red Poppy flower (Pharmacopoeia Generalis, 1783)
10. Hypertension, Mint with Camomile, Yarrow, Aniseed, Fennel seed
11. Tinnitus, Wild Mint with Marjoram, Rue, Stoechas, Camomile (as in Tincture for Tinnitus)
Stomach & Digestion:
12. Species Aromatica: Peppermint, Oregano, Thyme, Lavender, Cloves (Russian Pharmacopeia, 1910)
13 For the Stomach, Indigestion:
i. Mint with Fennel seed, Caraway, Wormwood
ii. Mint with Galangal, Nutmeg, Cinnamon (Pharmacopoeia Generalis, 1783)
iii. Mint with Wormwood, Sweet Basil, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Lavender, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander (distil a liquor). (Pharmacopoeia Generalis, 1783)
14. Loss of Appetite, Mint with Cinnamon, Aniseed, Celery, Cyperus, Calamint, Zedoary, Clove, Sesame (as in Powder for Loss of Appetite Greater of Nicholas)
15. Nausea and Vomiting:
i. Mint with Pomegranate seed (Avicenna)
ii. Mint with Wormwood, Rose, Galangal, Clove, Nutmeg, Quince (as in Decoction Against Vomiting)
16. Hiccups and Vomiting, Mint is taken with Pomegranate juice (Dioscorides)
Gynecology:
17. Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea:
i. Mint, Pennyroyal, Calamint
ii. Mint with Oregano, Mugwort, Camomile (as in Infusion for Painful Menstruation)
iii. Mint with Madder, Cyperus, Asparagus root, Balm, Valerian, Pennyroyal, Licorice (as in Emmenagogue Syrup)
18. Infertility, Mint with Madder, Mugwort, Wormwood, Fennel root, Marjoram, Balm, Cyperus, Mastic (as in Electuary to Promote Fertility)
Other:
19. “Oral intake of Mint followed by whey continuously for several days proves to be useful in cases of Elephantiasis and Varicose Veins” (Avicenna)
20. Thick and Viscid Humors of the Chest, decoct Mint with Figs (Avicenna)
21. Black Bile, Mint with Rose. (Avicenna)
Externally:
22. Abscesses, apply a plaster of Mint and Barley (Dioscorides)
23. Mint Juice in Hydromel for earache (Dioscorides)
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)
Powder for Vomiting from Phlegm
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
Cang Er Zi San
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San
Di Huang Yin Zi
Gua Lu Xiao Du Dan
Liang Ge San
Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin
Ren Shen Bai Du San
Sang Ju Yin
Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang
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
1. Conserve of Mint:
i. Fresh leaves of Mint (1 part), White Sugar (2 parts). Beat together.
2. Syrup of Mint:
i. Fresh leaves of Mint (2 oz.), Water (2 pounds). Infuse, strain, add White Sugar (4 pounds). Make a syrup, strain.
ii. Dried Mint (½ pound), Water (5 pounds). Macerate 12 hours; distil four ounces, and dissolve in Sugar (8 ounces). To the expressed and strained residue add White Sugar (2 pounds, 4 ounces). Boil to the desired consistency and add the other Syrup. (Pharmacopoeia Amstelodamensis, 1792)
iii. Juice of Mint clarified by repose, White Sugar (of each 3 pounds). Boil together. (Dispensatorium medico pharmaceuticum Palatinatus, 1764)
3. Tincture of Peppermint:
i. Peppermint (1 part), Alcohol 20% (8 parts). Digest 3 days, filter. (Pharmacopoeia Manualis, Antwerp, 1812)
ii. Flowering tops of Peppermint (4 oz.), Rectified Spirit of Wine (2 pounds). Digest, express, and add more Peppermint (2 oz.). Digest again, express and filter. (Dispensatorium Pharmaceuticum, 1777)
iii. Oil of Peppermint (2 drams), Alcohol (1 pound). Mix. Dose: 1–2 drams.
4. Troches of Peppermint:
i. Mint Water, White Sugar (2 oz. each). Boil to the consistency of a soft electuary and add to it an oleosaccharum made of White Sugar (4 oz.) and Essential Oil of Mint (½ dram). Pour by drops onto a marble slab, and when solidified, expose them, placed on a sieve, to a moderate heat for several hours. (Pharmacopoeia Gallica, 1818)
5. Distilled Water of Mint:
i. Mint (1 ½ pounds), Water (sufficient to prevent burning. Distil one gallon. (London)
6. Spirit of Mint:
i. Oil of Mint (6 ½ scruples), Proof Spirit (4 ½ pints), Water (sufficient to prevent burning). Mix the spirit with the oil, add the water, and slowly distil one gallon. (London)