Healing Herbs: Mint


Mint's refreshing fragrance and delicious taste makes this plant a popular herb to cook. 
It is also revered as one of the best healing herbs. 
   
The two main kinds of Mint used in cooking are Spearmint (photo) and Peppermint. Peppermint contains the chemical menthol which affects the nerve endings in our mouth and gives us that cooling sensation. I have also found that Spearmint, although it does not have that chemical, also has a cooling affect on the body.

Mint can provide you with relief from the heat this summer! 

Add a couple of leaves to your glass of water or a handful to a pitcher to enjoy the mint flavor.

Make a hot tea with the leaves and then combine the hot tea with cold water in a pitcher to make a refreshing iced tea. 
  
Or try combining the mint leaves with a few slices of cucumber together for a deliciously reviving flavored water!


Mint heals the body! 
Spearmint is a digestive aide, increases metabolism, and is anti-inflammatory. It helps with obesity and intestinal/digestive problems. Peppermint stimulates the digestive system, is anti-fungal, and a pain reliever. It can be used to for Candida/digestive problems, headaches, nausea, skin conditions, and scoliosis/back problems.

Mint heals the mind!
Inhale the sweet smell of spearmint to open and release emotional blockages and to bring about a feeling of balance and a lasting sense of well-being. Peppermint's fragrance purifies and stimulates the conscious mind.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GREEN JUICE FOR HEALTH

Image
Green Juice for Health Simple veggie juices packed with the nutrients you need to live well. Lately, I have been drinking a lot of Green Juices. They are easy to make and VERY delicious. Drinking vegetables is a great way for the body to absorb nutrients. Making your own green juices is much more cost effective than buying them at Whole Foods for $6 or more. Instead, you can spend your hard earned money on a bunch of Chard, a coconut water, an apple, and a lemon  - and wa-lah! you've got yourself some homemade juice.  When I first began my juicing journey, I tried to put too many fruits and vegetables together. Even though EACH ingredient was tasty, when I combined ALL off them the taste was ... well, bad.  The key to creating a delicious health drink is to keep it simple! I use 5 ingredients or less in mine. Here are two of my favorite green juices. And remember, I encourage you to try different variations to make these drinks your own! Clean Green ...
Read more

EATING FOR ENERGY

Image
Raw Energy Bliss Balls  With Spring approaching, I anticipate that I will need more energy for the longer days.  My schedule is hectic and my days long and I don't see an end in sight! And I am grateful for this! Between teaching private and public yoga classes, giving Reiki treatments, coaching softball, working at a gym, working at a yoga studio, and working at a bakery and completing nutrition school - I need to Eat for Energy! I try to always find time in the day to be in the kitchen, but with some 12+ hour days, I need to have something healthy already prepared to eat! These Raw Energy Bliss Balls are just the thing that give me a boost! They are easy to make and delicious. My friend gave me a recipe and I have modified it to fit my taste. I encourage you to try this recipe and then create your own! What you'll need: 2 cups raw cashew pieces 3 tablespoons sunflower seed oil (or vegetable oil) 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds 1/2 cup gluten free oats 1/...
Read more

LIFE'S TEACHINGS AND MY BIKE

Image
A lesson on  Allowing. I finally fixed my bike! It had been a big "to do" for me for many months. The bike is my grandpa's. It is old (I found out that the brand of bike no longer exists, and some parts will have to be special ordered) but in great condition. I was able to put off the project for such a long time because I had many excuses . . . and a car! The biggest reason why I hadn't started the project was that I told myself "I didn't have time" for it. Finally, on this past Saturday, different factors aligned so that I could finally fix my bike. It was a beautiful day, I felt energized, and I had one less commitment and therefore a window of time to dedicate towards the project. My bike went from being another "to do" in the back of my mind to being my top priority. I had so much fun fixing my bike !! at The Bicycle Works, a bike co-op in San Anselmo. It is a very welcoming environment with lots of creative energy and fun people. ...
Read more