Mint - The Refresher
July 11, 2022 | Written by Leticia Padmasri
Our mint plant has been growing so beautifully on our porch! We so enjoy this perennial fragrant plant in the summertime.
Mint makes an appearance in our teas, watermelons, peaches, veggies, chutney, and in the air… clearing our minds and uplifting our moods!
When learning about mint, I was amazed by the large size of the mint family. It includes many culinary herbs such as basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, and lavender!
But I think when we hear ‘mint’, most of us think of peppermint and spearmint, right?
In this blog, I will be sharing with you the properties of the latter ones. There are many varieties of mints, spearmint and peppermint being two of the most common.
Mints are very refreshing herbs and have a significant impact on lifting the heaviness of mental and emotional tension. The aromatic menthol awakens our senses and decongests the orifices of the head.
Let’s look at their energetics and benefits according to Ayurveda and how to benefit from them in our daily lives.
Mint & Ayurveda
The rasa (taste) of mint is sweet and pungent and its vipaka (post-digestive effect) is also pungent. However, its virya (thermal action) is slightly cooling and heating! Very unique!
Ayurvedically speaking, mints have a balancing effect on all three doshas, especially Pitta, which makes it a wonderful herb for the summer season (the Pitta season of the year, accordingly to Ayurveda).
The pungency promotes perspiration which dries Kapha. The sweet, cooling effect reduces Pitta. And its sweet pungent nature reduces Vata! Their effect on the body is mild, so they are usually used with other herbs to treat acute or severe conditions.
In addition to their qualities that give us a treat to our palates and noses…
Mint leaves aid in digestion…reducing gas, indigestion, and irritable bowel.
Mints are a decongestant medicine, used for steam inhalation treating cough, cold, and throat irritation.
They are also beneficial for insect bites due to their cooling effect on the skin and their anti-inflammatory properties.
And last but not least, mints help to relax the body and clear the mind and senses due to their mild soothing effect on the nerves.
“Mints are very refreshing herbs and have a significant impact on lifting the heaviness of mental and emotional tension.”
So, how can you get more mint in your diet?
There are great ways to incorporate mint into your diet and daily routine.
Enjoy fresh mint tea: add 2 teaspoons of chopped leaves to 2 cups of boiling water, remove from the heat, and steep for 5-10 minutes.
Add it to your veggies: when veggies are ready, remove them from the heat and top with mint leaves.
Drink mint-infused water: add it to your room temperature drinking water and let it sit overnight.
Make a mint water mist: use some of the mint-infused water to fill a spray bottle to use as a mist for your skin. Keep in the fridge.
Wake up your senses before sadhana: dab a bit of diluted peppermint essential oil at the border of your nostrils before pranayama and meditation. Make sure to test on your skin first.
Mint is also one of the key ingredients in my summer spice blend for cooking!