Field mint is often found in the garden where it’s chopped leaves are infused in vinegar and used as sauce to accompany lamb or in teas where it has a calming effect.
Field mint (Mentha arvensis L.) has many other names:- corn mint, wild mint, It should not be confused with its near relative spearmint or peppermint. There are a number of sub species and cultivars available for horticulture.
Uses
The use of field mint has an almost global appeal having been in use as a traditional medicine for millennia.
In Ayurvedic medicine it is known as Pudina where it helps stimulate digestion and reduce digestion and gastric issues. In Europe, the leaf has traditionally been used to treat a range of digestion disorders including flatulence, digestive problems, gall bladder problems and coughs.
Components In Mint Leaf
Chemicals isolated include:- menthol, menthone, isomenthone, neomenthol, limonene, methyl acetate, piperitone, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, tannins and flavonoids.
The most interesting is menthol which is widely used as a dental agent to treat bacterial infection especially streptococci and lactobacilli.
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