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Herb library

Pudina (Mint / Spearmint)

Mint (Mint / Spearmint)

Mentha spicata / Mentha piperita

Pudina — the cooling leaf for acidity, nausea and summer heat.

Mint plant · Herb · Parts: Leaf, Essential oil

Taste (rasa)
Pungent, Sweet
Energy (virya)
Cooling
Balances
Pitta, Kapha

What it is used for

Benefits

  • Relaxes gut spasm — well studied for IBS-type cramping
  • Settles nausea, acidity and bad breath
  • Cooling in heat, and clears the head when inhaled as steam

How it has been used

Traditional uses & benefits

Pudina is deepana-pachana with a cooling finish: it kindles digestion without adding heat, which makes it the Pitta-safe stomach herb.

Traditional uses

  • Cramping, spasm and IBS-type discomfort
  • Nausea, acidity and bad breath
  • Summer heat, headache and blocked sinuses

Practical guidance

  1. 1Fresh leaf is far better than dried for digestion; dried is mostly aroma.
  2. 2If mint tea worsens your reflux, that is expected — switch to fennel or coriander.
  3. 3Ground with coriander, cumin and lemon, it becomes the everyday cooling chutney.

How much

Dosage

A handful of fresh leaves daily, or 1-2 cups of mint tea.

How to take it

Preparation & usage

Mint tea

Steep a small handful of fresh leaves in hot water for 5 minutes.

After meals

Pudina chutney

Grind mint with coriander, cumin, lemon and a little salt.

With lunch

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Precautions

  • Peppermint can worsen reflux by relaxing the valve at the top of the stomach
  • Do not apply mint oil to the face of infants or small children
  • Avoid concentrated oil with gallstones or severe liver disease

Where this comes from

Sources

Used forDigestion & GutImmunity & RecoverySkin & Hair

Where to buy

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