Pudina(Mint) - The Agent of Freshness

• Family Name: LAMIACEAE 
  
• Botanical Name: MENTHA ARVENSIS / PIPERITA 
  
• Common Name: FIELD MINT, CORN MINT, JAPANESE MINT, PUDINA 
  
• Part Used: WHOLE PLANT, OIL 
  
• Habitat: Found through out India. 
  

Pudina – another essential component in Indian kitchen is herb with rich medical properties. Pudina is also popularly known as mint. The entire mint plant is anti-bacterial and anti-febrile. Essential oil and menthol is extracted from mint. The rapid evaporation of this oil and menthol is slightly anesthetic and anodyne local effect. Oil and menthol is also effective in tackling with headache, rhinitis, cough, sore throat, colic and vomiting. Menthol is used in balm.

Mint is also used as flavoring agent in culinary preparations. The leaf, fresh or dried, is the culinary source of mint. Fresh mint is usually preferred over dried mint. The leaves have a pleasant warm, fresh, aromatic, sweet flavor with a cool aftertaste. Mint leaves are used in teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, and ice creams. In Middle Eastern cuisine mint is used on lamb dishes. In British cuisine, mint sauce is popular with lamb.

Mint was originally used as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains. To cure stomach aches, put dried mint leaves in boiling water, then, when it cools drink it. This tea is called monstranzo. During the middle Ages, powdered mint leaves were used to whiten teeth. Mint tea is a strong diuretic. Mint also aids digestion.

Menthol from mint essential oil (40-90%) is an ingredient of many cosmetics and some perfumes. Menthol and mint essential oil are also much used in medicine as a component of many drugs, and are very popular in aromatherapy.

Mint is also used as insecticides. Mint leaves are often used by many campers to repel mosquitoes. It is also said that extracts from mint leaves have a particular mosquito-killing capability.

Mint oil is also used as an environmentally-friendly insecticide for its ability to kill some common pests like wasps, hornets, ants and cockroaches.

Disclaimer : Article is only intended to uncover the medical properties of the herb. Please consult your doctor before using.