Peppermint leaves are famous for their benefits as a mouth freshener and prevent bad breath. No wonder you often find toothpaste products, mouthwash, and chewing gum with peppermint flavor. It also smells really fresh, like benefits of basil essential oil for skin.
But it turns out, the efficacy of leaves from the crossing of watermint and spearmint is not only that. Whether in fresh leaf versions, herbal supplements, or essential oils, peppermint still holds a myriad of benefits for the health of the body.
Even though peppermint has a lot of useful benefits, some people would like to find an alternative. One that doesn’t have a strong taste as peppermint, but holds similar characteristics. And that’s one parent of peppermint, one herbal plant called spearmint.
Spearmint is often called as a substitute for peppermint, because it tastes softer than peppermint and is better when used by both adults and children.
Because most people assume that peppermint has a cold taste that is too strong and not all of them can be used to it, especially for children. They certainly don’t like the sensation of cold that is too strong.
And that’s why, there’s the spearmint that becomes an option for many people to overcome health problems in the body. Similar to peppermint, you can get a handful of health benefits from the fresh leaves, or even extracted products like spearmint oil. Like the benefits of olive oil, the oil can be beneficial for many purposes.
Some people consider peppermint oil too strong to use spearmint oil instead. Mixing the two is also another popular option to reduce the intensity of peppermint oil.
It’s a good idea, since spearmint essential oil is always known to have softer character than peppermint, thus becoming a more convenient option for children.
Although both essential oils have similar properties, spearmint contains lower menthol compared to peppermint oil. The use of spearmint oil can be traced back to ancient times. Spearmint is a plant native to the Mediterranean region.
In Ayurvedic medicine, spearmint is used to treat digestive problems, skin problems, and headaches. Historical records show that spearmint was widely used by the ancient Greeks.
Spearmint is added to bath water and is used to help treat sexually transmitted diseases, whiten teeth, and cure oral problems. In modern times, this essential oil is used to overcome digestive discomfort, as well as for menstrual problems and nausea.
Here we will discuss about the benefits, uses and content of what is in this spearmint essential oil that can be an addition to your knowledge:
1. Works as Antiseptic
Being face-to-face with the currently spreading virus, we are now used to the word “Antiseptic” and “Disinfectant”, even though most seem to not understand that these two are actually different.
Antiseptics are chemical compounds used to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms in living tissues such as on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes. The goal is to reduce the likelihood of infection, sepsis or decay (putrefaction), hence the use of antiseptics.
Antiseptics have different characteristics, one can fully destroy microbes, while the others can only prevent their growth.. Antiseptics are often used for example to clean wounds, sterilize hands before performing actions that require sterility
As mentioned in benefits of spearmint leaves, spearmint oil works well as an antiseptic for wounds and ulcers, as well as protecting it from becoming septic or infectious, while accelerating wound healing.
Antiseptic properties appear due to the presence of components such as menthol, myrcene and caryophyllene.
2. Treat Muscle Spasms
Different from benefits of ylang ylang oil, the anti-seizure properties of spearmint essential oil are derived from the content of menthol which has a relaxing and cooling effect on nerves and muscles, as well as relieves contractions of convulsive muscles.
Therefore, spearmint is often prescribed to relieve spasmodic cough, aches and pains in the abdominal and intestinal areas. Spearmint oil also has the ability to soothe stiff muscles or cramps, nerve spasms, even spasmodic cholera.
3. Natural Disinfectant
Spearmint essential oil has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties thus making it a good disinfectant. These essential oils can help get rid of internal and external infections.
Spearmint oil is also very effective at protecting internal wounds and ulcers, such as in the stomach and intestines, from infection. In ancient Greece, spearmint oil was used to treat infectious diseases such as scabies, dermatitis, water fleas, syphilis, gonorrhea and others.
4. Has a Calming Effect
Similar with benefits of chamomile essential oil, the calming properties of spearmint essential oil are able to induce relaxation of the intestines and muscles in the abdominal area, thus helping the gases that form in the stomach and intestines to come out of the body naturally.
This essential oil relieves many health problems, including anxiety, insomnia, headaches, abdominal pain, indigestion, loss of appetite, chest pain, vomiting, cramps and other related symptoms.
5. Brain Relaxation
Spearmint essential oil has a relaxing and cooling effect on the brain, so it is able to relieve stress on the cognitive center. These essential oils help improve concentration, while curing headaches and stress problems associated with nerves.
Spearmint oil is believed to improve overall brain health while protecting the brain.
6. Relieve Menstrual Problems
Various menstrual problems, such as irregular menstruation, stunted menstruation and early menopause can be overcome with the help of spearmint essential oil.
These essential oils increase the secretion of hormones such as estrogen, which facilitate menstruation and ensure the uterus and sexual health are in good condition.
Spearmint oil also delays menopause and reduces certain menstrual-related symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, and pain in the lower abdominal area.